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2 Dead In Ngyiresia Premix Explosion

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Tragedy that struck the coastal town of Ngyiresia, near Essikado, when a barrel of premix fuel exploded has claimed the lives of two individuals and left 14 others injured.

The incident occurred when a group of fishermen were transporting barrels of premix fuel to the beach.

According to eyewitnesses, one of the barrels toppled over, spilling its contents and igniting an open flame, leading to a devastating explosion.

The victims were identified as Joseph Adom, a 15-year-old boy, and a 7-year-old child. They were among the 13 individuals rushed to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital due to the severity of their injuries. Sadly, the two young victims succumbed to their wounds just hours after being admitted.

“It was a horrific scene. The flames were raging, and the explosion was deafening,” said Kofi Mensah, a local resident. “Our community is in shock and mourning the loss of these innocent lives.”

Fishermen in Ngyiresia have long relied on the dangerous practice of rolling barrels of premix fuel through a crowded footpath, as the community lacks a proper motorable route to transport the fuel.

This method has been a source of concern for local authorities, who have been urging the community to adopt safer transportation methods.

The National Fire Service and the Police have launched a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and to implement necessary measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

“This tragedy has shaken our community to its core,” said Nana Kobina, the chief of Ngyiresia. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and will work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our people.”

As the community mourns the loss of the two young lives, authorities are calling for swift action to address the underlying safety concerns and provide the necessary infrastructure to safeguard the residents of Ngyiresia.

The harrowing event transpired on Saturday evening when a group of fishermen was in the process of transporting premix fuel to the beach for their fishing activities.

Reports indicate that while carrying the fuel, a drum inadvertently toppled to the ground, leading to its contents spilling out and ultimately coming into contact with an open flame.

The resulting explosion caused significant injuries to multiple individuals present at the scene.

The victims were rushed to the Saint Benedict Hospital in Inchaban and Effiankwanta Regional Hospital.

The explosion affected properties including vehicles.

By Vincent Kubi

Kpemka’s appointment as Deputy BOST MD unconstitutional

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Former Power Minister Dr. Kwabena Donkor, has described the appointment of the former Deputy Attorney-General Joseph Dindiok Kpemka as Deputy Managing Director of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Limited Company (BOST) as unconstitutional.

Speaking on Prime News on Citi FM on Saturday [May 19], the Pru East MP said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has no constitutional backing to make an appointment to any limited liability company.

Kwabena Donkor urged the President to respect the law in his appointments.

“BOST is a limited liability company and there is a procedure for appointing officers and because it is a limited liability company, appointments must be governed by the Companies Act (992). The Presidency has no business in appointing CEOs or Deputy MDs or senior officers to any limited liability company.

“There is also the SIGA Act which also does not give the Presidency any appointing powers for limited liability companies.

“There is a procedure and as a people and as a nation, we must learn to respect the law, particularly coming from the Presidency. I have a lot of respect for the President but the Presidency is getting it totally wrong.”

He added that the only way to make appointments to limited liability companies is through AGMs, not executive orders and notices.

“To appoint a senior officer to a limited liability company, you have to go through the route of an AGM [Annual General Meeting].”

The former Tempane legislator’s appointment was announced on May 17 in a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, instructing the Minister of Energy Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh to take the “necessary steps to regularise the said appointment in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 929) and the constitution of the company.”


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Fella Makafui Wants My House So Badly – Medikal

 

Rapper Medikal has alleged that his ex-wife, Fella Makafui, is attempting to take over his house and is preparing to initiate a court process to that effect.

In a viral video, Medikal discussed the events that transpired in his home, leading to the current situation.

Over the weekend, reports emerged that Fella Makafui had called the police to investigate Medikal.

According to Medikal, this was because he had asked her cousin, Bless, to leave his house due to her continuous disrespect towards him.

“Right now, I know she wants to take me to court, do her worse. Like, she wants the house so badly but I built the house for my kid. It’s not for you (Fella). I don’t want you to leave the house, but I want your sister to leave my house. I want the kid to be happy. When she gets up, she sees her mom and dad, even if we are not together. Everyone can go about doing their job. I am not abusive. I won’t come fight you. Do your thing and live your life,” Medikal stated in the video circulating on social media.

Medikal mentioned that Fella currently resides in the guest room downstairs in his house. While he has no issues with her staying there, he wants her family members to leave.

He emphasized that he does not wish to fight with Fella over the house, considering they have a daughter together and he wants to avoid any situation that might lead to abuse.

Additionally, Medikal accused Fella of exposing their daughter to weed-infused toffees and gummies, which she allegedly brought home. He claimed their daughter almost consumed these items after finding them in Fella’s drawers.

The ex-couple tied the knot in 2020 and welcomed their first daughter, Island Frimpong. Medikal publicly announced their separation months ago, stating that they decided to focus on co-parenting their daughter. Fella had not directly addressed the separation until now, with her reported petition to the police to investigate Medikal.

In his reaction to the police case, Medikal aimed to inform the public about the ongoing situation.

He mentioned that Fella had not cooked for him for almost two years before their separation and revealed that he had funded Fella’s trips to the USA, Dubai and other parts of the world.

He also mentioned taking care of all household expenses, including paying for a nanny, driver, housekeeper etc.

He added that they had no problem co-parenting while sharing the same house until when he asked her cousin, Bless to leave the house.

 

Tipper truck crushes pillion to death at Kasoa –

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A pillion lost his life, while the motorbike driver is in critical condition after being struck by a tipper truck on the Kasoa-Winneba Highway near Krispo City.

The unfortunate accident occurred as the two brothers were returning to Accra after visiting their ailing mother at St. Gregory Hospital in Buduburam.

The tipper truck from behind crashed their motorbike and run over the pillion.

The victim, purported to be a final-year student at the University of Ghana, died on the spot.

An eyewitness told Adom News that, the tipper truck was speeding and failed to notice the motorbike ahead.

He said at the time the driver attempted to apply brakes, it was too late.

The Assemblyman of the Opeikuma Krispo City electoral area, Adam Habib, has urged drivers to exercise patience and caution, especially as the road is currently under construction.

Meanwhile, the officers at the District Police Command arrived at the scene to retrieve the body.

adomonline.com

Banu paramountcy appeals for electricity connectivity 

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By Mohammed Balu, GNA 

Banu, (UWR), May 19, GNA – Pio Alhaji Yakubu Sumaila Chirsiru, the paramount Chief of the Banu Traditional Area in the Sissala East Municipality has appealed for electricity extension to all communities in the area. 

He said only six out of the 14 communities in the Banu paramountcy had been connected to the national grid, which was a worry. 

 Pio Chirsiru made the appeal when Mr Stephen Yakubu, the Upper West regional minister visited the Banu paramountcy as part of his regional tours to introduce himself to the chiefs and people. 

Pio Chirsiru said the communities had the right to be connected to national grid since they were part of Ghana’s governance system contributing to the country’s development. 

He explained that without electricity, the area would continue to remain deprived with development eluding them, hence the reason they must not be neglected. 

He also identified the lack of access roads from Kunchokor- Kwapun, Kwapun – Wuru, Tanla – Nitalu and Tangvielle, which need urgent attention. 

 Other poor roads he mentioned included Pido- Wuru as well as Kassana- Tangvielli – Konsola and Katinia. 

“We have serious water challenges here because there are fewer boreholes to serve communities that have a population more than the water source and this is affecting community cohesion,” the Chief bemoaned 

 He added that several communities lie on the borderline but had no access to communication networks and appealed for telecommunication networks for the communities in the area.  

He stressed the importance of the completion of a security post under construction at Ban, which started almost four years ago.  

Some inhabitants of Tanla, Nitalu and Tengvielli expressed worry about the poor conditions in the area and appealed for support. 

They said, “We live in darkness every night, even flour for our meals, we have to take it to other communities to mill, during the hot season, we developed strange skin rashes and snake bites are usually common.” 

 Mr Musah Kwarasey an indigene said teachers and other workers don’t sleep in the community because of the absence of electricity and that they spend about GH¢6.00 every day travelling to nearby communities with lights to charge their phones. Mr Stephen Yakubu assured the people that the challenges were problems the government of the NPP had always tried to resolve. 

 He urged all that the government was committed to providing their needs saying, “I don’t usually promise but this particular road before December would be sorted out.” 

GNA 

Cheddar gifts Otumfuo a white horse with a golden ponytail –

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Ghanaian businessman and politician Nana Kwame Bediako, known as Cheddar, made headlines with his grand gesture at the Akwasidae festival, celebrating Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s 25th anniversary as Asantehene.

A video shared by Kofi TV on Facebook, and spotted by YEN.com.gh, captures the moment Cheddar and his wife greeted the Asantehene.

In honor of the occasion, Cheddar presented a stunning white horse to the revered king.

The event drew significant attention on social media, with many praising Cheddar’s generous gift.

Additionally, a throng of young admirers surrounded his luxury vehicle, prompting him to address the crowd before his departure.

Watch video below:

tigpost.co

Soludo Requests Emergency Meeting With Organised Labour Over Minimum Wage Ultimatum

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The confrontation over the minimum wage between the Organised Labour and Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has entered a new phase.

Recall that National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, wrote a letter accusing Soludo of urging fellow Governors to refuse the 70,000 naira minimum wage.

In a letter addressed to the state Labour, Ajaero gave the Anambra Governor a seven-day ultimatum to address workers’ matters or face an industrial strike.

Ajaero further claimed that Soludo is against worker interests, pointing out his failure to implement the N30,000 National Minimum Wage from 2019, unresolved issues with contributory pension deductions, and stopping the N12,000 special palliative allowance.

READ ALSO: FG Has Abandoned Our Region – North East Govs. Lament

Reacting, the State government dismissed these accusations, pointing out the giant strides Soludo has taken to improve the welfare and working conditions of Anambra State workers since March 2022.

To address the situation, Soludo has arranged a meeting with the Labour leaders on Wednesday next week to seek a resolution and avert potential risks.

Soludo’s Press Secretary, Chris Aburime, stated over the weekend that his principal never incited or influenced other state governors against paying the proposed N70,000 minimum wage.

“Instead, he has always been sensitive to the welfare of workers. Even as the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, he was quite responsive to staff wellbeing.

“Efforts are already underway to resolve the issue of contributory pension deductions while the agreed 2019 National Minimum Wage of N30,000 is already being paid,” he said.

See the Amazing Performance By Biskit That Made Her Win Talented Kids Season 15 Edition –

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The 15th edition of Talented Kids took place at the National Theater yesterday where the four finalists came to display their talents.

At the end of the show, Biskit from DWP Academy was announced as the winner after displaying her creativity in dance.

Biskit lit up the stage with her dance moves and creativity. The crowd couldn’t stop screaming her name when she was announced as this year’s winner for Talented Kids.

Biskit beat Dela the Poet who came in second, Princess Latyfa who came in third and Truth Ofori who took the last place.

Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah and Ghanaian Musician, Okyeame Kwame were the guest Judges on the Grand Finale.

They couldn’t hide their joy after seeing the kids display their God-given talents.

At the end of the show, Biskit walked home with the bragging rights as winner for Talented Kids Season 15. She also walked home with some mouth-watering prices.

Checkout her amazing performance below;

Source: Ghanacelebrities.com

I have not gotten a broken heart, I am only disappointed – Medikal –

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Ghanaian rapper, Medikal has falsified claims of being heartbroken following his breakup with Fella Makafui.

This comes after the rapper in a series of shocking revelations exposed Fella Makafui to make people feel she is not as they see on the surface.

Responding to Medikal, netizens have attributed his numerous actions to broken heart, saying that it pains him that he has lost his wife.

Many are of the view that Medikal has not been able to deal with his broken heart, the reason why he is talking anyhow on social media.

Reacting to this, the rapper claims he is too big to get a broken heart.

According to him, he is not heartbroken, but disappointed in himself for trying his best to ensure Fella had a comfortable life.

In his words, the rapper said  “Not brokenhearted, Just disappointed”.

ghpage.com

I have not gotten a broken heart, I am only disappointed – Medikal –

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Ghanaian rapper, Medikal has falsified claims of being heartbroken following his breakup with Fella Makafui.

This comes after the rapper in a series of shocking revelations exposed Fella Makafui to make people feel she is not as they see on the surface.

Responding to Medikal, netizens have attributed his numerous actions to broken heart, saying that it pains him that he has lost his wife.

Many are of the view that Medikal has not been able to deal with his broken heart, the reason why he is talking anyhow on social media.

Reacting to this, the rapper claims he is too big to get a broken heart.

According to him, he is not heartbroken, but disappointed in himself for trying his best to ensure Fella had a comfortable life.

In his words, the rapper said  “Not brokenhearted, Just disappointed”.

ghpage.com

I am a wee smoker – Medikal –

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Ghanaian rapper, Medikal has exposed himself, saying that he is a chronic weed smoker.

Medikal, who seems unhappy about his relationship with Fella Makafui has dropped a series of revelations about his baby mama.

Talking about Fella Makafui to make people know that things are not the same way as they appear on the surface, Medikal ended up exposing himself.

In a viral self-recorded video, the “Too Risky” hitmaker said Fella Makafui brought weed toffee to the house several times.

The rapper claims the bringing in of weed toffee almost got his daughter, Island into taking weed toffee.

Medikal claims he is a weed smoker, however, when it comes to things like weed toffee among others, he dislikes it.

ghpage.com

Bawumia Credits Late John Kumah For Inspiring His Presidential Ambitions

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In a poignant revelation, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, has disclosed that the late Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu and Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah, played a pivotal role in influencing his decision to run for president.

Dr. Bawumia paid a heartfelt tribute to John Kumah, expressing his deep appreciation for the invaluable support and encouragement he received from the departed Minister.

Bawumia recalled how Kumah was among the first party leaders to publicly endorse his presidential aspirations, offering unwavering support and commitment from the outset.
The Vice President reminisced on their joint campaign trail across the country, where Kumah demonstrated his dedication and steadfast belief in Bawumia’s potential as a presidential candidate.

Praising Kumah’s initiatives aimed at empowering youth and fostering Ghana’s development, Dr. Bawumia lauded his legacy as a visionary leader who made significant contributions to the country’s progress. He emphasized Kumah’s commitment to national development programs, underscoring the lasting impact left by his efforts.

Reflecting on the personal loss caused by Kumah’s sudden demise in March, Dr. Bawumia expressed his grief and highlighted the profound impact of the late MP’s endorsement on his political journey. Thousands of mourners, including political dignitaries, gathered to pay their respects and offer condolences to the grieving family.

The unexpected passing of John Ampontuah Kumah on March 7, 2024, sent shockwaves throughout Ghana, leaving a void in both political and personal realms.
Survived by his wife and six children, Kumah’s legacy as a catalyst for positive change and an inspiring figure continues to be cherished by all whose lives he touched.

-BY Vincent Kubi

You’re Beacon Of Hope And Revolutionary Thinker- Late John Kumah’s Children Remember Dad

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In a poignant tribute, the children of the late John Ampontuah Kumah eulogized their father as a beacon of hope and a revolutionary thinker whose absence has left an irreplaceable void in their hearts.

Huldah Boatemaa Kumah, his daughter, passionately recalled their father’s profound impact as a source of warmth, love, and unwavering support not only to them but to everyone fortunate enough to cross paths with him.

The heartfelt tribute described John Kumah as “the chosen one of this generation, a steadfast addict for his beloved Ghana.” His children reflected on his remarkable qualities, portraying him as more than just a father but as a symbol of strength, wisdom, and love. They shared, “Our father was more than just a father, he was a beacon of strength, wisdom, and love. His presence filled our lives with warmth and guidance, and his absence leaves an irreplaceable void.”

Miss Huldah continued to paint a picture of her late father as a man of unparalleled courage and conviction, emphasizing that he was not merely a leader but a mentor, guide, and constant source of inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

The funeral service was attended by government officials and leaders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), indicating the high esteem in which the late deputy Minister of Finance was held. Notable figures such as Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Chief of Staff, and Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare graced the ceremony with their presence.
The national chairman of the NPP, Stephen Ntim, and the Ashanti Regional NPP chairman, Bernard Antwi Bosiako, were also among the dignitaries in attendance.

John Kumah’s sudden passing on March 7, 2024, sent shockwaves through Ghana, leaving behind a profound void in both political circles and personal relationships. Survived by his wife, Lilian Kumah, and six children, his legacy as a beacon of hope and inspiration continues to resonate with those who had the privilege of sharing moments with him.

BY Vincent Kubi

Tinubu’s Re-Election Will Be Easy Once Atiku Steps Down For Obi — Lauretta Onochie

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Lauretta Onochie, former chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), says the stepping down of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi would make President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election easier.

Recall that Atiku, 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he would happily back a presidential candidate of south east extraction if the PDP zone its presidential ticket to the region.

READ ALSO: PDP No Longer Relevant In Osun, APC Will Take Over In 2026 – Oyetola Boats

Reacting, Onochie, a former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in a post via X prayed that Atiku actually steps down for his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi.

“Our Father and our God. Yes, it’s me, your son. I pray that Atiku steps down for Obi, so that 2027 would be an easy job for APC re-election.

“You know I never ask you for anything because you are a responsible father who provides for me, always. Thank you for answered prayer.”

Senegal’s President Bassirou Faye On Working Visit To Ghana

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In a remarkable display of diplomatic camaraderie, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo graciously received the newly elected President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, during his official working visit to Ghana on Friday, May 17.

President Faye’s visit to Ghana holds profound significance as it underscores the enduring friendship and cooperative relations between the two African nations.
The meeting served as a testament to the strong ties binding Ghana and Senegal in mutual cooperation and understanding.

Mr. Faye, a 44-year-old leader, assumed office as the President of Senegal on April 2nd following his victory in the presidential elections on March 24, an event graced by President Akufo-Addo himself.
The Ghanaian president hailed Faye’s peaceful ascension to power amidst concerns of democratic stability in the region, lauding Senegal’s commitment to democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law.

During bilateral discussions held in Accra, both leaders deliberated on reinforcing the bonds of friendship between their respective countries.
President Akufo-Addo also emphasized the importance of addressing challenges within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), extending support to Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali to solidify unity within the regional community.

In his address to the press, President Akufo-Addo commended President Faye for setting a positive example for the youth of Ghana and reaffirmed his belief in African integration and unity.
He highlighted the inspiration drawn from Faye’s election victory, encouraging young Ghanaians to aspire to leadership roles.

In response, President Faye expressed admiration for President Akufo-Addo’s Pan-African vision and pledged to seek guidance on fostering increased levels of continental integration. The exchange of ideas and commitments symbolized the shared aspirations of Ghana and Senegal towards progress and cooperation on the regional and continental stage.

As President Faye’s visit culminated, the historic meeting between the two leaders instilled optimism for enhanced collaboration and partnership between Ghana and Senegal, setting a precedent for strengthened ties and shared endeavors in the spirit of African solidarity and development.

BY Vincent Kubi

Explosion at premix fuel depot; 16 people severely injured

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Sixteen persons have sustained severe injuries after a leakage at a premix fuel depot at Ngyirasia, a fishing community in Essikado-Ketan of the Western Region led to an explosion.

The explosion occurred after the leaked premix fuel came into contact with fire from the fishmongers in a nearby smoking facility.

The explosion occurred on Saturday, May 18, at about 4 pm.

Thirteen of the victims were sent to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Takoradi, where they are receiving treatment, while three were sent to the Saint Benedict Hospital at Inchaban.

Despite the timely arrival and intervention of personnel from the Western Regional command of the Ghana National Fire Service, two vehicles, including a Range Rover and an Opel Astra Taxi, were also destroyed

Police are currently investigating the explosion.


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How coconut and gari influence sperm release – 15-time sperm donor unlocks the secret –

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Nana Kofi Amoako, a young Ghanaian man, has shed light on his day-to-day activities as a sperm donor in a candid interview with Kofi TV.

He revealed intriguing details about his job, including the influence of certain foods on semen production, citing “Gari and coconut” as examples.

“Certain foods I consume trigger the production of semen in large quantities. For instance, I’ve noticed that foods like gari and coconut have this effect on me. Additionally, I abstain from sexual activity in the days leading up to the procedure,” Amoako shared.

Amoako, who donates to sperm banks in hospitals, also recounted his encounters with women who prefer the method of “home insemination,” where sexual intercourse is involved.

Discussing the preferences of some clients who appreciate his sexual prowess, Amoako explained, “Some women prefer full intercourse, and often request additional rounds. They appreciate how I handle the process. However, I maintain a professional boundary and do not contact clients after the procedure.

“Prior to any arrangement, I insist on thorough testing for HIV and other diseases. Also, meetings occur in neutral locations, not at the client’s house.”

He recalled an instance where a couple approached him for assistance in impregnating the wife but emphasized that his involvement ended with the procedure.

He even recounted offering assistance with some herbs to preserve the pregnancy.

“I provide recommendations for herbs during the pregnancy to ensure the health of the mother and baby,” he added.

While acknowledging the financial aspect of his work, Amoako stressed that his primary motivation lies in fulfilling a profound purpose.

“My main goal in life is to assist those who desire children. Many people discard sperm after intercourse, unaware of its potential to help others. I’d rather donate mine to those in need,” he expressed passionately.

Reflecting on the satisfaction derived from his role, Amoako stated, “It’s not merely about financial gain or excitement; it’s about fulfilling a vital need. Being unable to conceive can be a painful experience, and I aim to alleviate that burden for others.”

Regarding his earnings from the procedure, Amoako disclosed, “A small container of semen typically costs around GH₵2,000 to GH₵3,000.”

Amoako, who is dedicated solely to sperm and blood donation, shared that his efforts have positively impacted numerous households in Ghana.

“I’ve engaged in over 15 sperm donations, including home procedures where clients opt for sexual intercourse,” he revealed, underscoring his commitment to assisting those in need.

ghanaweb.com

Why Minority boycotted approval of ministerial nominees

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Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Minority Leader and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, has explained why his side of the House decided to stage a walkout during the approval of the 24 Ministerial Nominees of the President.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament prior to the Minority’s boycott of the approval of the President’s nominees for Ministerial and Deputy Ministerial positions, Dr Forson informed the House that the Committee’s report was a majority decision and that this was because they could not approve the Nominees by consensus.

“All Members of the Minority Group voted en bloc against the Nominees,” he stated.

He reiterated that the Minority voted against the Nominees not because they held anything against them; saying “No, we hold nothing against the nominees. In fact, a good number of them are our colleagues and friends. But (the) decision to vote against them was motivated by Ghana first.”

Dr Forson said the Minority voted against the nominees because the country had gone through (and continues to go through) very difficult periods, including crippling economic crisis, food insecurity, debt overhang as a result of excessive borrowing, and wasteful and reckless expenditure.

“Ordinary Ghanaians continue to bite the bullet and businesses are struggling under high tax regime to contribute to the development of the country. What is expected on the part of (the) Government would have been prudent management of these contributions from the people of Ghana,” Dr Forson said.

“But hardly a day passes without one reckless and wasteful expenditure or the other by this government being uncovered.

“Mr Speaker, while (we) are happy for the nominees because we know that it is just a matter of time and colleagues from our side will begin appearing before the Appointments Committee, we cannot pretend that things are still the same. Indeed, we cannot do things the same old way.”

He underscored that Ghana’s present unfortunate situation occasioned by the government did not only call for new, creative and radical ways of confronting challenges but also modesty and sacrifice by the political class.

He said in times like this, the government side, especially, must signal to the people of Ghana and the investor community that they were ready and willing to walk the talk to restore the needed confidence in the economy.

He said the Government, in times like this, must show its real commitment and determination to improve the quality of life of Ghanaians.

He reiterated that it could not be the case that while the Government asked the people to tighten their belt, those in Government would have no belt at all.

Dr Forson said it also could not be right that while the Government urged the people to bite the bullet, those in Government and their family and friends chew chocolate.

“Our side is deeply convinced that at this point in time, this Government must seize the opportunity to be creative, dynamic and think out of the box,” he said.

“Merely piling on numbers by way of appointment of ministers and deputy ministers does not signal to the people of Ghana that the President understands the seriousness of the mess that his government has created.”

The Minority Leader said the least that President Akufo-Addo could do was to down-size the Government.

He said adding more ministerial appointments, which only balloons the expenditure of the executive, does not sound like a very bright idea at a time when the Government had clearly lost a grip on the economy, and unemployment, hardships and shrinkflation had become the order of the day.

“Mr Speaker, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo must down-size his Government to signal to the people of Ghana that, at the very least, he is in tune with feedback and the challenges triggered by his government as a result of their bad economic policies.”

At the very least, the two top political parties, the NDC and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), agree that down-sizing (or right-sizing) the Government was the way to go.

Newly Elected Ejisu MP Sworn In

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The newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ejisu constituency, Kwabena Boateng, was officially sworn in by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin on Friday.

This solemn ceremony came in the wake of the unfortunate passing of the late John Kumah that prompted the by-election.

On the auspicious day of Friday, May 17, the Speaker conducted the administration of both the oath of office and secrecy to the latest addition to the legislative assembly.

Congratulating Mr Boateng on his victory, Speaker Bagbin extended a warm welcome to him, stating that he is now to be addressed as “Honourable Kwabena Boateng” and assured him of the necessary support and resources required to fulfill his duties effectively.

During the recent election, Mr Boateng, representing the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), emerged victorious by securing 27,782 votes, comprising 55.8% of the total ballots cast.
His closest competitor, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, who previously belonged to the NPP before running as an independent candidate, garnered 21,534 votes, accounting for 43.3% of the vote share.

The by-election, triggered by the untimely demise of the MP, John Kumah, marked a crucial moment in the Ejisu constituency’s political history.
With the newly sworn-in MP ready to assume his responsibilities, all eyes are now on Honourable Kwabena Boateng as he gears up to serve the constituents diligently and with dedication.

-BY Vincent Kubi

FG Has Abandoned Our Region – North East Govs. Lament

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L-R: Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Kaletapwa Farauta; Governors Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba), at a North-East Governors Forum meeting in Yola, Adamawa State.

Governors from Nigeria’s North-East geopolitical have decried the neglect of the region when it comes to allocations of Federal Government projects.

The Governors disclosed that the region has over the years been sidelined in term of construction and rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, especially roads and railway, along the economic corridors that links the North-East subregion to the rest of the country.

Their complaints and reservations were contained in a communique issued by the North East Governors’ Forum at the end of its 10th Meeting of the forum held in Bauchi.

The Forum noted with dismay that despite its cry for attention on the State of infrastructure in the region which has been consistently echoed in all its communique over the years nothing has changed.

According to them, the North-East was excluded from the National Infrastructure Plan for the transition from Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) to Compressed Gas.

“The Roads from Enugu to Maiduguri is in deplorable State and the railway from Enugu up to Maiduguri has been destroyed. This is a major route for regional trade and very important for integration, peace building and improving national unity.

“The Forum is calling on the Federal Government to look into the situation and consider the reconstruction of these basic infrastructure along Enugu-Maiduguri Economic Corridor and inclusion of NE in all National Development Plans and initiatives,” the communique stated.

READ ALSO: ‘They’re Behaving Like Sore Losers, We’re Unbothered” — Presidency, APC React To Atiku, Obi’s Planned Alliance

The Forum further noted the blackout experienced by the region over the lack of electricity experienced over the last one month and the nonchalant attitude exhibited by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

“Forum is watching keenly the commitment made by TCN to restore power to all the state of the region by the 27th May, 2024; accordingly, the Forum urged the Federal Government to direct TCN to take immediate action.

“The Forum has resolved in the short term, to set up a solar power plant that can generate a minimum 10 Megawatts per State.

“The Forum notes with deep concern that the Northeast, is the only region in Nigeria that has one transmission line supplying six states with a land mass of nearly 300Km square and population of over 35 million,”This has made the region the most vulnerable and most disadvantaged for industrial development and economic growth with over 70% of its population below 35 years of age. ”

“The Forum therefore calls on the Minister of Power and indeed the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to implement the extension of the 330KV transmission line from Makurdi – Gassol – Jalingo linking to Adamawa – Gombe – Bauchi and the extension of the 330KV line from Kano- Bauchi- Yobe, linking to Borno.

“The Forum resolved to maximise the existing hydropower generated in Kashimbilla and Dadin Kowa dam which the region has not been benefitting from because of the Ministry of Power has failed to extend the 330KV line of Makurdi Gassol- Jalingo line. Forum notes that climate change and environmental degradation remains a reality in the region.

“The Forum appreciates the various states for the policies they are putting in place to reclaim the environment. It called for a more sustained and coordinated regional onslaught to reverse the speed of desertification in the region.

“The Forum also charges the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) to be consultative in its dealings, operation and project prioritization. It calls on the NEDC to work with the States in the region for Energy Development to unlock the energy potentials of the region and lessen the energy paucity burden of the people,” the communique read.

Shortage of ‘bentua’ hits Accra Central Market

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For the past three months, Accra Central Market has faced a shortage of enema bulb syringes, locally known as “bentua,” leaving many vendors empty-handed.

This disruption in supply was brought to light during a week-long interaction between The Mirror and some traders in the product. Vendors from various parts of the country, who frequent the market to purchase the “bentua” on a wholesale basis, have repeatedly had to return home without the product.

According to the vendors, a Kumasi-based licensed importer, who has monopolised the importation of the “bentua”, is at the heart of the shortage issue. A vendor at UTC in Accra, who gave her name as Georgina, explained that the wholesaler supplied most of the stock in Kumasi and some West African countries including Cote d’Ivoire. “So by the time she supplies Accra, ‘na aka ketewa bi (it’s left with a small quantity).”

The exclusive import arrangement has left many vendors and their customers in a difficult position. “Frequent complaints and agitation from prospective customers have been overwhelming,” one of the vendors told The Mirror.

These customers are eager to obtain the “bentua” so they can distribute them to various destinations. At the Central Market in Accra, some vendors were observed abandoning their wares in hopes of being timely in getting the “bentua” from their distributors.

Amid this chaos, confusion arose when some vendors mistook this reporter for an importer who had come to improve their supply woes. A vendor at Kingsway, Maame Bee, expressed her frustration, stating, “If the woman in Kumasi does not supply the Accra Central market, nobody else seems to have the right to import into the country.

She imports them from China.” Another vendor who sold in front of the Universal Merchant Bank at the Okaishie market Naa Tsotsòo, shared similar concerns.

“Unfortunately, we cannot produce “bentua” in Ghana,” she lamented. “China, Germany, and Holland all produce “bentua”. There’s also an Indian company in Abidjan making them. Our great, great, grandmothers have been using this; Why can’t we produce some here?” she asked.

The shortage has severely impacted vendors such as Offeibea, who has been in the “bentua” business for 16 years and depends heavily on its sales for her livelihood.

“Because of the shortage, I am unable to sell wholesale. What I have now is just for retailing and it affects business; I can’t make much profit,” she stated from her position beneath a staircase in the cosmetics section of the market.

Despite these challenges, the “bentua” remains a highly patronised and profitable item, with prices ranging from GH₵25 to GH₵70 depending on the size. The “bentua” is a bulb syringe used in administering liquid through the anus for various health and ritual purposes.

Medical However, a medical practitioner in general surgery at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Philemon Kumassah, in an interview with The Mirror explained that the problem with the purchase had to do with what buyers were using it for, adding that the administration of some herbs through the syringe could have an effect on the colon and is therefore not generally recommended.

He noted that it was only in rare medical conditions that its usage was required, “even that, it is a special enema which is very gentle on the colon when we want to clear the rectum”.

“There is no health benefit for using an enema syringe and if there are no medical benefits, why are you using it?” he asked. A midwife at the Mamprobi Polyclinic in Accra, Ms Doreen Osei, also debunked the rumour that the syringe was a requirement at the labour ward.

“What we use is called penguin sucker. It is used to suction a baby’s nostrils and mouth after delivery to clear the airway for respiration”, she explained.

Users Some users of the syringe, including young people who spoke to The Mirror explained that they used it to relieve constipation, and diarrhoea, administer medication to improve sex and administer punishment to children.

Daavi, a market woman, said she grew up in a Ga home and was not taught how to use it, and explained that she started practising it upon the recommendation of some market women.

“I use my bentua after every three months as soon as l deworm. I get some herbs and flush out my system. I feel very good”, she said. Ella Mensah, 28, said, “bentua de3 3y3 birth control (the syringe is a birth control device), all you need is to grind some pawpaw leaves and administer it early in the morning after a sexual encounter instead of taking morning after pills”.

Tube Speaking on the handling of bentua, some market women noted that its tube could be replaced with a ballpoint pen container. The use of the ballpoint pen container generated some discussion among them. One of the women maintained that the original tube was better, hygienic and did not pose any danger.

Another market woman, Maame Etruba, explained that the improvised was enough to give two shots at a go because it had a big opening and could absorb much liquid.

“Besides the tip of the pen container is not smooth enough and likely to cause a tear at the anus” she added. They, however, concluded that buyers of the syringe who found the tip of the tube rough could trim it to make it smooth for penetration.

Source: graphic.com.gh

Tragic Premix Explosion Injures 16 In Ngyirasia

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A tragic incident unfolded at Ngyirasia in the Western Region, with at least 16 individuals suffered various degrees of injuries in a supposed premix fuel explosion.

Fortunately, no death has been recorded as at now.

The harrowing event transpired on Saturday evening when a group of fishermen was in the process of transporting premix fuel to the beach for their fishing activities.

Reports indicate that while carrying the fuel, a drum inadvertently toppled to the ground, leading to its contents spilling out and ultimately coming into contact with an open flame.
The resulting explosion caused significant injuries to multiple individuals present at the scene.

The victims were rushed to the Saint Benedict Hospital in Inchaban and Effiankwanta Regional Hospital.

The explosion affected properties including vehicles which were burnt.

Emergency response teams including the National Fire Service and Police swiftly mobilized to provide assistance to the wounded and quickly launched an investigation into the precise circumstances surrounding the explosion.
Measures are being taken to determine the root cause of the incident and to implement necessary precautions to avert similar accidents in the future.

The community of Ngyirasia remains deeply shaken by this tragic event, and support is being extended to the affected individuals and their families during this challenging time.

-BY Vincent Kubi

My One Year In Office Better Than Those Who Stayed Eight Years – Fubara Mocks Wike

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Siminalayi Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, on Saturday, posited that his administration has recorded giant strides in infrastructure since assuming office one year ago.

According to him, his administration has done better in the execution of projects than his predecessor, Nyesom Wike’s eight years in office.

Fubara who disclosed this in Ngo Town at the inauguration of the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road project, in Andoni Local Government Area, promised to ensure his administration carried out more infrastructural projects.

READ ALSO: “Nobody Has Monopoly For Violence, You’ll Pay If You Hurt Anyone” – Gov Fubara Warns

His words: “Like I said the other day, we just started. We started about three or four months ago but I am very happy that if we have to assess ourselves within those three months, we have done better than people who stayed for eight years, I stand to be challenged.”

Recall that Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory have been at loggerheads shortly after assuming office owing to the political structure of the State.

The Governor had boasted of defeating his political enemies, stressing that they now slept with their eyes open and restless.

EFCC Returns $22,000 Recovered From Convicted Nigerian Fraudster To FBI

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), at the weekend, handed over $22,000 recovered from convicted internet fraudster, Hakeem Ayotunde Olanrewaju to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The anti-graft agency announced in a statement that, Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, ordered on August 15, 2023, that the money recovered from Olanrewaju, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment for identity theft and impersonation, be restituted to his victim in the United States.

During the handover ceremony in Lagos, the Acting Director of the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, Michael T. Wetkas, reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to combating crime and restoring integrity to the nation.

READ ALSO: Police Dismiss Inspector For N29.8m Theft, Kidnapping, Robbery In Abuja

Wetkas said, “We are delighted to be handing over this proceeds of crime today. The EFCC is willing and always ready to do more.”

FBI Legal Attaché, Charles Smith, said, “The EFCC and FBI work collaboratively together, and it is thanks to the EFCC that we can recover funds of this nature, especially from Business email Compromise, BEC.

“This type of crime cripples businesses in the US, and for them to recover the money within one to two years gives hope to the affected companies and brings some level of justice, even if not all subjects have been identified.

“We hope our relationship continues and fosters a more cohesive partnership between the two agencies. If there’s anything the FBI can do to support this investigation, we will do so.

“We appreciate this on behalf of the FBI and thank the EFCC.”

Jesus Was Nazarene, Had Long Hair

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Famous Nigerian clergyman and relationship coach, Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo, expressed his strong feelings about believers wearing dreadlocks, tattoos, and other unconventional clothing.

He argued that many Christians who condemn others based on their appearance are uninformed because many of the same things were done by Jesus.

He made this known in a series of tweet on his X handled.

He wrote,

“Some Christians still think dreadlocks is unholy and skin cut is holy, they don’t know Jesus was a Nazarine and likely had long hair

Some think skirt is holy for women and trousers are evil and for men they are good, they don’t know that Jesus was Jewish and probably wore gownlike garments

Should I talk about tattoos, lipstick, “prosperity message”, music and other things that make religious people angry??

Anyway let’s major on the majors and not on the minors and stop the religious police work that no one appointed you to do.”

READ MORE: Elsie Okpocha Defends Decision To End Marriage With BasketMouth

Some reactions to the post below

@EgedegbeJosiah1 wrote: “Sir, this school of thought is a slippery ground as there are certain narratives we shouldn’t push. Moderation is the watchword but the spirit in every man guides him. The question is, by what spirit does one operate with when they choose attires and hairdos etc? I rest my case”

@adodo98670643 said: “This is an easy gospel which will lead this untoward generation nowhere. This is not the kind of gospel that got you and your wife saved. I have read your story and listened to you a couple of times. Jesus was a Nazarine with natural hair, not the kind plaited in a beauty salon.”

@harrydaniyan commented: “I agree with you on this: too many “God Police” in our Churches these days. I have tattoos, apparently, they anger a lot of people. For as many as come to tell me it’s WRONG to have them, I respond with “Ok”. If my tattoos anger YOU, that’s YOUR problem, not MINE.😎✌🏾”

SEE POST:

15 Persons Feared Dead As Truck Rams Into Buses In Imo

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No less than 15 people have been reportedly killed after a truck crashed into four buses at the Imo State University (IMSU) junction in Owerri, the state capital.

The incident also left many others injured.

Witnesses said the truck on Saturday evening collided with vehicles coming in the opposite direction due to a brake failure in the Ugwu-Orji area.

“I witnessed the incident with my two eyes. The trailer was carrying stones and was driving at a high speed when it failed to stop at the IMSU junction.

“What happened was that the driver was trying to avoid hitting those passengers and mini-buses that usually occupy the junction when it veered off the opposite lane, hitting more than four small buses loaded with passengers.

“I am very sure that 15 people died at the spot, while several others who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to the hospital. It was terrible,” a witness told TheCable.

READ ALSO: Kidnappers Now Lurk Around Homes In Ogun — Police Caution Residents On New Tactics

According to another witness, there was no presence of security personnel when the incident happened to offer immediate service to the accident victims.

“I was surprised that for more than one hour after the accident, the police that always mount roadblocks and even officers of the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, whose state office is near the junction, never showed up to help out.

“It was good-spirited individuals and drivers that offered to carry the victims to the hospital and morgue.

“But if it is to collect money on the road and molest innocent citizens for no just reason, you will see them everywhere.

“Does it mean that the government no longer has an emergency response team whose duty it is to offer immediate help to accident victims?

“If there was such a person to attend to the victims, the situation could have been remedied. It is unfortunate,” he said.

I Once Struggled With Pornography, But God Brought Me Out Of It Quickly

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Isaac Oyedepo, the son of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church, has publicly admitted to battling with pornography at one point in his life.

Isaac admitted to being involved with pornography while on a trip to Europe.

During his appearance on the podcast “Confession Box,” Isaac revealed that God helped him overcame his battle with pornography.

In his words; “My confessions are good ones that will help people. I struggled with pornography before.

“I remembered how it started, we travelled to one country and I was meant to be in the room alone, I switched on the TV and that’s it.

“But God brought me out of it very quickly. A lot of people still struggle with it and I think of somebody who had struggled with it and had walked up to me and told me how to come out, I would have come out quickly.

“I think people feel there are things we shouldn’t talk about, but today there are some pastors and church members still struggling with it.

“You may be anointed, seeing signs and wonders but it does not mean you are standing right.

READ MORE: Isaac Oyedepo Breaks Silence On Leaving Father’s Church In Interview With Leke Adeboye

“There is this old saying that if it’s working it means you are standing right but I found out that it’s not always the case. There are times I found out I wasn’t right, but grace and mercy found me.

“For the sake of someone who is genuine in the congregation, God can bypass you to meet the person; this is my confession.”

Watch the interview below…

Empress Afi drops video for ‘Pull up on Me’ hit song featuring Vintage Papi

Following her Ghana Entertainment Awards USA 2024 nomination, Empress Afi drops a sassy video for her reigning tune, ‘Pull up on Me’ featuring Vintage Papi.

1230 Works brings the singer’s seductive looks and gaze to viewers in a series of head-turning shots that are pure eye candy.

The nighttime vibe of the video flawlessly realizes Empress Afi’s lyrics, setting the stage for her and Vintage Papi to captivate. Every scene is fresh and enchanting. From the tranquil confines of the bedroom to the vibrant bustle of the diner front, a symphony of colours springs to life to captivate the most passive onlooker.

Last year, Empress Afi was buzzing and ‘Pull up on Me’ keeps her catchy style in the public milieu. This enticing Dancehall cut, produced by TubhaniMuzik, packs the sensual feel of her previous bangers and has been on rotation on radio and playlists since March.

It is a bold celebration of intimacy you don’t want to miss.

On July 6, Empress Afi will be heading into the Ghana Entertainment Awards USA 2024 with a nomination. She will contest for the “Best Act GH/USA Female” award, making her new video release a subtle reminder of her quality. The voting channels are officially open.

To vote for Empress Afi, click here: https://ghentawards.com/vote/

Maureen Efua Miezah, professionally known as Empress Afi, is an Afro-Dancehall singer-songwriter and performer whose vibrant music embodies her love for dance.

The Queens-born Ghanaian star, who co-founded SOB Dancers in 2013, had long shared the stage with some of the industry’s finest–Bisa Kdei, Jay Ghartey, Keche, Stonebwoy–before her bold step into music in 2017.

She debuted with ‘Tonight’ in 2019 and has since been a sought-after Dancehall diva known for tracks like ‘Big Lova’ and ‘Nah Stop.’

Listen to it here: https://ditto.fm/pull-up-on-me-empress-afi-featuring-vintage-papi

Shortage of ‘bentua’ hits Accra Central Market

0

For the past three months, the Accra Central Market has faced a shortage of enema bulb syringes, locally known as “bentua,” leaving many vendors empty-handed.

This disruption in supply was brought to light during a week-long interaction between The Mirror and some traders in the product. Vendors from various parts of the country, who frequent the market to purchase the “bentua” on a wholesale basis, have repeatedly had to return home without the product.

According to the vendors, a Kumasi-based licensed importer, who has monopolised the importation of the “bentua”, is at the heart of the shortage issue. A vendor at UTC in Accra, who gave her name as Georgina, explained that the wholesaler supplied most of the stock in Kumasi and some West African countries including Cote d’Ivoire. “So by the time she supplies Accra, ‘na aka ketewa bi (it’s left with a small quantity).”

The exclusive import arrangement has left many vendors and their customers in a difficult position. “Frequent complaints and agitation from prospective customers have been overwhelming,” one of the vendors told The Mirror.

These customers are eager to obtain the “bentua” so they can distribute them to various destinations. At the Central Market in Accra, some vendors were observed abandoning their wares in hopes of being timely in getting the “bentua” from their distributors.

Amid this chaos, confusion arose when some vendors mistook this reporter for an importer who had come to improve their supply woes. A vendor at Kingsway, Maame Bee, expressed her frustration, stating, “If the woman in Kumasi does not supply the Accra Central market, nobody else seems to have the right to import into the country.

She imports them from China.” Another vendor who sold in front of the Universal Merchant Bank at the Okaishie market Naa Tsotsòo, shared similar concerns.

“Unfortunately, we cannot produce “bentua” in Ghana,” she lamented. “China, Germany, and Holland all produce “bentua”. There’s also an Indian company in Abidjan making them. Our great, great, grandmothers have been using this; Why can’t we produce some here?” she asked.

The shortage has severely impacted vendors such as Offeibea, who has been in the “bentua” business for 16 years and depends heavily on its sales for her livelihood.

“Because of the shortage, I am unable to sell wholesale. What I have now is just for retailing and it affects business; I can’t make much profit,” she stated from her position beneath a staircase in the cosmetics section of the market.

Despite these challenges, the “bentua” remains a highly patronised and profitable item, with prices ranging from GH₵25 to GH₵70 depending on the size. The “bentua” is a bulb syringe used in administering liquid through the anus for various health and ritual purposes.

Medical

However, a medical practitioner in general surgery at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Philemon Kumassah, in an interview with The Mirror explained that the problem with the purchase had to do with what buyers were using it for, adding that the administration of some herbs through the syringe could have an effect on the colon and is therefore not generally recommended.

He noted that it was only in rare medical conditions that its usage was required, “even that, it is a special enema which is very gentle on the colon when we want to clear the rectum”.

“There is no health benefit for using an enema syringe and if there are no medical benefits, why are you using it?” he asked. A midwife at the Mamprobi Polyclinic in Accra, Ms Doreen Osei, also debunked the rumour that the syringe was a requirement at the labour ward.

“What we use is called penguin sucker. It is used to suction a baby’s nostrils and mouth after delivery to clear the airway for respiration”, she explained.

Users

Some users of the syringe, including young people who spoke to The Mirror explained that they used it to relieve constipation, and diarrhoea, administer medication to improve sex and administer punishment to children.

Daavi, a market woman, said she grew up in a Ga home and was not taught how to use it, and explained that she started practising it upon the recommendation of some market women.

“I use my bentua after every three months as soon as l deworm. I get some herbs and flush out my system. I feel very good”, she said. Ella Mensah, 28, said, “bentua de3 3y3 birth control (the syringe is a birth control device), all you need is to grind some pawpaw leaves and administer it early in the morning after a sexual encounter instead of taking morning after pills”.

Tube

Speaking on the handling of bentua, some market women noted that its tube could be replaced with a ballpoint pen container. The use of the ballpoint pen container generated some discussion among them. One of the women maintained that the original tube was better, hygienic and did not pose any danger.

Another market woman, Maame Etruba, explained that the improvised was enough to give two shots at a go because it had a big opening and could absorb much liquid.

“Besides the tip of the pen container is not smooth enough and likely to cause a tear at the anus” she added. They, however, concluded that buyers of the syringe who found the tip of the tube rough could trim it to make it smooth for penetration.


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‘They’re Behaving Like Sore Losers, We’re Unbothered” — Presidency, APC React To Atiku, Obi’s Planned Alliance

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Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi
The Federal Government, at the weekend, dismissed the planned alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.

According to the Presidency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not bothered about the planned alliance, noting that the President was not losing sleep over alliance plots by Atiku and Obi.

Recall that last week, Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour (LP) held a private meeting with Atiku and some other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Abuja.

Obi also met separately with former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, sparking speculations about a possible coalition for the 2027 general elections.

Also, on Friday, Atiku, PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, stated that if the PDP decided in 2027 that it was the South-East’s turn to field the presidential candidate and selected Obi, he would readily offer his support.

“I have said repeatedly, and I even said it before the 2023 general elections, that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South, or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. I contested the 2023 presidential ticket, because it was thrown open to all members of the party.

“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East, and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him,” Atiku declared in a recent interview with British Broadcasting Corporation Hausa Service.

He added that a merger between the PDP and LP was possible. Atiku stressed that party members would decide their fate in the 2027 general elections. The former Vice President mentioned that his recent meeting with Obi might indicate a possible alliance leading up to the 2027 general elections.

Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, reacting to the alliance plot, said the Federal Government was not worried about the planned merger or alliance. According to him, anybody could decide to collaborate and meet.

He stated that the question, for him, was what happened after the talk and numerous meetings.

“The government is not thinking about them at all. We are focused on delivering on the mandate handed over to President Bola Tinubu. With the good works the government is doing, he is already the toast of Nigerians.

“So, they will continue to support him. Just a few days ago, the Federal Government inaugurated three critical gas infrastructure projects in Imo and Delta states to drive the country’s gas sector. The projects are the ANOH-OB3 CTMS gas pipeline and ANOH gas processing plant in Assa, Ohaji/Egbema in Imo State.

READ ALSO: FG Must Put Infrastructure On Ground For CNG Vehicles To Work In Nigeria – Babachir Lawal

“The President also inaugurated the expansion of the AHL gas processing plant 2 gas project in Kwale, Delta State. The social security programme is ongoing. The Compressed Natural Gas project is there as well. Dry farming initiatives have taken root, and so many other projects that will benefit Nigerians are either ongoing or in the pipeline.

“Tell me, how will the meeting of those two men be an issue? No, we are not worried at all. The government of President Tinubu is focused and not disturbed,” he said.

Also reacting, senior presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu and his administration were not bothered by the politicking going on by Atiku and ‘his gang of desperadoes.’

He said, “We are only surprised that they are plotting just one year after an election they lost. They are still behaving like sore losers.

“We are not bothered by the games they are playing, as they are revealing their mindset. They are mere politicians who only think about the next election.

“President Tinubu is a true statesman who is concerned about fulfilling his promises to Nigerians.

“At the moment, he is very busy resetting the economy of our country for the better, laying the foundation that ought to have been laid decades ago.”

Nze Chidi Duru, Deputy National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), welcomed the idea of a rumoured merger, saying it will help to further deepen the concept of democracy in the country.

Duru, however, expressed reservations that the duo’s dream could become a reality.

He said, “It is good for democracy. It will give Nigerians more options to choose from. For me, I am up for anything that will deepen democracy, other than the usual ones we have been having.

“However, I doubt if such an arrangement could come to fruition.”

Also speaking, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, said the ruling party was not losing sleep over Atiku and Obi’s ‘unholy alliance.’

He said, “In a democracy, meetings between politicians are not forbidden. As long as their meetings are not designed to derail democracy, there is nothing wrong with that. Obi’s meeting with Atiku and others is nothing to make the APC lose its sleep. You talked about the party being under pressure. How? These are parties that are increasingly losing grip and support. They are probably in a panic situation.

“Now, they want to sit and look at what to do to increase their support base ahead of 2027. But, that is too long a time to go. We don’t talk about crossing the bridge until we get there. By that time, if they feel like coming out to merge, that will even be better for democracy. But, whatever they resolve by 2027, we are going to beat them hands down.”

I Never Intended To Marry My Ex-Wife, But Actress Caroline Danjuma Influenced Her To Marry Me

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Nigerian singer Oritse Femi has stated publicly that he never intended to marry his ex-wife Nabila.

He went on to say that actress Caroline Danjuma was the one who pulled his ex-wife Nabila into his arms.

He mentioned how she had asked him out and pushed for their marriage.

Speaking in a candid chat with Chude Jideonwo, Oritsefemi said,

“I told my ex-wife that I only need a baby boy. That was our agreement. I never intended to marry her. It was Caroline Danjuma. Caroline went and did a court wedding with the late Tagbo. After the wedding, she told Nabila that she had married Tagbo and urged her to make sure I marry her.

READ MORE: “I Never Accused Falana Of Threatening To Kill Me” – Mohbad’s Father Clarifies

“It was Caroline who advised Nabila to get married to me. She said I am a rough diamond and that Nabila’s success was lying on me. So that was it. When she asked me that she wanted to marry me, I accepted because she has had about three miscarriages for me.”

Watch the video below…

Sammy Gyamfi presents 11 motorbikes to NDC regional communications bureau

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The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi presented eleven motorcycles to the party’s Bono East Regional Chairman on Saturday, May 18.

The presentation which was done for and on behalf of the NDC’s flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama is meant for communication officers to help with their movement.

Sammy Gyamfi expressed his gratitude to the party’s flagbearer for the kind gesture

At a brief handing over ceremony, Sammy Gyamfi disclosed that John Mahama has replicated same kind gesture in seven other regions.

“So far, all our Communication Officers in seven (7) regions (Bono, Upper East, Upper West, North East, Western North, Savannah and Bono East) have received brand new motorbikes to enhance their mobility and assist them to effectively disseminate the messages of the party. Some of these regions and others have also received logistics such as mobile phones, laptops among others in this endeavor.”

He also thanked the the communication officers in the region and urged them to do more to market the party ahead of the December 7 polls.

“Our profound appreciation also goes to all our benefactors who continue to support the communications bureau of the party. With your support and the help of God, we shall cover all 16 regions and achieve our goal of providing every region with a strong pickup vehicle mounted with strong P.A system, for the effective dissemination of the messages of the party for VICTORY come December 7, 2024.”


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‘You’ve Not Met Any Demand’ — ASUU Kicks As Tinubu Appoints Tertiary Institutions’ Governing Board Members

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Shortly after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) gave the Federal Government an ultimatum over the failure to reconstitute the governing councils of universities across the country, a new list has been unveiled.

The 111 tertiary institutions include Universities , Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education.

ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, however said the Federal Government was expected to reinstate the “illegally” dissolved governing councils and not to constitute new ones.

Osodeke also stated that the demand from the union was not only about the dissolved governing councils of tertiary institutions, adding that the Federal Government should implement other requests of ASUU.

Recall that on Tuesday, ASUU issued a two-week ultimatum to the Nigerian government to address its key concerns including what it described as the illegal dissolution of governing councils of the universities, continued payment of its members’ salaries using the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, amongst others.

Notable among the members of the councils unveiled include former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega; two prominent Nigerian lawyers and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun and Yusuf Alli; former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Peter Okebukola, and labour activist, Issa Aremu.

READ ALSO: ‘We’ve Lost 46 Members To Economic Situation’ – ASUU

As released by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by its Permanent Secretary, Didi Walson-Jack, the list comprises five names each for 50 universities, 37 polytechnics, and 24 colleges of education.

While Jega will serve as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Messrs Olanipeku, Alli, Okubukola and Aremu will chair the councils for the University of Lagos, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Federal College of Education (Technical), Keana, Nasarawa State, respectively.

Others on the list include the former governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, who will chair the governing council of the National Open University of Nigeria, Joy Emordi, a former Senator, who will chair the council of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, who is appointed to lead the council of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The immediate-past Executive Secretary of NUC, Adamu Rasheed, who resigned from office a few months into his second term in office, was also named to chair the governing council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.

According to the statement, the inauguration and retreat for the new governing council members will take place on Thursday and Friday, 30 and 31 May, at the National Universities Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Reacting, Osodeke, in a chat with Punch on Saturday, said, “It is not just about the governing council alone, it is just one of them. Secondly, we said they should reinstate the illegally dissolved governing council. We didn’t say they should constitute a new one. As far as we are concerned, they have not met any.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in June 2023, announced the dissolution of the governing councils of major government agencies and institutions including those of the higher institutions of learning.

My Son Rejected Liam, Said Wunmi Brought Pregnancy After Their First Sex

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Joseph Aloba, father of late musician Illerioluwa Aloba, alias Mohbad, revealed that the artist rejected his son, Liam, before his death.

In a recent social media conversation that went viral on X, he said his late son told him he only slept with Wunmi once before she informed him of Liam’s pregnancy.

Speaking in Yoruba, he said in part,

“They shaved my late son’s hair before I got to his house. People saying my son didn’t reject Liam are lying. He said he only slept with Wunmi once and she brought pregnancy after their first sex.”

READ MORE: Junior Pope Laid To Rest As Funeral Service Holds In Enugu

Following the rapper’s untimely demise, Aloba has been calling for a DNA test on Liam to determine his genuine paternity.

Listen to the interview below…

Corruption fight: All crooked deals are cooked at Jubilee House

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The President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has suggested that the fight against corruption must start from the Presidency because that is where all corrupt and crooked deals are cooked.

Suggesting ways to win the fight against corruption on The Big Issue on Citi FM, on Saturday, May 18, Franklin Cudjoe told Selorm Adonoo that the creation of the Office of the Special Prosecutor in Ghana’s corruption fight was a defeatist approach.

He enumerated a couple of corruption instances that occurred within the confines of the Presidency which he said makes the fight against the canker difficult and challenging to tackle.

“Charity begins at home, and so fighting corruption should start at the Presidency because that is where all the crooked things are cooked. Look at the Scholarship Secretariat scandal; is it not from there? This Ministry of Special Initiatives, was it not harboured at the Presidency, which led to all these dams that were constructed like dugouts and wasted money all over the place. Just take a cursory look at that office.

“So, even creating the Office of the Special Prosecutor was like battling after the facts were established, and people with deep pockets will fight you because they have made enough money to fight you through. We at IMANI say that fighting corruption and waste begins at the Presidency.”


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We divorced in January 2024 – Fella Makafui –

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Actress Fella Makafui has officially confirmed that she is no longer married to rapper Medikal after staying together as a couple for almost 4 years.

Earlier, there had been rumours in town that the two were no longer together but most fans took it as one of those things.

The two celebrities are noted for playing pranks on their fans some people could talk about them on social media or in other words, trend, so they could be in the news.

What even got fans to believe it was a joke was because Medikal was scheduled to host a concert in the UK so netizens saw the move as a trick to sell out his concert.

It’s been weeks since the show was held and information coming out shows that all is not okay the rumours were true and they were not chasing clout to sell out his O2 Indigo concert.

According to Fella Makafui in a letter dated 4th April 2024 and addressed to the Ghana Police Service, she indicated that their marriage officially came to an end in January 2024.

That being said this means the marriage ended way long before it even became known in the public domain because they were keeping it a secret.

You can get the confirmation in the second paragraph of the letter.

Read the letter below:

ghpage.com

Fella Makafui wants to be like some women on TV – Medikal –

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Rapper Medikal has disclosed that his baby mama, Fella Makafui wants to be like some women on TV.

According to him, she is obsessed about their lifestyle and everything they do, she wants to also do the same.

This obsession with these television personalities has led to her extravagant lifestyle and bad choices.

“I can’t mention names but she wants to be like some people on TV so bad and that has made her choose this kind of life,” he said.

The Rapper disclosed that even though he was against her having a surgery after she gave birth, Fella Makafui insisted that she need to do the surgery because her colleagues had done it.

Mynewsgh.com

I never had an intercourse with Fella for a year, we live in separate rooms – Medikal opens ‘keys’ on his marital issues –

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AMG Medikal has for the first time on social media gone deep about his marital affairs with his estranged wife Fella Makafui.

In a series of posts, the rapper reveals that his issues with Fella started long ago.

Adding that for a year he hasn’t slept with Fella in the same room to talk of having intercourse with her.

Medikal mentioned that as a result of this, he hired the services of a nanny to take care of the baby.

Read the post below;

ghpage.com

Here’s the truth of why the police stormed his house –

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On April 3rd 2024, rapper AMG Medikal took to social media to express concerns about his safety, suggesting that individuals within his household may threaten him.

In a tweet, Medikal urged for scrutiny of the people residing in his house should anything untoward happen to him. He explicitly exempted his daughter, Island Frimpong, from suspicion.

“If anything bad happens to me, question the people living in my house, except for my daughter, Island Frimpong,” Medikal stated on X.

The rapper’s statement followed after publicly revealing he was no longer with Fella.

Well, just a few hours ago, Medikal shared a worrying video on his Twitter account with a text which alleged Fella Makafui called the police on him to be arrested.

As claimed by Medikal, his only crime was asking Fella Makafui’s cousin, Bless, to leave their house after staying with them for over 2 years now.

However, according to findings made by GhPage, Medikal purposely rushed to the internet to share a non-existent story just to be in the good books of the masses.

As confirmed by a close source who exclusively spoke to GhPage, the police stormed Medikal’s house following the infamous tweet about his safety inside his own house.

According to the verifiable source, Fella lodge a complaint to the police regarding Medikal’s tweet to avoid any potential conviction in the future.

The police took up the matter and invited Medikal on several occasions to which he blatantly ignored.

Follwing the rapper’s refusal to honour the consistent invitations, police was forced to storm his house after getting a hint that he was now in Ghana after his successful 02 Indigo show.

It can be emphatically stated that the police’s appearance in Medikal’s house had nothing to do with Fella nor her cousin who has been falsely accused and publicly disgraced by the rapper.

READ ALSO: Video: Fella Makafui calls the police to arrest Medikal; Here’s why

Hopefully, Fella Makafui will publicly address the issue in the coming days to dissociate herself and the cousin from Medikal’s busted terrible lies which has thrown a shadow on his reputation.

Below is a petition from Fella Makafui to the Ghana Police Service.

created by photogrid

ghpage.com

John kumah’s one-bedroom resting place –

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The late Member of Parliament for Ejisu has been laid to rest in his hometown of Ejisu.

Family, friends and party-faithful well attended his funeral.

Dignitaries at his funeral included Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and Ministers of State, Alan Kyerematen among many others.

Dr John Kumah lost his life on March 7 2024 when he was en route to Accra for onward transport to Germany for treatment.

He died at the Suhum General Hospital.

Videos available on social media indicate that his family gave him a very befitting rest place befitting his status in society.

The former Deputy Finance Minister was laid to rest in a one bedroom tiled and decorated with flowers to give him the needed rest.

Mynewsgh.com

Fella Makafui calls the police to arrest Medikal; Here’s why –

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Recall that months ago, It was alleged that Fella Makafui and Medikal’s marriage ended because she was often seen flirting with D-black.

The actress and her rapper husband ended things a while ago.

Medikal officially confirmed that he was no longer married to Fella Makafui in a recent interview.

According to Medikal, Fella Makafui is now his baby Mama and not his wife.

Following the revelation, D-black dropped a diss track and some of the verses in the track seemed to shade Medikal.

He said ” I’m sleeping with your Shawty to my left, I don’t really feel it but she wanna lay over here instead”.

Reacting to this in a podcast, Medikal expressed his disappointment in D-black. He also asked him why he was smoking with Fella Makafui when he (Medikal) could never do that to him.

Well, in a new video shared on X formerly Twitter, Medikal revealed how Fella Makafui called the police on him yesterday.

In a text attached to the video, Medikal alleged that Fella called the police on him after he asked her cousin, Bless, who has been living with them for over two years, to move out.

According to Medikal, he wants the public to be aware of this incident because the cousin recorded it, potentially leading to future misunderstandings or accusations.

He also emphasised that he has never been abusive or violent and only seeks to co-parent peacefully and ensure a bright future for their child.

Watch the video below to know more…

ghpage.com

Watch daughter of Adwoa Safo addressing US school speech day about ‘inventor’ grandfather –

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Daniella Safo-Agyapong, a daughter of Dome Kwabenya Member of Parliament, celebrated her grandfather, Apostle Kwadwo Safo, in a recent school Speech Day address.

The lawmaker, Sarah Adwoa Safo, posted the video of Daniella’s about three-minute speech on cars and how she had come to believe in and love cars because of the values of cooperation she learnt in the production process of cars.

She told the gathering that her love for cars was built on summer holidays spent at the manufacturing hub of her grandfather in Ghana.

“As a child, I worked on my grandfather’s car shop and developed a passion for cars,” she told the gathering at the Applewild School Speech Day.

She detailed how the car assembly process built in her a sense of cooperation and leadership which she has carried through life.

Her mother, in a post on Facebook shared the video with a caption that read: “It was with so much joy and pride watching Daniella, deliver such a thought provoking speech at the Applewild School Speech Day.

“Congratulations Daniella Safo-Agyapong and also on your admission to Kent School. Mum, is so so proud of your exploits,” the post concluded.

Watch the video below:

Apostle Kwadwo Safo is leader of the Kristo Asafo mission. He is described on the mission’s website as: “a patriotic African and strong believer in the creation of wealth within the borders of each country rather than relying on foreign aide. Hard work and perseverance are his most cherished words.

“He always encourages Africans that all hope is not lost, that wisdom is not obsolete, that the optimists have it and always have it, not because they are always right but because they are positive. He teaches that, the way to success is identifying talents, improving on them and applying same to the benefit of society.

ghanaweb.com

A slippery slope if Ghana’s second Special Prosecutor ever is removed from office – Amanda Clinton –

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Private legal practitioner Amanda Clinton has reacted to a petition for the removal of Kissi Agyebeng as Special Prosecutor.

She believes that the move represents a slippery slope that could potentially injure the independence of the office.

She notes that the petition is going through the laid down processes by law for his removal.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has referred the petition filed by the pioneer Special Prosecutor to the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo.

The petitioner, Martin Amidu, has stated six grounds for removal of the current occupant of the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP).

FULL TEXT: A slippery slope if Ghana’s second Special Prosecutor ever is removed from office

As required by Article 146 of the Constitution, the Chief Justice is determining whether there is a prima facie case to form a committee to impeach Mr. Agyabeng.

Kissi Agyabeng is the nation’s second-ever special prosecutor. He is facing the possibility of impeachment, which is a charge of wrongdoing brought against the holder of a public office in which his integrity is called into doubt over the validity of something.

His predecessor, Martin Amidu, wrote the petition to remove Agyabeng from office, which the President of the Republic forwarded to the Chief Justice. Amidu resigned from the same position due to “the lack of respect for the independence of his office.” Amidu noted that the president’s reaction to the examination of the danger of corruption and anti-corruption assessment of the Agyapa Royalties limited transaction was the final push that prompted him to leave. However, Amidu has petitioned the President to remove Agyabeng as Special Prosecutor.

Grounds for removing a Special Prosecutor

According to the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act of 2017, the grounds for removing the Special Prosecutor in this case include misbehavior/incompetence (section 15(1)(a)) or conduct that brings or is likely to bring the special prosecutor’s office into disrepute/ridicule or contempt of office (section 15(1)(d)).

Amidu’s petition for the SP’s removal

Amidu’s petition focuses on allegations of procurement breaches and abuse of office.The appeal concerns Agyabeng’s press conference at the OSP in November 2023, during which he expressed concerns about the judiciary, which Amidu believes could lead to misuse and bring the judiciary into disrepute.Amidu’s appeal alleges that the Special Prosecutor violated the rights of Cecilia Dapaah and Prof Frimpong Boateng through their arrests.Amidu also claims a violation of his right to information when Mr. G requested that appointment letters and salary details for all OSP employees be placed on a pen drive for him, as well as concerns with personnel appointments to the office.

A slippery slope with the potential removal of only the second Special Prosecutor in our country’s history.

If the special prosecutor is removed from office based on his forceful yet well-argued commentary on how the judiciary, in his opinion, frustrates his office, it will be a slippery slope that does not promote justice, transparency, accountability, or the independence of the arms of justice.

Aside from the procurement accusation, the other grounds cited in Amidu’s petition do not, in my opinion, demonstrate misbehaviour/incompetence or conduct that brings or is likely to bring the office of the special prosecutor into disrepute/ridicule or contempt of office, as defined by the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act of 2017.

The independence of the Office of the Special Prosecutor will be jeopardized if all future Special Prosecutors can be removed for commenting on how active case law does not benefit their office because people appear to receive immunity from investigation for suspected corruption and corruption-related offenses, and thus immunity from prosecution.

My only suggestion is that if a committee is formed to remove the Special Prosecutor, they should pay close attention to the written transcript and accompanying video of the Special Prosecutor dated November 2023 and see that with the rule of law, his commentary on the judiciary is not a ground to remove a Special Prosecutor, and if they do, this will open the door for the role itself to be politicized and for other special prosecutors to be so easily removed.

Is there a prima facie case for removing the Special Prosecutor from office?

Overall, a prima facie case must be proved at this point, and the Chief Justice has written to the Special Prosecutor for his response before determining whether a prima facie case exists and whether to convene a committee to decide his dismissal.

Prima facie means that the petition is viewed as correct unless proven differently.

Should the procurement allegations be substantiated, this for me is the only ground to remove the Special Prosecutor, because the function of the Office of the Special Prosecutor is in part to investigate and prosecute cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences under the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (section 3, 1), therefore the person mandated to run such an office cannot be found to have committed procurement offences, if that

All other grounds on Amidu’s Petition, in my opinion, do not go far enough to demonstrate absolute misbehavior or incompetence (section 15(1)(a) Office of the Special Prosecution Act 2017, or conduct that brings or is likely to bring the office of the special prosecutor into disrepute/ridicule or contempt of office (section 15(1)(d) Office of the Special Prosecution Act 2017).

Overall, I believe the Special Prosecutor’s strong views on the judiciary should not result in his impeachment because they do not constitute misbehavior/incompetence or conduct that brings or is likely to bring the office of the Special Prosecutor into disrepute/ridicule or contempt of office, as defined by the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act of 2017.

Watching a tape of the Special Prosecutor’s video from November 2023, in which he made the statements regarding the judiciary, and reading the transcript of the same video, he presents a case for why his office, in his opinion, isn’t getting as much aid from judicial rulings.

* The Special Prosecutor provides four examples of cases when individuals were granted immunity from criminal inquiry and prosecution.

* He cautioned against anyone gaining immunity from investigation for suspected corruption and associated offenses, which could lead to prosecution.

* The OSP, established by law to combat corruption, should be treated with respect and consideration by courts, rather than dismissing it and creating unnecessary barriers to its work and operations.

* The OSP prioritizes transparency in anti-corruption efforts by issuing media releases after major judicial pronouncements or decisions. These releases inform the public about the OSP’s position on whether the opinion advances the fight against corruption or not.

* I agree with the SP that our judges do not consider themselves above criticism. The Special Prosecutor in the video also mentioned an example of how a Supreme Court justice gently chided him in open court for not publishing enough articles criticizing their work.

* The arrests of Cecilia Dapaah and Prof Frimpong Boateng were justified by section 3 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017, which includes investigating and prosecuting cases of alleged or suspected corruption.Amidu further claims in his appeal that Mr. Agyabeng violated his right to information by requesting that appointment letters and salary details for every OSP staff be placed on a pen drive for him, as well as difficulties with personnel appointments to the office. This does not, in my opinion, reflect misbehaviour/incompetence or behavior that brings or is likely to bring the office of the special prosecutor into disrepute/ridicule or contempt of office, as defined under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act of 2017. As a result, an impeachment should not be based on this grounds.

A slippery slope with the potential removal of only the second Special Prosecutor in our country’s history.

If the special prosecutor is removed from office based on his forceful yet well-argued commentary on how the judiciary, in his opinion, frustrates his office, it will be a slippery slope that does not promote justice, transparency, accountability, or the independence of the arms of justice.

Aside from the procurement accusation, the other grounds cited in Amidu’s petition do not, in my opinion, demonstrate misbehaviour/incompetence or conduct that brings or is likely to bring the office of the special prosecutor into disrepute/ridicule or contempt of office as defined by the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act 2017.

The independence of the Office of the Special Prosecutor will be jeopardized if all future Special Prosecutors can be removed for commenting on how active case law does not benefit their office because it protects people from investigation for suspected corruption and corruption-related offenses, and thus immunity from prosecution.

My only suggestion is that if a committee is formed to remove the Special Prosecutor, they should pay close attention to the written transcript and accompanying video of the Special Prosecutor dated November 2023 and see that, under the rule of law, this is not a reason to remove a Special Prosecutor, and if they do, it will open the door for the role to be politicized and other special prosecutors to be removed so easily.

Procedure for removal

* Within 30 days after receiving the president’s petition, the Chief Justice will decide if there is a prima facie case (section 15(3)).

* If a prima facie case is established, a committee consisting of a supreme court justice, a lawyer with at least 15 years of experience, and an expert in inquiry must be formed within 14 days (section 15 (4)).

* The committee will investigate and provide recommendations to the President within 90 days of its formation [section 15(5)].

* Section 15(6) requires the president to follow the committee’s recommendations.

Currently, the Chief Justice is supposedly writing to the Special Prosecutor for response before making her final decision on whether a prima facie case exists, and if so, she would form a committee to study the petition and decide whether the Special Prosecutor should be removed.

ghanaweb.com

Koku Anyidoho shares fake flyer of John Mahama’s AI comment –

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Former president John Dramani Mahama made the headlines this week when he spoke about the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to fight illegal small-scale mining, known as galamsey.

The comments were made an at event in Sunyani where he outlined a raft of measures to combat the menace and to protect the environment and water bodies if he is elected president.

While the merit of how AI can be used to fight galamsey continues to gain traction on mainstream and social media, an artwork has been circulated of his purported comments on AI in relation to his 24-hour economy proposal.

Claim:

“I’ll use AI to implement 24-hour economy,” the artwork attributed to Abusua FM and Ultimate FM (subsidiaries of the EIB Group) read.

The said artwork has been shared on X by former deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Koku Anyidoho and some pro-government accounts on X and Facebook.

Anyidoho’s post came with the caption: “So, now that he is going to use AI to fight galamsey and implement his 24hr economy; I ask respectfully; would AI be used to protect Ghana’s bauxite too? Or it would be used to distribute it to a single sibling? A simple question.”

Verification:

GhanaWeb Factcheck desk analysed the X and Facebook handles of the two media houses whose logos were prominent on the artwork but did not find any post with the said quote.

The search was extended to other brands under the EIB Network like Starr FM, GHOne TV but there was no artwork with the said quote.

What exactly did Mahama say?:

Speaking at the 3rd Annual Transformational Dialogue on Small-scale Mining at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani on May 15, 2024, Mahama outlined his vision of leveraging advanced technology to tackle the menace.

“We will introduce and encourage technological innovation to improve capacity for coordinated monitoring of the small-scale mining sector and reduce environmental impact.

“This will include using AI to locate all small-scale mining and galamsey operations, track excavators, and geo-fence all concessions to ensure mining operations are not conducted in unapproved areas, including water bodies,” he added.

Verdict:

Mahama, at no point, in his address did not say he was going to use AI to implement 24-hour economy policy proposal. The artwork in its entirety is fake.

See Anyidoho’s tweet and that of Starr FM below:

ghanaweb.com

Commuters unhappy with condition of alternative route to Accra from Kasoa Toll Booth

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Road users on the Kasoa Toll booth stretch are expressing concerns about the alternative route to Accra, citing its deplorable condition and fear of being cut off from the capital city in the event of heavy flooding.

The concerns of road users come as the rainy season intensifies, raising fears of potential flooding and damage to the Kasoa Toll booth stretch.

The alternative route, which passes through Akosua Agyapong and Old Barrier, is riddled with huge potholes and gullies, making it challenging for commuters and drivers to navigate, especially during rainfall.

Residents living beyond Kasoa fear that if the Kasoa Toll booth stretch is damaged, the alternative routes will be unable to handle the traffic, leaving them isolated from Accra.

Commuters and drivers, speaking to Citi News, lamented the challenges of the road, describing it as “deplorable” and “formidable.”

One said, “The condition of our road is deplorable. When it rains, navigating becomes a formidable challenge. There’s a particular stretch called Akosua Agyapong, which becomes virtually impassable during heavy rains. Our vehicles always get stuck, leading to significant damage. The situation at Old Barrier is even direr, exacerbating our daily struggles.”

Another added, “When it rained on Monday, the area became severely problematic. We were forced to take an alternative route from Tuba to Old Barrier to avoid the main Kasoa Toll booth stretch. The route, however, is plagued with potholes and clogged gutters. Navigating it was a struggle, especially while transporting passengers.”

The situation has sparked calls for urgent attention to the alternative routes to ensure the safety and convenience of road users.

‘I have lost my everything, till we meet again’ – Watch John Kumah’s wife’s full tribute –

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Apostle Lilian Kumah, widow of the late John Kumah, Member of Parliament for Ejisu, braved tears and sorrow to read a tribute to the former Deputy Minister of Finance.

Her nine-minute tribute started with worship songs from the podium where she stood surrounded by about a dozen people.

“We shall meet again in Jerusalem for indeed it is a pure land. I know one day we will meet again in the pure land where there is no hatred, rancour, anger or spite, we shall meet where our love will united with that of God.

“For some, it is a big politician, others have lost a top civil servant and for many others, their benefactor is gone. But for me, I have lost my everything. You were my everything.

“My number one fan, my lover, my motivator, my teacher and even in my spiritual journey, my Spiritual Father,” she stated recounting how she met John Kumah when she met him after coming to Accra to seek greener pastures having failed Senior High School exams.

The body of the late Kumah arrived in Kumasi aboard a Ghana Armed Forces helicopter on Friday, May 17, 2024 marking the beginning of a solemn day of mourning for the late public servant.

In an emotional scene captured in a video shared on YouTube, family, friends, and constituents were seen and heard shedding tears as the late MP’s body was moved from the helicopter to a hearse.

Kumah died at the Suhum Government Hospital at the age of 45 on March 7.

He was being transported to Accra for further medical attention when his condition worsened, necessitating a stopover in Suhum.

Initially, he was slated to be flown to Germany for treatment of an undisclosed ailment.

The late MP is survived by his wife, Apostle Mrs. Lilian Kumah, and their six children.

ghanaweb.com

Bagbin’s March 20 adjournment of Parliament unconstitutional

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Former Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Samuel Ayeh-Paye, has described the Speaker of Parliament’s decision to adjourn Parliament sine die on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, as unconstitutional.

The former lawmaker said the 1992 Constitution and Parliament’s Standing Orders do not give Speaker Alban Bagbin the powers to carry out the March 20 adjournment.

Speaking on The Big Issue on Citi FM/Citi TV, Mr. Ayeh-Paye narrated the procedures needed to adjourn Parliament sine die, which he said were disregarded by the Speaker in his ruling.

“Per the Constitution and our Standing Orders, the Speaker of Parliament has no power to adjourn Parliament sine die. The Standing Orders are clear on that. There must be a motion and a secondment of the motion, and a counter-motion if there is any rejection of the motion, and a vote would be cast on the motion. Members of Parliament vote to adjourn Parliament, and I am yet to see any lawyer or MP come out to shame me on this.”

He also accused the Speaker of attempting to assume powers that the Constitution had not given to him.

“No Speaker of Parliament can just wake up and adjourn or recall Parliament, and the Speaker follows the Business Committee’s report that lays out the operations of Parliament. It doesn’t work like the Speaker should just wake up and recall Parliament as and when he likes, and so the current Speaker is trying to award himself certain powers that he doesn’t have.”

The Majority Caucus on May 3 petitioned the Speaker for an urgent reconvening of the House to address key government business items, including the adoption of the Thirty-Fourth Report of the Appointments Committee and a motion on additional financing.

The Majority also wanted Parliament to be recalled to consider a motion for an “Additional Financing Agreement between GoG and the IDA for an amount of US$150 million to finance the ongoing Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project” and also a “Request for Tax Exemption for selected beneficiaries under the 1D1F Programme.”

Speaker Bagbin granted the petition, and Parliament reconvened on Friday, May 17, 2024.


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Don’t be tricked by Mahama’s rebranding move

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The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has cautioned Ghanaians against being swayed by the rebranding efforts of the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, ahead of the 2024 general elections.

According to Mr. Ahiagbah, Ghanaians should not be misled by Mahama’s attempts to rebrand himself as a new and improved candidate, reinforcing the idea that Mahama’s leadership was detrimental to the country’s progress then and would continue to be so if given another opportunity.

In a post on social media, on Saturday, May 18, Mr. Ahigbah said, “H.E. John Mahama was a one-term president because he was incompetent and brought untold hardship to Ghanaians. As a result of that incompetence, Ghanaians sent him home in 2016. So, let’s not be tricked by Mahama’s 2024 rebranding; he is the same old tried-and-failed Mahama. He was bad news for Ghana then, and he will be bad news for Ghana now,” Ahiagbah said in a social media post.”

Instead, Mr. Ahiagbah urged Ghanaians to support Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, whom he believes is the beacon of hope and progress for Ghana, portraying him as a capable leader poised to steer the nation toward a brighter future with innovative and decisive solutions.

“Bawumia is the future. Bawumia is capable and would catalyse Ghana’s next chapter with bold solutions,” he said.

 

Kofi Adams rebukes govt for ignoring international best practices

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The Member of Parliament for Buem and former National Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams, has described as saddening how the government is quick to use international challenges as an excuse but is reluctant to adopt international best governance practices.

Kofi Adams, on The Big Issue on Citi FM and Citi TV, said it was the reluctance of the government to uphold international best practices that led to the Minority Caucus staging a walkout when Parliament reconvened yesterday [Friday, May 17, 2024] following a petition by the Majority Caucus on May 3.

He told the host, Selorm Adonoo, that the government missed the opportunity to restructure and cut its size and expenditure but rather created new ministerial portfolios and sought the approval of some ministers and deputy ministers after the emergency reconvening.

“There was an opportunity for the president to restructure his government, as it is being done around the world. They are good at quoting problems that confront the world, but they are not good at adopting the best practices happening around the world. In neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, when they were confronted with all the challenges, the president saw it necessary to reduce the size of the government, but in our case, the president is rather creating many more portfolios.”

“And so if you have an executive that wants to raise every international issue as if it were happening right here but doesn’t want to copy the best practices that are happening around the world, then we, as a responsible opposition, will not just sit idle and allow that to go on. We have to point it out to him.”


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He’s endangering my life with falsehoods — Fella petitions police to investigate Medikal

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Ghanaian musician Medikal, whose real name is Samuel Adu Frimpong, is set to face investigations by police over alleged false publications that have endangered the life of his ex-wife, actress Precious Fella Makafui.

In a petition to the Director General of the Ghana Police Service dated April 4, Fella accused Medikal of making “various publications of false news” contrary to Section 208 of Ghana’s Criminal Code.

She claimed the publications “put my life in imminent danger.”

Fella, who rose to fame for her role in the TV drama series YOLO, has been married to Medikal since 2020 but they decided to divorce in January this year.

“Despite this, we have agreed to co-parent our daughter. We jointly contributed to the finances for our house in East Legon Hills, where we currently reside,” said Fella in the petition.

However, Medikal has recently been spending most time away from the house and “falsely claimed on social media that his life is in danger and attributed any potential harm to the residents of his house,” alleged Fella.

She added that subsequent posts by Medikal have cast “serious innuendos” about her character.

As a prominent female public figure, Fella said she now faces “severe threats to my life due to these false claims.”

Fella petitioned the police to investigate Medikal’s actions, saying they contravene Ghana’s Electronic Communications Act and “have a significant tendency to incite harm towards me.”

She denied any involvement in the accusations and said she is “deeply concerned for my safety and well-being.”

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Akufo-Addo’s handling of petitions against top officials disappointing

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Private legal practitioner, Justice Srem Sai has expressed disappointment in President Nana Akufo-Addo’s handling of petitions seeking the removal of high-ranking state officials.

His comment comes after the President submitted a petition to the Chief Justice seeking the removal of Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng.

The petition, filed by former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, urged President Akufo-Addo to dismiss Mr. Agyebeng from his post for allegedly refusing to grant him information with several Right to Information requests made by him.

Mr. Amidu claimed that his request for the OSP to provide him with the appointment letters and salary details of all OSP staff on a pen drive has yielded no positive results.

On April 30, 2024, Mr Amidu, who is also a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo seeking the impeachment of Mr Agyebeng as the head of the anti-graft agency.

It has sparked questions about the President’s interest in the matter.

In an interview on The Big Issue with Selorm Adonoo on Citi TV/Citi FM, Justice Sai noted that the President’s conduct has been “seriously disappointing” over the years.

According to Justice Sai, petitions have been ignored, delayed, or faced impediments from the presidency, raising concerns about the President’s swift action on the petition against Agyebeng.

“I think the president’s conduct when it comes to petitions for the removal of such high officers of the state has been disappointing. It has been seriously disappointing over the years. There’ve been petitions which have been sent, and some of them have not been even acknowledged in certain situations.”

“Some of the petitions will be ignored, some of them even take too long to be sent and so many impediments have been put in the way of these petitions right from the office of the presidency. That’s why it seems to be a legitimate concern when he speedily and efficiently submitted this one and everybody gets the impression that he has a personal interest in this one.”

 

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Petition against OSP not surprising

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A private legal practitioner, Justice Srem Sai, says he’s not surprised by the petition filed by former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu to remove current Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng from office.

In an interview on The Big Issue with Selorm Adonoo, on Citi TV/Citi FM, May 18, 2024, Mr. Sai noted that any office set up to fight corruption must expect pushback, and therefore, the recent development is expected.

The petition, submitted by former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu, to President Akufo-Addo for the removal of Mr. Agyebeng, cited several infractions as the basis for his removal.

“It did not come to me as a surprise that someone is seeking to remove the OSP from the office and that is from the background that any office which is set up to fight corruption, as we have casually put it on the street, corruption will fight back. I don’t think this is peculiar to the special prosecutor’s office but any other office that is set up to fight corruption should be ready to face some of these instances. So I’m not surprised that there’s a petition.”

Meanwhile, the petition has sparked controversies with a private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, highlighting the possible implications of this petition.

 

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ECG Juapong District Warn Against Interference with Power Network As Transformer Burnout

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The Juapong District of the Electricity Company of Ghana, located in the Tema Region, has issued a stern warning to the public regarding interference with the power distributor’s network, highlighting the potential risks posed to the company, customers, and the wider community.

This caution follows the discovery of a 200KVA transformer in the town of Asikuma within the district suffering a fuse burnout, identified on Saturday, May 18, 2024. It has been brought to light that unauthorized individuals, possibly non-company electricians, have been tampering with the distribution network, particularly during outages, in attempts to restore power supply. Such actions are considered perilous as these individuals lack knowledge of the specific network design for the area.

Juapong District Engineer, Ing. Rejoice Garfo, emphasized the potential consequences of continued interferences, stating that the entire transformer could be jeopardized, resulting in prolonged power outages for customers until a replacement transformer is installed. District Manager, Ing. William Ahenkorah, underscored the significant cost incurred by the company in replacing damaged transformers, noting that this strains financial resources and diverts funds from other essential projects.

Further caution was issued by Ing. Ahenkorah regarding safety measures, stressing the importance of ensuring power is off before any work is carried out on the distribution network to prevent accidents, injuries, or fatal consequences.

He urged customers and the general public to report power supply issues or outages to the ECG for proper resolution, instead of attempting to address the problems independently.

The ECG Juapong District advises adherence to safety protocols and reporting procedures to ensure the reliable and secure operation of the power distribution network and avoid potential risks endangering lives and infrastructure.

Yilo Krobo MCE Extols ECG for Swift Restoration of Power After Rainstorm Devastation

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The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly, Mr. Eric Tetteh, has shown appreciation towards the dedicated staff of the Krobo District of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for their prompt response in restoring power supply following a rainstorm that hit the Yilo Krobo Area on the evening of Thursday, May 16, 2024.

Mr. Tetteh expressed his gratitude on a stakeholders WhatsApp platform, which comprises assembly members, community opinion leaders, journalists, and heads of critical institutions, along with officials from ECG in the Krobo District and Tema Region. This platform serves as a medium for stakeholders and the power distributor to share updates on electricity supply, outage challenges, and related issues.

In the aftermath of the Thursday evening storm, several customers within the jurisdiction experienced power outages due to fallen cables in Kpogunor and Somanya. Stakeholders swiftly communicated these issues on the platform, prompting the fault and maintenance team of the Krobo District ECG to quickly address the anomalies and restore power to affected customers.

Having observed the tireless efforts of the fault team on Friday, the MCE took to the WhatsApp platform on Saturday, 18th May 2024, to commend the team for their hard work. He acknowledged the challenging circumstances, stating, “It was yesterday I appreciated the work of ECG in earnest. The tragedy at my stretch was devastating. ECG boss and your team ayekoo. But force for us to get light today.”

While the restoration efforts following the storm-induced damages at the MCE’s location might require additional time, the ECG Krobo District Manager, Ing. Christopher Apawu, assured stakeholders the previous night that service would be fully restored by the end of Saturday, 18th May 2024. The district team is diligently working to rectify all damages and aims to have all customers back on supply by the close of the day.

The ECG advises the public to prioritize safety during storms as incidents of ripped roofs, uprooted trees, fallen billboards, and poles have been increasingly reported. Individuals are urged to steer clear of broken cables at all times, immediately report any issues to the power distributor for resolution, and mitigate potential electricity-related risks.

As the community endeavors to recover from the storm’s impact, the collaborative efforts between the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly and ECG highlight the importance of swift response and cooperation in addressing challenges and ensuring uninterrupted power supply for residents.

Akufo-Addo appoints Joseph Kpemka as Deputy BOST MD

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Former Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, has been appointed as the Deputy Managing Director of Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Limited Company (BOST).

A letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, instructed the Minister of Energy Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh to take the “necessary steps to regularise the said appointment in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 929) and the constitution of the company.”

Kpemka served as a one-time Member of Parliament for Tempane in the Upper East region after winning the 2016 parliamentary election with 13,363 votes against the National Democratic Congress’ David Adakudugu.

Below is the President’s letter.

John Kumah was a dedicated leader and has left great legacy

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The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has paid a glowing tribute to the late Dr John Ampontuah Kumah, a former Member of Parliament for Ejisu and Deputy Finance Minister, who died on March 7, 2024, at the age of 45, describing him as a great and dedicated leader.

The party’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Koduah, in a tribute, highlighted his contributions to the party’s victory in 2020 and his subsequent efforts as MP for Ejisu.

The tribute also acknowledged his hard work and dedication, which led to his appointment as the leader of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme in 2020 and subsequently as Deputy Finance Minister.

The party has also encouraged Ghanaians to learn from his selfless service to God and mankind.

“Today we say goodbye to a great leader of our beloved party, the New Patriotic Party who death has snatched away from us. The passing of Dr John Ampontuah Kumah, the Member of Parliament for Ejisu and Deputy Minister for Finance surprised us and shocked our very foundation because of what he meant for the party and Ghana at large. John Kumah, throughout his university life, contributed a lot to the party’s victory in 2020.”

“He continued his efforts for the party even after his university education. When he decided to contest as MP for his constituency, he made a lot of effort and won the primaries. Due to his hard work, the president selected him to lead the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme in 2020.”

“We will never forget him. His hard work also led to his position as the deputy Finance Minister. We appreciate all his contributions and support for the party. We should all learn from his legacy. Indeed, the late John Kumah has fought a good fight, finished the race and kept the faith and confidence that the good people of Ejisu constantly will remember him.”

“He was fearless, independent and decent. While the NPP mourns with the Ejisuman and the nation at large, the untimely demise of our late brother and friend will also once again share with Ghanaians and the bereaved family, in particular our condolences.

“May His gentle soul continue to rest in peace and may generations continue to learn from his selfless service to God and Mankind.”

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Police Dismiss Inspector For N29.8m Theft, Kidnapping, Robbery In Abuja

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The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed one of its officers identified as Adabo Mohammed for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, among others.

Mohammed, who was an Inspector, alongside five others was said to be a member of an armed robbery gang allegedly responsible for the stealing of N29.8 million from a victim in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory.

Disclosing this to the public, on Friday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement issued at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The statement, titled, ‘Police speak tough on indiscipline, misconduct,’ noted that in a move to uphold professional standards within the Force, the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, stressed the Force’s intolerance to any form of indiscipline.

The statement partly reads: “In a decisive move to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity within the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has emphasised his administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards any form of indiscipline.

“He stressed that the mandate of the police is to serve and protect with honour and integrity, and as such all breaches of the core values of the NPF will be met with decisive action to maintain public trust and ensure justice.

“In line with this policy, all cases reported against personnel have been creditably attended to, and justice has been done appropriately.

“Many of the erring officers have been sanctioned, while some cases are still at the orderly room trial level, and will soon be concluded.

READ MORE:FCT Police Nab Car Snatchers, Recover Fake $300,000 (Pictures)

“For instance, a police inspector has been dismissed from service while three others were demoted to their previous ranks following thorough investigations which confirmed their involvement in various acts of indiscipline/crime.”

“One Inspector Adabo Mohammed was dismissed for the offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery/kidnapping, and corrupt practice.

“The dismissed officer, along with five others were members of an armed robbery gang responsible for the robbery of the sum of N29.8 million from a victim in Gwagwalada, FCT as well as the kidnap of one Ikechukwu Emmanuel Okafor in Tunga Manje, and the collection of ransom sum of N4.4m. The ex-officer has been charged to court accordingly.

“Similarly, the trio of Inspectors Osagie Efford, Semiu Agbekin, and Francis Ahuen, attached to the Special Tactical Squad (STS), have been demoted to their previous rank of Sergeant for the extortion of some motorists in Abuja. The trio intercepted an unregistered Mercedes Benz at Gwarinpa, Abuja, and forced the occupants to part with the total sum of N29.4m.”

EC To Replace Voter ID Cards For Akosombo Dam Spillage Victims From May 30

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Jean Mensa

The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced the commencement of the replacement process for voter ID cards belonging to victims of the Akosombo dam spillage, starting on Thursday, May 30.

The Commission has pledged to replace all voter cards for residents of the affected communities free of charge.

In a statement posted on its official platform on Thursday, the Commission expressed its commitment to ensuring that all eligible voters can participate in the upcoming General Election.

In solidarity with the victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage and responding to calls for support, the EC has decided to provide the replacement of Voter ID Cards at no cost to the affected individuals.

“As a well-meaning Commission, it is our duty to support all eligible voters to exercise their right to vote. The replacement of voter ID cards for victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage is intended to fulfill that duty,” the statement read.

In a supportive move, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, hinted at an impending class action suit against the government on behalf of the spillage victims. Expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the plight of the victims, Mr. Ablakwa emphasized that legal action was necessary to compel the government to provide full compensation to those affected.

According to Mr. Ablakwa, despite extensive efforts to secure government assistance for the victims, little progress has been made in aiding those impacted by the disaster, including providing new shelter and support for lost property. The lawmaker stressed the need for the victims to receive proper compensation for their losses, highlighting their feelings of neglect and betrayal eight months after the tragic incident.

“We have begun discussions with our lawyers and are evaluating legal action to hold the government accountable for the neglect and mistreatment of the victims. It is evident that the government has failed in its obligations to these individuals, and legal intervention seems to be the only viable option at this point,” Mr. Ablakwa stated during an interview on Joy FM.

As discussions of legal action unfold, attention is drawn to the EC’s initiative to replace voter ID cards for victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage, providing a measure of support to those impacted by the calamity. Stakeholders await further developments in both the electoral and legal domains as efforts continue to address the grievances of the affected individuals.

By Vincent Kubi

Nigeria Crashed On Tinubu’s Inauguration Day – Babachir Lawal

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Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has said Nigeria collapsed after the swearing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, last year.

According to him, the announcement of fuel subsidy removal by Tinubu on the day of inauguration caused an economic downturn because the policy was launched before the cabinet was assembled.

Discussing state of the nation on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, he noted that the announcement of fuel subsidy removal led to increase in the transportation which is basically the engine of business for both the rich and common man in Nigeria.

He said: “I can only repeat what I said before. I’ve spoken on this before. First of all, I did say one time you came into government on the day you were inaugurated.

“After swearing in you embark on the first major policies that are very impactful on the lives of the society. It is like a cowboy, or macho man removing subsidy. At that time, he didn’t have a minister of planning, that should plan the outcome, the consequences to take care.

READ ALSO: FG Must Put Infrastructure On Ground For CNG Vehicles To Work In Nigeria – Babachir Lawal

“You don’t have a minister of finance who will calculate the impact of this society. You did not even have the federal executive council that will approve that, you have nothing. As at that time, nobody to advise, nobody to break out ‘what ifs.’”

Speaking further, he said, “So immediately after that inauguration, Nigeria collapsed. It is like a balloon. Nigeria fell down. It deflated completely. Immediately transportation (fare) tripled.

“That week! I used to buy animal feed for my cows from Zaria, I used to pay N270,000 per truck. Immediately that week, I couldn’t buy anymore, because transportation alone was going to cost me N1 million.

“I couldn’t afford it because the cost of fuel just jumped up. Everything. Last week I bought some equipment for my farm. I wanted to transport it from Kano, they were asking me to pay N3 million to transport three tractors and only to be put in a trailer. One trailer carrying three tractors!. Everything has gone up. So that policy alone crashed everything.”

Former MP Joseph Kpemka Appointed Deputy Managing Director Of BOST

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Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, former Member of Parliament for the Tempane Constituency in the Upper East Region, has been appointed as the Deputy Managing Director of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST).

The appointment of Mr. Kpemka was confirmed in a letter signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President.

The directive in the letter was addressed to the Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, instructing him to take the necessary actions to formalize the appointment.

The letter stated, *“The President of the Republic has nominated Mr. Joseph Dindiok Kpemka for appointment as Deputy Managing Director of Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Limited Company. Kindly take the necessary steps to regularize the said appointment by the relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 929) and the constitution of the company.”*

With this new appointment, Mr. Kpemka will join another Deputy Managing Director in supporting Edwin Nii Obodai Provencal in overseeing the operations of the company.

Kpemka brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously served as a Deputy Attorney General and deputy Minister for Justice during the first term of the Akufo-Addo government.

Educationally, Mr. Kpemka holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Ghana, along with an LLB and a Barrister of Law qualification from the Ghana School of Law.

The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) Company Limited, was established in 1993 as a private limited liability company, with the Ghanaian government as its sole shareholder.

The primary mission of the company is to build a comprehensive network of storage tanks, pipelines, and bulk transportation infrastructure across the country, in addition to maintaining Strategic Reserve Stocks for Ghana.

Mr. Kpemka’s appointment symbolizes the government’s commitment to leveraging experienced individuals to drive the strategic objectives of critical sectors such as energy storage and transportation within the country.

By Vincent Kubi

John Kumah Laid To Rest

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The late former Deputy Finance Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu Constituency, Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah, has been laid to rest in Kumasi after his untimely passing at the age of 45 following a brief illness.

A high-powered government delegation, led by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, came together to pay their respects and participate in the final funeral rites of the late party stalwart.

In a heartfelt tribute, Vice President Dr. Bawumia reminisced about the unwavering support he had received from the late lawmaker during his campaign for the flagbearer position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He expressed his gratitude by stating, “True to his public pledge, John supported me strongly, campaigning with me everywhere in the country when I finally announced my decision to contest as flagbearer of the NPP. He desired to see me win the December elections, and I pray that God will grant his desires for me and the party and the country.”

During the event in Kumasi, some regional officers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Founder of the Movement for Change, Alan Kyerematen, were present to mourn alongside the family and friends of the deceased.

Dr. John Kumah’s educational journey includes obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with Philosophy from the University of Ghana and an MBA in Finance from GIMPA in 2009.

He further pursued a Degree in Law (LLB) from the University of Ghana, a Professional Law Degree (BL) from the Ghana School of Law, a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Business Research from the Nobel International Business School in 2019, and a Doctorate in Business Innovation from the Swiss Business School in Switzerland.

His career spanned various sectors including law, business, and politics.

Dr. Kumah was a solicitor and legal practitioner admitted to the Ghana Bar in 2013, a founding member and Managing Partner of Aduaprokye Chambers, founder of Majak Associates Ltd – a construction company, and the CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) until 2020.

He was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance in April 2021 after his successful election as the Member of Parliament for the Ejisu constituency in the 2020 general elections under the NPP.

His contributions were not only limited to his roles in finance and law but also extended to participating in various committees, including serving as Vice Chairperson of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.

The legacy of Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah will undoubtedly be remembered by those whose lives he had touched through his multifaceted and impactful career.

By Vincent Kubi

Chief Justice Seeks Special Prosecutor’s Response To Amidu’s Allegations

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Kissi Agyebeng

 

The Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, has taken a significant step in response to the petition submitted by former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu, calling for the removal of his successor, Kissi Agyebeng.

The move involves the Chief Justice passing on the petition to Mr. Agyebeng for his official response.

The escalation of this issue began with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo submitting a petition to the Chief Justice, urging for the removal of Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng from his position.

The petition sent by Martin Amidu, dated April 30, 2024, specifically targets Mr. Agyebeng and requests the President to dismiss him from his post due to alleged procurement irregularities and misconduct related to the administration of justice.

In a letter addressed to Mr. Agyebeng on Thursday, May 16, the Chief Justice requested his comments on the matters raised in the petition to aid in determining if a prima facie case has been established. The letter stated, “This is to forward to you a copy of the petition dated 30th April 2024 sent to the Office of the President which was forwarded to the Office of the Honourable Lady Chief Justice on 6th May 2024. Kindly provide your comments on the matters raised to enable the Honourable Chief Justice to determine if a prima facie case has been made out.”

The move by the Chief Justice to solicit the response of the Special Prosecutor signifies a key development in assessing the validity of the allegations put forward by Martin Amidu. It highlights a process of due diligence and fairness in addressing the concerns raised within the petition and underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the leadership and operations of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

As the case unfolds further, stakeholders await the response from Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng and anticipate subsequent actions based on the Chief Justice’s assessment of the situation.

By Vincent Kubi

Govt could only account for $42m out of GARID’s $200m loan – Kofi Adams

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The Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams, has disclosed that the government could only account for $42 million out of the total $200 million loan procured to implement the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID).

The former National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Organiser, in explaining the reasons for the Minority’s walkout of Parliament on Friday, May 17, said the Caucus did not want to be a party to the approval of a further $150 million meant for the GARID project.

“We thought you had taken $200 million but nothing has come out of it and you took a portion of it, claiming that per the arrangements that you had with the World Bank, you could use some part of that facility to support COVID-19 and COVID-19 funds too, you have not accounted for them.

“We don’t even know how the $65 million of the original GARID funding of $200 million was spent, whether it was spent properly or not. For the remaining $135 million, they could only account for about $42 million and so the rest of the money is unaccounted for.”

Kofi Adams on Citi TV also alleged that some contractors were paid for no work and in some instances, between 18 percent and 20 percent of the work was partially executed.

“Contractors who have been given mobilisation—some, $2 million—you call them, and they say they don’t even know the site but took the money. The government gave them the money. Others who took the money also did some 18 percent or 20 percent of the work. Three out of the nine contractors have done lower percentages, and no proper work has been done as far as the $200 million is concerned, and then you are asking for more.”

Parliament on Friday approved $150 million dollars from the World Bank.

The government cut sod for the GARID project on December 15, 2023, and is aimed at improving drainage systems, addressing solid waste management challenges, enhancing roads, extending streetlights, and improving water supply in the Greater Accra Region.

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EC cannot rig Election 2024 in favour of any political party — Commission  

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By Edward Acquah, GNA 

Accra, May 18, GNA – The Electoral Commission (EC) has stated that it is in no position to rig the 2024 General Election in favour of any political party. 

The Commission said elections are won or lost at the polling station and “not at the EC’s headquarters.” 

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Friday, Mr Samuel Tettey Deputy EC Chair in charge of Operations, said the transparent nature of the electoral processes from registration to collation and declaration of results makes it impossible for the Commission to determine the outcome of elections. 

The Commission was responding to allegations by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at a press conference in Accra on Thursday. 

Mr Tettey said there was no loophole in the electoral process that could enable the Commission to rig the elections in favour of any party or candidate. 

He said political parties had the will to put in systems to collate their figures from across the over 38,000 polling stations and match it with the figures of the Commission at the close of polls. 

“…if a political party has participated in all the above processes and has been able to collate results from all the 38,622 polling stations, their results should match the final results that the Electoral Commission would eventually declare,” Mr Tettey said. 

“Elections are won or lost at the polling station, and not at the Head Office of the Electoral Commission. Parties should train their Agents well to observe the process and not blame the EC for the outcome of the elections,” he added. 

Responding to concerns about the recruitment of Returning and Deputy Returning Officers for the ongoing voters’ registration exercise, the Commission said the process was open, fair, and transparent. 

Mr Tettey said following the advertisement of the positions in the dailies, some 20,561 persons applied, adding that an in-house committee shortlisted the applicants. 

“…all successful applicants at the interview have no less than 8 years working experience with the Commission as Temporary Election Officials,” he said. 

Mr Tetteh said that all political parties received the list of registration officials during Regional IPAC (RIPAC) and District IPAC (DIPAC) meetings “several days before the commencement of the registration exercise.” 

The EC acknowledged the challenges experienced in the first two days of the registration exercise and said that the challenges had been resolved since the third day. 

The Commission said as of the ninth day of the registration exercise, a total of 391, 111 new voters had been added to the electoral roll. 

Responding to other issues, Mr Tettey said the EC played no role in disenfranchising the people of Santrokofi, Apkafu, Lolobi, and Lipke (SALL) /Guan District in taking part in the 2020 Parliamentary elections. 

“Given that the Legislative Instrument that created the Guan District came into force on 9th November 2020, the same day Parliament went on recess, and with Parliament only returning from recess on 14th December 2020 after the general elections, the Constitutional Instrument creating the Guan Constituency could not be laid before Parliament, and in time for it to mature into law before the parliamentary election on 7th December 2020,” the Commission explained. 

GNA 

Your absence has left an irreplaceable void

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The children of the late John Kumah eulogised their late father as a “beacon of hope, a revolutionary thinker” whose absence, they say, has left an irreplaceable void in their heart.

Huldah Boatemaa Kumah, daughter of the late John Kumah, who read the children’s tribute, fondly remembered their father as a source of warmth, love, and a pillar of support to them, their mother, and many that came into contact with him.

“For us his children, there is no doubt that he was the chosen one of this generation, a beacon of hope, a revolutionary thinker, and a steadfast addict for his beloved Ghana. Today, we are gathered here with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a remarkable man. As we stand here in solemn remembrance, we celebrate a life that touched so many, a life that will forever be cherished in our hearts.

“Our father was more than just a father, he was a beacon of strength, wisdom, and love. His presence filled our lives with warmth and guidance, and his absence leaves an irreplaceable void. We have not grown as children but for the years that we saw him as our father, we have witnessed the hundreds of lives that he has touched. As we reflect on our father’s life, we are reminded of his unwavering dedication to his family. He was a loving husband, a devoted father, a pillar of support to all who knew him, his love knew no bounds, and his kindness knew no limits.”

Miss Huldah further described her late father as “a man of unparalleled courage and conviction,” who she said “was not just a leader, he was a mentor, a guide, and a source of inspiration to all who knew him.”

Government and leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were in attendance at the burial service of the late deputy Minister of Finance.

Vice president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the Chief of Staff were in attendance to represent the government as well as the Deputy Finance Minister Abena Osei Asare.

The national chairman of the NPP, Stephen Ntim and the Ashanti Regional NPP chairman, Bernard Antwi Bosiako and a host of others were also present.

The sudden passing of John Kumah on March 7, 2024, sent shockwaves throughout Ghana, leaving a void in both the political and personal spheres.

He passed away at the age of 45, survived by his wife, Lilian Kumah and six children.


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CNG Vehicles Work In Nigeria Except… – Babachir LawalFG Must Put Infrastructure On Ground For CNG Vehicles To Work In Nigeria – Babachir Lawal –

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CNG Vehicles Work In Nigeria Except… – Babachir Lawal

Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), says except Federal Government provides the framework for its functionality, the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles will not work in Nigeria.

According to him, the government needs to put in place necessary infrastructure that will lubricate the effectiveness of the CNG vehicles, or else it will be catastrophic.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to start converting all petrol or diesel-powered vehicles or generators to CNG.

The president gave the new directive “in line with his commitment to ensure energy security, drive utility, and cut high fuel costs,” according to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

The government also said that the CNG-powered buses will be unveiled on May 29, 2024, for the masses when the current administration will clock one year.

Speaking in an interview on Daily Politics, a programme on Trust TV, the former SGF said it is not sustainable, alleging that it is a means for the Governors and other government officials to mismanage the nation’s resources.

He also said there have to be gas stations everywhere in the country on the highway so that one can go there to refill whenever the vehicles run out of gas.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Directs Agencies To Procure CNG-Powered Vehicles

“They will display for who? Last time they gave money to the governors to buy buses, they call it palliatives, isn’t it?

“I’ve seen one bus in my state, in Adamawa. I’ve seen one bus plying my Mubi-Yola. I took note of the number. I saw one, I’ve not seen any other one. Sometimes, we go to provide solutions that don’t make sense.

“The other day, I was talking to one of the ministers, and was complaining about the cost of diesel which is spent on tractors every week. I spent about 75 litres of diesel on my farm. And that’s a lot of money. Yesterday I bought two drums of diesel which were 50 litres. I bought it for N700,000, and it lasts for one week if I’m lucky.

“When I complained, he said ‘convert your tractors to CNG’. I’m an engineer, then I asked, where in Adamawa will I get the gas? Or where am I going to get it if I’m going to Abuja and run out of gas? Where will I get the gas from? So the infrastructure must be on the ground,” Lawal said.

“Typical government. They talk, they talk grammar, and they leave out the implementation which should have seen the filling stations first. Let’s see the filling stations first. Let them be all over the place.

“He (Tinubu) is putting the cart before the horse. Let’s see the infrastructure for refilling the gas. If I go buy a car or convert my car to CNG, and maybe run out of gas on my way, what do I do? Park the car and come back to Abuja with the cylinder on my head. So, there must be filling stations along the road.

“The argument is that it is cheaper and more efficient than… that is the argument. I’ve seen some vehicles that use gas, the Dangote trucks, they carry hefty cylinders, and even if it runs out of gas in Mubi, he ran to Yola. At least that’s how they do their own,” he added.

NDC launches fundraiser campaign in Volta Region

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has launched a fundraiser campaign in the Volta Region for the upcoming December 7th general elections.

The ‘Support Volta NDC Campaign 2024’ seeks to pool funds from party faithful and well-wishers to finance campaign activities of the opposition party in its stronghold.

Donors are urged to dial 24852# and donate generously to the campaign.

The NDC Volta Regional Treasurer, Daniel Agboka-Zegede said members have failed to honour their monthly dues obligation, which made it difficult to fund administrative and campaign activities of the party.

He said it has become imperative for the party to explore other means to raise funds hence the launch of the ‘Support Volta NDC Campaign 2024’, to take the burden of financing party activities off the shoulders of Members of Parliament and former appointees.

“Let us work together, it is not only the executives, but it is also your the party members, without you we cannot do this. Collectively we can achieve mega things. Collectively we will win the December 7th elections by 57%. Nothing will change this so we need more money”, he stressed.

He explained the campaign forms part of an initiative to raise GH₵10,000,000 to finance campaign activities in the Volta Region.

The NDC Volta Regional Chairman, Mawutor Agbavitor expressed optimism about the NDC winning the upcoming general elections but stressed that the party needs resources to fuel campaign activities to achieve this feat.

He, therefore, appealed to the rank and file of the party to contribute to financing the party to spread its goodwill messages for the NDC to rescue Ghana “from the claws of the incompetent” governing New Patriotic Party.

“This is a political party that has its principles of probity and accountability; our principles of social justice, our principles of fairness and we are determined to be fair to all. That is why we are calling on all of you, both at home and abroad to support this movement so that we will be able to mop up resources to help the campaign of our party”, he said.

He said the NDC only needs a well-financed campaign to clinch victory since the party already has a Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama, who is a leader with integrity, and has an impeccable record to lead the country to its desired status.

The Volta Regional NDC Secretary, James Gunu indicated that the party must be more innovative and pragmatic in pooling resources to undertake campaign activities.

He entreated people in the Volta Region to identify the upcoming elections as the panacea to the survival and infrastructure development of the region and contribute towards the NDC’s campaign.

“It is not about NDC, it is not about Volta Region NDC now. It is about the development of this region, it is about the survival of this region, and it is about John Mahama winning to save Ghana. That is what you are contributing towards”, he said.

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Many Trapped As Building Collapses In Niger, Nine Rescued

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Many Trapped As Building Collapses In Niger, Nine Rescued
Nine people were reportedly rescued after a storey building collapsed in the Sabon Gwari area of Minna in Niger State.

Wasiu Abiodun, police spokesperson in Niger, said in statement that the building was used as a warehouse.

According to him, the building collapsed at about 2:50pm on Friday.

While an unspecified number of people are suspected to be trapped in the building, Abiodun said two of the nine victims rescued sustained minor injuries.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Won’t Need To Import Fuel By June – Dangote Assures

The rescued victims, he said, have been taken to the General Hospital in Minna for medical treatment.

“Today 17/05/2024 at about 1450hrs, information was received that a warehouse located along Sabongari collapsed, and the DPO ‘A’ Div Minna mobilized men to the scene for a search and rescue mission with NEMA, SEMA, and Fire Services.

“Nine people rescued. Two of them sustained minor injuries.

“The rescue mission is ongoing and the number of victims is yet to be ascertained, further details will be communicated.”

Kidnappers Now Lurk Around Homes In Ogun — Police Caution Residents On New Tactics

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The Ogun State Police Command, at the weekend, urged State residents to be conscious of new tactics deployed by kidnappers to abduct their victims.

Omolola Odutola, Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), in a chat with Punch, said kidnappers now lay siege for their victims at their gates and attack when they are about to enter their homes.

Having disclosed that a manhunt has been launched for the kidnapping syndicate, she stressed that the incidents have become prevalent in the eastern part of the State.

The spokesperson disclosed that areas where the syndicates operate include Sagamu, Iperu, Ikenne, Odogbolu, and Eruwon in Ijebu Ode in the Ogun East Senatorial District.

“The tactics they (the kidnapping syndicate) adopt is to lay wait for their unsuspecting victims at the gate, and when their victims alight from the vehicle with the engine running, towards opening the gate, the armed hoodlums will suddenly emerge from their hiding spot and zoom off with the car and the remaining occupants in the vehicle.

“This is a syndicate operating within Sagamu, Iperu, Ikenne, Odogbolu, and Eruwon in Ijebu Ode,” she said.

READ ALSO: No Worker Can Survive On Less Than N100,000 Monthly – Shehu Sani

While revealing recent incidents of such attacks, Odutola said, “Last week at Ikenne, there was a case where someone got down from the car to open the gate. Immediately the man got down from his car to open the gate, criminals unknown to him were waiting outside. They drove the car away with his baby inside it.”

She added that a similar report was made by a member of the public about the kidnapping of his wife in the same manner.

Odutola added, “He reported that his wife, Nimota Busari and their two children were returning home in her unregistered navy blue 2010 Toyota Corolla from her shop in Ibepa Area, Sagamu. Three armed men intercepted her at the gate, snatched the car, threw the children out, abducted her, and drove off.”

The PRO noted that people living in remote areas where the police may not be able to access easily were the targets of the syndicate.

She, however, urged people living in places with distant proximity to the nearest police station to avoid night movement.

“The CP directs business owners who live in quiet places, where immediate help cannot reach them or people who live at new sites to arrive at their homes before dark, so the police can study the situation better,” she added.

The police spokesperson further noted that patrol teams have been deployed to the hotspots of the attacks while reiterating the command’s commitment to ending crime and criminality.

Husband sets 3-month deadline for his postpartum wife to lose 50 pounds

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Having a baby is a life-altering event. Parents often say that they can’t remember what life was like before their baby was born, a statement that holds particularly true for the pregnant parent.

Growing and birthing a baby is no easy feat, which is one major reason why moms should be gentle with themselves after welcoming new life into the world.

Yet moms often experience mountains of undue pressure, especially surrounding how their bodies are supposed to look. A lot of that pressure is societal, yet sometimes, it comes from your own community.

A husband set a three-month deadline for his postpartum wife to lose 50 pounds.

In a since-deleted post, the mom wrote to the subreddit r/AmIWrong, revealing that her husband wants her to lose weight by August. She shared that she’s 5’2, 165 pounds, and 13 months postpartum.

“He’s not going to leave me or anything if I don’t,” she explained. “He’s just going to be disappointed and annoyed that I’m not making any [progress].”

She shared that she visited her doctor, who told her there wasn’t “anything out of the ordinary” contributing to her weight, but she feels like she’s “struggling.”

“I’m sure it’s my diet since I’m obsessed with carbs, and I love soda and sweets,” she continued.

It’s important to note that framing certain foods as good or bad is an unhealthy mindset. Food doesn’t come with an assigned morality.

In that same vein, having a heavier body doesn’t automatically make someone unattractive or unhealthy. All bodies are different, and all bodies hold worth, no matter what size they are.

It’s wildly unrealistic to expect a woman who carried a baby for almost a year, then gave birth to that baby, then devoted every waking hour to keeping that baby alive, to look the way she did before all that.

Moms who are nursing or pumping need an increased caloric intake solely because of the physical work they’re doing by producing milk for their babies.

As mom and fitness coach Dr. Kelsi explained, “Breastfeeding can burn anywhere between 500 and 700 calories per day.”

“Breastfeeding is basically the equivalent of going on a 5 to 7-mile run every single day,” she said.

“Think about how tired you would be, how much fuel you would need, how much water you would need if you were to run 5 to 7 miles every single day,” she continued, sending out a much-needed message to moms that they’re working incredibly hard, even if it feels like they’re doing nothing at all.

“Postpartum, especially if you’re breastfeeding, you probably need a lot more calories than you’re taking in,” Dr. Kelsi concluded.“Please, for the love of all things holy, do not slash your calories postpartum,” she insisted.

Rachelle Gershkovich, a sleep specialist and nutritionist, broke down the number of calories postpartum moms need.

“First of all, you’re going to need your own personal daily needs, somewhere between 1800 and 2000 calories a day,” she said.

“Milk production alone, your baby’s gonna be eating around 500 calories a day; that’s 24 to 25 ounces. So, you need at least an extra 500 calories a day just for the production of what your baby needs.”

“Then you need to add in working, all the energy required to make all this milk,” Gershkovich continued. “So, it’s around 700 calories a day extra that you need just for milk production.”

Not only is it unrealistic to expect a postpartum body to ‘snap back’ to how it looked before, but it’s also unhealthy for both moms and babies.

Every person’s body belongs solely to them, meaning that if they want to lose or gain weight, they should do so without outside judgment.

Yet this mom’s situation raises major red flags in that she doesn’t say that she, herself, wants to change her body, but rather that her husband wants her to lose weight in a rather unhealthy way.

As one person in the comments said, “This sounds like emotional blackmail from your husband.”

“Unless you’re ready to go through a weight loss journey for you, you’re not [going to] succeed,” they continued. “This has to be because you want it. Doing it for someone else never works.”

Their advice captured a grounded way of looking at any kind of change: You have to commit to transformation because you want to, not because someone else wants you to.

“Someone that loves you wouldn’t set you up for failure like this,” commented someone else. “No one can lose 50 pounds in that amount of time, at least not healthily.”

Another person shared their wisdom around weight loss, saying that it’s “never as simple as ‘eat less, move more.’ Everybody’s body and physiology is unique and different, especially postpartum, which he will never understand.”

One woman commented on the underlying misogyny of the husband prescribing a weight-loss deadline for his wife, saying, “And dudes wonder why ladies are picking the bear,” referring to the trend of asking women if they’d rather be alone in a forest with a strange man or a wild bear.

On the other side of the gender spectrum, a dad shared his opinion, citing his own lived experience.

“My wife and I have two children together. Our bodies both look different now than they did when we first got together. I want my wife to feel good and be healthy. If she wanted to lose weight, I ]would] support her. As long as she is healthy, that’s what is important,” he said.

“What he is asking is not healthy in any way,” the dad continued before wondering, “Why is he asking? Is he worried about your health or just worried about your physical appearance?”

He shared a truism about being in a body that’s easy to forget yet sacred to remember, saying, “Health is a journey, not a destination.”

“What I mean is that you won’t hit a goal weight and magically be happy there in perpetuity,” he concluded, which brings up a valuable point in the larger conversation around weight loss.

A registered nurse offered his perspective, saying, “You’d be amazed how different people’s bodies are.”

“The scale is not an accurate depiction of one’s health or aesthetic,” he explained. “No two bodies are the same, and body structure and anatomy of bones and muscles are different for everyone, so it’s impossible to know how someone will look or how healthy they’ll be losing or gaining ‘x’ amount of pounds.”

Losing weight isn’t always equated with better health. It doesn’t automatically make someone happy or confident in who they are as a whole person.

The only thing that can make you feel at home in your body is to radically accept yourself for who you are in this exact moment, no matter what the number on the scale or your misguided husband says.

PDP No Longer Relevant In Osun, APC Will Take Over In 2026

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Former governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, has disclosed that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party is no longer relevant in the state.

Oyetola on Friday, expressed confidence that All Progressives Congress will defeat PDP in the 2026 governorship election in the South West state.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy led this out at a rally organised to receive PDP ex-National Deputy Chairman, Shuaib Oyedokun and ex-governorship aspirant on the platform of PDP, Mr Dotun Babayemi and their supporters into APC.

Oyetola said that the defection into the party by Babayemi and his people was an indication that more people from the ruling party would join APC from the PDP before 2026 gubernatorial poll.

He said: “It is an irony that we lost an election over a year ago and there has been no major defection from the party. What we have is the reverse.

READ MORE: Gov. Adeleke, Drums Supports For APC’s Oyetola’s Ministerial Nomination

“It is the ruling party that is coming to us, which shows that APC remains a party to beat. We have done so well, and people are starting to see that when it comes to governance, the progressive knows how to.

“The way President Tinubu has been governing us, that is what the APC governors in their respective states have been doing.

“I am delighted by the fact that we are not just getting anybody, but people of substance. Like Baba Suaibu, he is a veteran member of the PDP, decamping to the APC. It shows that PDP doesn’t exist any longer here.

“I am confident that in 2026, we are going to take over the state. This is just the beginning because several people are willing to come back to us, and a lot of political heavyweights are coming to join us. I welcome Dotun Babayemi and Alhaji Suiabu Oyedokun to the progressives.”

John Kumah strongly supported my flagbearer bid – Bawumia

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The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has opened up on the crucial role late former Ejisu Member of Parliament (MP) Dr John Ampontuah Kumah played in his presidential ambition.

The Vice President has said late Dr Kumah was very supportive and encouraged him throughout the process.

This to him made the former MP’s death on March 7, 2024, a big blow to him.

Dr Bawumia disclosed this in a tribute at the funeral of the former Deputy Finance Minister at Onwe-Ejisu on Saturday.

He recounted being on campaign tours with the deceased nationwide, demonstrating his commitment to his presidential ambition.

“His sudden death in March has been a personal blow. Long before I decided to run for president, Hon. John Kumah was among the few party leaders and legislators to have publicly urged me to run and pledged his unending support.

“Through his public pledge, John supported me strongly, campaigning with me everywhere in the country,” he mourned.

Dr Bawumia lauded the 45-year-old lawmaker’s initiatives aimed at youth empowerment and his dedication to Ghana’s development, leaving an indelible mark.

“His initiatives focused on empowering the youth and looking for a brighter future for Ghana’s next generation. His commitment to the national development programme remains indelible and has left an enduring mark on the country’s trajectory.

“He was also a lawyer of good standing, in that area too he was brilliant, diligent and professional in dealings with his clients,” he eulogised.

Dr Bawumia was part of thousands of mourners, including political leaders who joined John Kumah’s family to pay their last respects.

He is survived by his wife and six children.

You were my inspiration and made me who I am today

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Apostle Lilian Kumah, the widow of the late Ejisu MP Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah, has paid a heartfelt tribute to her husband, describing him as her “everything”.

The tribute was delivered at a solemn gathering of thousands of loved ones, including political leaders, who assembled to mourn with the family.

In her tribute, Apostle. Kumah described John Kumah as her best friend, supporter, provider, teacher, and encourager.

She recounted how he supported her throughout her education, investing in her and helping her succeed.

She also praised his unwavering support for her religious leadership, even when she became a lady pastor.

Apostle Kumah remembered her husband as a unique and forgiving person who always showed her respect and inspired her to be better.

She also vowed to ensure his dreams come true and not disappoint him.

“You were my everything. You were not just my husband, but also my best friend. My supporter, my provider and my teacher. My encourager even in my journey as a religious leader, you helped me.

You made me who I am today. I met him in Accra and I had done with my SSCE. You helped me throughout my education. You invested in me a lot including my education and I passed successfully.”

“Despite your investment in my education, you supported me even when I became a lady pastor. You have been my inspiration all my life and have been why I strived to be a better person. You forgave despite the situation.

“You gave me the needed respect in all conditions. You were unique in all your dealings. I will never disappoint you and ensure all your dreams come true.”

 

Ahomka FM tops all in Central Region

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Ahomka FM tops all in Central Region

18 MAY 2024 LISTEN

A recent survey by Virtual PR Africa, has shown that a platform of Groupe Nduom media, Ahomka FM, is the 2023 most listened to radio station in the Central Region.

The poll which was conducted as part of Virtual PR Africa’s strategies in identifying the strengths of various media houses and juxtaposing them with the needs of their clients, came out with top 5 radio station in 11 regions in Ghana.

In an exclusive interview with the manager of the station, Mr. Samuel Nana Effah Obeng expressed appreciation to the Board of Directors, staff, listeners and all other stakeholders for their amazing support and dedication in ensuring that the station maintains its credibility and quality in the production of content.

Mr. Obeng indicated that, after winning the Liz Hughes International Awards in 2021 and other multiple regional awards over the period, he wasn’t surprised his outfit had once again chalked such success. He said this is the second time in almost a decade, since the company gained such recognition, with the first one in 2017 by Geopoll.

He assured his audience of more innovative programs designed in ensuring that, local enterprises grab the opportunity in adding value to their services.

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You were my inspiration, made me who I am today – Lilian Kumah

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Apostle Lilian Kumah, the widow of the late Ejisu MP Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah, has paid a heartfelt tribute to her late husband, describing him as her “everything”.

The tribute was delivered at a solemn gathering of thousands of loved ones, including political leaders, who assembled to mourn with the family.

In her tribute, Apostle. Kumah described John Kumah as her best friend, supporter, provider, teacher, and encourager.

She recounted how he supported her throughout her education, investing in her and helping her succeed.

She also praised his unwavering support for her religious leadership, even when she became a lady pastor.

Apostle Kumah remembered her husband as a unique and forgiving person who always showed her respect and inspired her to be better.

She also vowed to ensure his dreams come true and not disappoint him.

“You were my everything. You were not just my husband, but also my best friend. My supporter, my provider and my teacher. My encourager even in my journey as a religious leader, you helped me.

You made me who I am today. I met him in Accra and I had done with my SSCE. You helped me throughout my education. You invested in me a lot including my education and I passed successfully.”

“Despite your investment in my education, you supported me even when I became a lady pastor. You have been my inspiration all my life and have been why I strived to be a better person. You forgave despite the situation.

“You gave me the needed respect in all conditions. You were unique in all your dealings. I will never disappoint you and ensure all your dreams come true.”

—citinewsroom

Rainstorm destroys Hohoe E.P. Senior High School building 

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A rainstorm on Thursday, May 16, caused serious damage to buildings and other facilities of the Hohoe E.P Senior High School (HEPSS) in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta region.

The school’s garage, boys’ and girls’ dormitory, classroom blocks, school’s clinic, maintenance shed, siren and polytanks were among the damaged properties.

Madam Olivia Afua Agbezuge, Assistant Headmistress, Administration, briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after a tour of some damaged properties, said trees also fell as a result of the rainstorm but they were lucky no casualty was recorded.

She said the situation had plunged the institution into lights out since the incident until the time of the visit, adding that there were no preps for students in the evening.

“Some classrooms are still dark and some students with eye problems find it difficult to learn under the present condition. Even teachers are affected because some of them have to use light during the day in their lessons.”

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Madam Agbezuge said the siren, being the source of information to students, had also been down which inhibited movement of students on their schedules.

She called for individuals and organisations for the school since they were now in danger.

The GNA has also learnt that water supply to the school, which is hinged on electricity power, could be affected.

Mr Foster Agbotse, Board Chairman of the School, after assessing the extent of damage, told GNA that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) had been on the campus and it was the hope that power would be restored as soon as possible.

He said the security of the school was key and the breakdown of the siren was affecting the control of students although the school cadet came in handy.

Mr Agortse noted that if power was not restored, access to water would be a difficult situation to handle.

He noted that there was no plant to power the school and appealed to the Ministry of Education, old students, the church and philanthropists to help the school.

Mr Agotse said the dilapidated nature of the classrooms affected needed urgent attention from government.

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GNA

John Kumah strongly supported me to become NPP flagbearer – Bawumia reveals

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Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has revealed that the late former Member of Parliament for Ejisu and Deputy Finance Minister Dr John Ampontuah Kumah played a crucial role in his decision to run for president.

Dr. Bawumia, while paying a heartfelt tribute to John Kumah expressed his gratitude to the late Minister highlighting his strong support and encouragement in his decision from the outset.

According to Bawumia, Kumah was among the first party leaders to publicly urge him to run for the highest office and pledged his unwavering support, describing his demise as a personal blow.

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He recounted how Kumah campaigned with him across the country, demonstrating his commitment to Bawumia’s presidential ambition.

Bawumia praised Kumah’s initiatives aimed at empowering youth and his dedication to Ghana’s development, leaving an indelible mark on the country’s progress.

“His initiatives focused on empowering the youth and looking for a brighter future for Ghana’s next generation. His commitment to the national development programme remains indelible and has left an enduring mark on the country’s trajectory. He was also a lawyer of good standing, in that area too he was brilliant, diligent and professional in dealings with his clients.”

“His sudden death in March has been a personal blow. Long before I decided to run for president, Hon. John Kumah was among the few party leaders and legislators to have publicly urged me to run and pledged his unending support. Through his public pledge, John supported me strongly, campaigning with me everywhere in the country.”

Thousands of loved ones including political leaders have assembled at the grounds to mourn with the family.

518202423605-otkvn0y442-518202421234-whatsapp-image-2024-05-18-at-103359-am-1.jpeg

The sudden passing of John Kumah on March 7, 2024, sent shockwaves throughout Ghana, leaving a void in both the political and personal spheres.

He passed away at the age of 45, survived by his wife and six children.

—citinewsroom

Medikal donate tables, chairs, other items to Oduman Asuaba M/A Basic School

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Medikal donate tables, chairs, other items to Oduman Asuaba MA Basic School

18 MAY 2024 LISTEN

Celebrated Ghanaian rapper Medikal has donated tables, chairs, and various essential items to the Oduman Asuaba M/A Basic School in the GA South District, where students had been forced to sit on stones during lessons.

This generous gesture was sparked by a series of poignant images shared by blogger Kobby Kyei, which highlighted the dire conditions of the school.

The photos quickly gained attention online, leading to an outpouring of commendation from the public.

Medikal, fresh off his sold-out concert at the London Indigo O2 on May 3, 2024, took immediate action upon his return to Ghana. Alongside his manager, Kofi Jam, the rapper not only provided much-needed furniture but also took a hands-on approach by sweeping and painting the classroom walls.

This personal involvement added a touching dimension to his contribution, showcasing his dedication to improving educational facilities for young students.

“I believe in giving back to my community and supporting the younger generation,” Medikal stated. “Education is crucial, and these children deserve a conducive learning environment. This is just the beginning; I am committed to doing more.”

The donation and Medikal’s personal efforts were met with widespread acclaim. Community members and fans alike praised both Medikal and Kobby Kyei for their roles in addressing the school’s needs. The rapper’s actions have not only improved the physical state of the classrooms but have also inspired hope and gratitude within the community.

This initiative marks the start of a broader commitment from Medikal, who has pledged to continue supporting local schools and other community projects. His return to Ghana has been characterized by a renewed focus on philanthropy, promising more such heartfelt contributions in the future.

Medikal’s impactful gesture serves as a powerful reminder of the significant difference individuals can make, and his example is sure to inspire others to contribute to their communities in meaningful

John Kumah strongly supported me to become NPP flagbearer

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Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has revealed that the late former Member of Parliament for Ejisu and Deputy Finance Minister Dr John Ampontuah Kumah played a crucial role in his decision to run for president.

Dr. Bawumia, while paying a heartfelt tribute to John Kumah expressed his gratitude to the late Minister highlighting his strong support and encouragement in his decision from the outset.

According to Bawumia, Kumah was among the first party leaders to publicly urge him to run for the highest office and pledged his unwavering support, describing his demise as a personal blow.

He recounted how Kumah campaigned with him across the country, demonstrating his commitment to Bawumia’s presidential ambition.

Bawumia praised Kumah’s initiatives aimed at empowering youth and his dedication to Ghana’s development, leaving an indelible mark on the country’s progress.

“His initiatives focused on empowering the youth and looking for a brighter future for Ghana’s next generation. His commitment to the national development programme remains indelible and has left an enduring mark on the country’s trajectory. He was also a lawyer of good standing, in that area too he was brilliant, diligent and professional in dealings with his clients.”

“His sudden death in March has been a personal blow. Long before I decided to run for president, Hon. John Kumah was among the few party leaders and legislators to have publicly urged me to run and pledged his unending support. Through his public pledge, John supported me strongly, campaigning with me everywhere in the country.”

Thousands of loved ones including political leaders have assembled at the grounds to mourn with the family.

The sudden passing of John Kumah on March 7, 2024, sent shockwaves throughout Ghana, leaving a void in both the political and personal spheres.

He passed away at the age of 45, survived by his wife and six children.

Lilwin's 'A Country Called Ghana' draws massive crowd at National Theatre

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The National Theatre in Accra was a scene of glamour and excitement on Friday, May 17, as thousands of fans and movie enthusiasts gathered for the premiere of the highly anticipated film, A Country Called Ghana.

The movie, produced by celebrated Ghanaian actor and producer Lilwin, received an overwhelming reception from the audience.

The event was a star-studded affair, drawing notable figures from both the Ghanaian and Nigerian entertainment industries. Among the luminaries were renowned Ghanaian celebrities such as Medikal, Kalybos, Guru, and Akrobeto. Nigerian actor Victor Osuagwu, famously known as Awilo Sharp Sharp, who also featured in the movie, was in attendance, adding to the event’s international flair.

The Country Called Ghana marks a significant collaboration between Ghanaian and Nigerian cinema, directed by the acclaimed Fiifi Gharbin and produced by Lilwin. The film features a stellar cast of African acting legends, including Ramsey Nouah, Charles Awurum, PAA George, Sweet Mimi, and Lilwin himself.

In addition to the impressive lineup of actors, the premiere saw appearances from other well-known personalities like Ahuofe Patri, David Osei, D Cryme, and Kofi Akpaloo, the leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG).

The movie’s storyline and the star power it brings have already generated considerable buzz, promising to be a major hit across both nations. Following its successful Accra debut, A Country Called Ghana is set to continue its premiere tour at the KNUST CCB Auditorium in Kumasi on May 25 and will conclude at the Eusbett Hotel in Sunyani on June 1, 2024.

Toulouse Kente Dinner Dance returns for 3rd edition

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The organizers of the Toulouse Kente Dinner Dance revealed that the highly anticipated 3rd edition of the event will take place on August 31st, 2024, at the prestigious Salle du Lac Castanet.

Promising an unforgettable evening of music, dance, and cultural celebration, this year’s program aims to bridge the gap between Ghanaian heritage and the Francophone community in France.

The electrifying Nkyimkyim band and Ntakra band are set to headline the event, guaranteeing an immersive experience into the vibrant rhythms and melodies of Ghanaian music.

Speaking on behalf of the organizing team, member of the event organizers, Nana Kwabena Frimpong, expressed his excitement, stating, “Our main aim is to introduce the rich cultural heritage of Ghana to the Francophones in France.

Through music, dance, and traditional attire like the colorful Kente cloth, we hope to foster greater cultural exchange and understanding.”

The Toulouse Kente Dinner Dance program is being organized by the Nananom Traditional Council of Toulouse, highlighting the collaborative effort to showcase the cultural diversity and richness of Ghana.

Distinguished guests expected to grace the occasion include Her Excellency Anna Bossman, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to France, and the esteemed Mayor of Toulouse, France.

Their presence underscores the significance of the event in promoting cultural diplomacy and fostering closer ties between Ghana and France.

With anticipation building, the 3rd edition of the Toulouse Kente Dinner Dance promises to be an extraordinary celebration of Ghanaian culture, uniting communities and creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

‘You slept with me when I was a minor’ – Schwarzenegger dismisses Kwasi Aboagye’s demand for retraction –

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Afia Schwarzenegger has made it clear that she will not be issuing any retraction or apology to broadcaster Kwasi Aboagye.

This stance follows a request from Kwasi Aboagye’s legal team, which sought an apology from Afia for suggesting he is impotent and involved with underage girls.

In her response, Afia maintained her position, asserting that the radio host does pursue underage girls and that her statements were truthful.

Recalling the lawyer’s statement, it acknowledged a past sexual encounter with Afia Schwarzenegger.

The statement included, “Our client indeed regrets his brief encounter with you while unmarried over 20 years ago. But for the avoidance of doubts, he denies your allegations as completely false and malicious.”

In a rebuttal shared on Instagram, Afia Schwarzenegger countered:

“You were intimate with me when I was just a child. You express regret over our encounter from twenty years ago. At that time, I was a minor; did you seek consent from our mothers beforehand?

“My companion, who was even younger than I was at the time, was there when you provided us with Sangia and Vodka. Leave me alone, you fool.”

Background

A formal letter from Kwasi Aboagye’s legal representatives to Afia surfaced, demanding an apology for insinuating that the broadcaster pursues underage girls and suffers from impotence.

Afia Schwarzenegger now faces a seven-day deadline to remove the contentious audiovisual content from the internet, failing which she risks facing a libel lawsuit.

“Our client takes notice that you have repeated outright falsehoods against him over a long period, and are now seeking others, including Mr. Charles Nii Armah Mensah to join you in spreading same.

“Once again, he elects to ignore the bare insults but not the false claims of the criminal court of defiling unnamed minors, imputations of impotence, and infidelity of his partner to hurt his family.

“Your written retraction and apology which must be delivered within 7 days from the date above must be unequivocal, unconditional, and subject to prior approval of our client.

“Our client indeed regrets his brief encounter with you while unmarried over 20 years ago. But for the avoidance of doubts, he denies your allegations as completely false and malicious,” parts of the statement read.

ghanaweb.com

Comedian Sabinus’ partner clears the air on domestic violence rumors –

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Ciana Chapman, the wife of comedian Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Ejekwu, popularly known as Sabinus, has refuted claims that her husband had been physically assaulting her.

The allegations, originating from a blogger, accused the comedian of domestic abuse, among others.

However, in response to these claims, Ciana has admonished blogs to cease disseminating unfounded allegations about her and her relatives.

She expressed bewilderment at the accusations, questioning the possibility of her husband, who is presently in Nigeria, assaulting her while she is in the United Kingdom.

Through her Instagram story, she addressed the blogger: “Cutie_juls, remove my name and my family’s from your lips and your blog. How could my husband possibly be abusing me from Nigeria while I’m here in the UK?”

Ciana and Sabinus recently celebrated the birth of their first child.

The duo solemnized their union in an intimate wedding ceremony at the beginning of 2023.

Source: mynigeria.com

‘Only ignorant people think I lack talent’ – Patapaa –

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Ghanaian musician, Patapaa, has relayed a message to his detractors.

Patapaa, who soared to fame with his 2017 hit “One Corner,” has voiced his frustration about critics who doubt his talent and attribute his success to mere luck.

He has labeled such individuals as oblivious to his true worth, dismissing their claims of his lack of musical aptitude.

Speaking to Graphic Showbiz, Patapaa expressed his determination to overturn the disparaging stereotypes that have been detrimental to his career, aiming to enlighten those he deems uninformed.

“Radio and TV commentators, presenters, and some within the industry have unjustly pegged me as lacking talent, which is simply not true. Such negative perceptions hinder my progress,” he stated.

He pointed out the irony of these individuals acting as industry experts without a proper understanding of how it operates.

Patapaa is resolved to confront this issue, stating, “They seize every chance to undermine my brand, not realizing the effort it takes to build it. They’re quick to attempt to dismantle what I’ve painstakingly built.”

He continued, “I’ve been wrongfully tagged as someone who doesn’t produce meaningful music for years, making it tough to work hard against this false image. It’s time for that narrative to end.”

He plans to educate and instill discipline in the music scene, attributing the negative comments to envy rather than a fair assessment of his music.

Patapaa credits his fanbase, the Pa2PaSojas, for their unwavering support, which has prevented him from abandoning his musical pursuits.

“The Pa2PaSojas recognize and appreciate my contributions to the music scene. Critics are often fans of other artists, aiming to belittle me for their gain. They should at least acknowledge that ‘One Corner’ brought international attention to Ghana,” he concluded.

ghanaweb.com

Bloggers find pleasure in destroying celebrities’ reputations – Veteran actor Twumasi –

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Veteran Kumawood actor Kwaku Twumasi has condemned the actions of some Ghanaian bloggers, stating that they find pleasure in tarnishing the images of renowned personalities in the country.

He said these bloggers are shifting from their line of work, which is to promote the good works these personalities are contributing to the industry and society, to reporting false information about them.

The actor recounted how a blogger published a video accusing media personality Nana Ama McBrown of snubbing him at an event.

“Let’s take a look at social media; some people call themselves bloggers, which is not a bad job. At least they are doing something to help society, but I think they are bent on destroying people because of the little money they will get instead of using the page to promote people’s work. They are always promoting bad news every day. It’s difficult for me to derive meaning from their actions, but that’s how human beings are,” he said.

He continued, “An incident happened at a funeral where many of the actors attended, including myself. I met Nana Ama McBrown there, and we had a beautiful conversation and even enjoyed a meal together. When we were leaving the funeral, her car was very close, so I had to bypass her and pick up my car. The next day, it was trending on social media that Nana Ama ignored Mr. Twumasi when they met at a funeral, just to make Nana Ama look bad.”

He advised celebrities to be careful when going about their daily activities in public so they wouldn’t fall into the snares of bloggers.

“When you are a star, people are always watching you to fault someone so they can make news about it, so you should be careful when going about your activities in public. You guys are always a target, so you should be careful,” he advised.

The actor said this in an interview with Emelia Brobbey on the Okukuseku show.

Watch the interview below:

ghanaweb.com

Ghanaian rapper Medikal transforms local school with heartfelt donation –

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Celebrated Ghanaian rapper Medikal has donated tables, chairs, and various essential items to the Oduman Asuaba M/A Basic School in the GA South District, where students had been forced to sit on stones during their lessons.

This generous gesture was sparked by a series of poignant images shared by blogger Kobby Kyei, which highlighted the dire conditions within the school.

The photos quickly gained attention online, leading to an outpouring of concern and support from the public.

Medikal, fresh off his sold-out concert at the London Indigo O2 on May 3, 2024, took immediate action upon his return to Ghana. Alongside his manager, Kofi Jam, the rapper not only provided much-needed furniture but also took a hands-on approach by sweeping and painting the classroom walls.

This personal involvement added a touching dimension to his contribution, showcasing his dedication to improving educational facilities for young students.

“I believe in giving back to my community and supporting the younger generation. Education is crucial, and these children deserve a conducive learning environment. This is just the beginning; I am committed to doing more,” Medikal said.

The donation and Medikal’s efforts were met with widespread acclaim. Community members and fans alike praised both Medikal and Kobby Kyei for their roles in addressing the school’s needs.

The rapper’s actions have not only improved the physical state of the classrooms but have also inspired hope and gratitude within the community.

This initiative marks the start of a broader commitment from Medikal, who has pledged to continue supporting local schools and other community projects. His return to Ghana has been characterized by a renewed focus on philanthropy, promising more such heartfelt contributions in the future.

Medikal’s impactful gesture serves as a powerful reminder of the significant difference individuals can make, and his example is sure to inspire others to contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.

Source: attractivemustapha.com

I have lost a friend and a strong supporter – Bawumia pens touching tribute to John Kumah –

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Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia penned a touching tribute to the late former Member of Parliament for Ejisu and Deputy Minister of Finance, John Kumah.

Speaking at the final funeral rites of the former MP at Ejisu on Saturday, May 18, 2024, the Vice President, who is also the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), described the late Kumah as a friend and a strong supporter.

He added that the former deputy minister’s demise was a big blow not only to him but to the country and prayed that he would be welcomed into heaven.

“Nature, in its inexplicable course, has dealt a cruel blow, taking Kumah away in his prime. Indeed, we have lost a dedicated public servant.

“I have lost a friend and a strong supporter. We appeal to the good Lord to keep John in His bosom,” the Vice President said.

However, he indicated that the family and close relations of the deceased MP can take comfort in the great things he achieved while he was on earth.

“While we are gathered here to mourn and still in shock, we find solace in his remarkable legacy. So much done, and achieved in a short stay on earth. His journey in Ghanaian politics transcended a mere career.”

Ghana was hit by the news of the death of one of its deputy ministers of finance, John Kumah, on Thursday, March 7, 2024.

John Kumah died at the age of 45 after succumbing to an illness he had been struggling with for several months.

John Kumah was appointed Deputy Minister for Finance by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in January 2021. He was the Member of Parliament for Ejisu, in the Ashanti Region, and had been in parliament since 2021.

He was regarded as one of the rising stars in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and was touted by some factions in the party as a potential running mate to the flagbearer of the party, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

He recently won the party’s parliamentary primaries in his constituency overwhelmingly to represent it in the upcoming December 7, 2024, general elections.

He was an entrepreneur, a preacher, and a lawyer. Kumah served as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) before he entered parliament in 2020.

He is survived by his wife, Apostle Mrs. Lilian Kumah, and six children.

ghanaweb.com

Watch pallbearers’ wild performance with casket at Kuami Eugene’s father’s funeral –

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During the funeral of Kuami Eugene’s father, a group of dancing pallbearers was engaged to manage the casket’s procession, providing a captivating performance.

In line with some Ghanaian funeral preferences, these pallbearers aimed to both honour the deceased and entertain the attendees as they moved the casket towards the hearse.

A widely circulated video showcased five pallbearers, dressed in pristine white suits, skillfully dancing with the casket.

At one moment, they dramatically knelt and even lay down, all while shouldering the casket.

The crowd was drawn into the performance, dancing alongside the pallbearers as Kuami Eugene’s music played, adding a personal touch to the ceremony.

Mr. Alex Marfo, the father of the musician, was buried at Akyem Oda in the Eastern region, leaving behind his wife, Mrs. Juliana Marfo, and their children at the age of 75.

ghanaweb.com

Watch as Bawumia, Ofori-Atta, Despite, others pay last respects to the late John Kumah –

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Scores of high-profile Ghanaians from across the country flocked to Ejisu in the Ashanti Region to pay their last respects to the late former Member of Parliament for the area and Deputy Minister for Finance, John Kumah, who was expected to be buried on Saturday, May 18, 2024.

Among the high-profile personalities at the funeral of the late MP were leading figures of the ruling New Patriotic Party, including the flagbearer of the party, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (aka Chairman Wontumi), along with other national executives of the party.

Members of Parliament from both sides of the house, as well as present and former ministers of state, including former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Chieftaincy Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng, attended the funeral.

Also present at the funeral were the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare and the Queen-mother of Ejisu, Yaa Asantewaa II.

Ghanaian business moguls Osei Kwame Despite and Dr Ernest Ofori Sampong and other renowned business community members also attended the final funeral rites of the former minister.

Ghana was hit by the news of the death of one of its deputy ministers of finance, John Kumah, on Thursday, March 7, 2024.

John Kumah died at the age of 45 after succumbing to an illness he had been struggling with for several months.

John Kumah was appointed Deputy Minister for Finance by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in January 2021. He was the Member of Parliament for Ejisu, in the Ashanti Region, and had been in parliament since 2021.

He was regarded as one of the rising stars in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and was touted by some factions in the party as a potential running mate to the flagbearer of the party, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

He won the party’s parliamentary primaries in his constituency overwhelmingly to represent it in the upcoming December 7, 2024, general elections.

He was an entrepreneur, a preacher and a lawyer. Kumah served as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) before he entered parliament in 2020.

He is survived by his wife, Apostle Mrs. Lilian Kumah, and six children.

See visuals from the funeral below:

ghanaweb.com

Ghana School of Law calls for urgent infrastructure development

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Management of the Ghana School of Law has expressed worry over the lack of infrastructure development since the establishment of the institution.

The management bemoans that aside from the inadequate facilities to accommodate the increasing number of students, it often resorts to renting public address systems for its events at exorbitant prices.

During an engagement with the Speaker of Parliament, the Director of the Ghana School of Law, Nana Yaw Barima Kodie Oppong, appealed to the government and benevolent organisations to assist in expanding the school’s infrastructure to enable it to train more lawyers.

“If you come there, the rest of us have managed to squeeze from stones to be able to even maintain what we already have which was constructed in 1958 during the reign of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and has seen very little expansion in terms of infrastructure until recently, when we had just a block or so added to it.

“Otherwise, it was a school that was originally meant for about 96 people. We have had to rent from even recently established universities. The ego alone is so bruised that our own children are now providing facilities for us as if we are homeless.”

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, stressed the need for the Ghana School of Law to be given a facelift, assuring of a collaborative effort with the President to address the challenge.

“I really felt sad and my spirit went low when I visited the law school recently upon their invitation to come and deliver a paper on ethics in legal practice. And I saw that there had been no change since I left the school in 1982.

“And with all these rich lawyers in very high positions, how could our school be that low? Isn’t it a shame? We need to do more. And so I have been putting a bit of pressure on His Excellency the President for us to set the ball rolling.”


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No Worker Can Survive On Less Than N100,000 Monthly – Shehu Sani

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Shehu Sani Accuses APC Of Plunging Nigerians Deeper Into Poverty
Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani, former Senator representing Kaduna Central, has urged the Federal Government to address the minimum wage issue.

According to him, no Nigerian worker can adequately survive on less than N100,000 given the current economic climate.

The socio-political commentator made the disclosure in a chat with Arise Television, even as he discussed the ongoing minimum wage dispute between organized labour and the Federal Government.

While stating that the government possesses the financial means to pay a fair minimum wage, he asserted that ensuring a living wage for workers is imperative.

READ ALSO: State Governors Not Against New Minimum Wage — Abdullahi Sule

He said: “It’s unrealistic for a Nigerian to survive on less than N100,000.

“When you scrutinize the government’s proposed N45,000-48,000, you’ll realize its impracticality considering various expenses. The government should seriously consider labor’s stance.”

The former lawmaker also highlighted the challenges of implementing wage increases amidst existing financial constraints.

“Economic reforms come with sacrifices, but they should be equitable,” he explained. “Workers see the influx of trillions; they want their fair share. Subsidies historically enhanced wage value, but with their removal, workers expect compensation,” he added.

Eight injured, many displaced after rainstorm at Praso –

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At least eight people have been injured after a violent rainstorm hit Praso in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality of the Ashanti region.

Many residents have been displaced after the roofs of about 18 homes were ripped.

Speaking to Adom News, the affected residents said they have no place to lay their heads and have been left with nothing.

They have since, as a matter of urgency, called on the government and well-meaning Ghanaians to support them with temporary structures while they figure out how to put their homes in order.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency chairman, Sumaila Ibraham, who has visited the victims to commiserate with them has pledged support.

adomonline.com

Watch as Wontumi weeps after file passing the remains of the late John Kumah –

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Visibly affected by the loss of his friend and colleague, the New Patriotic Party’s Ashanti regional chairman, Benard Antwi Bosiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, was seen in a grief-stricken state at the funeral of Mr. John Kumah.

At the burial service, Chairman Wontumi, who arrived to offer his final respect to the late former Ejisu MP cum Deputy Finance minister, was unable to contain his sorrow after viewing the body.

Flanked by associates and security personnel, Wontumi approached where John Kumah’s body was laid, and after paying his respect to the late deputy finance minister, he was overcome with emotion, weeping openly.

Chairman Wontumi is among several New Patriotic Party(NPP) members profoundly affected by John Kumah’s passing.

The funeral was also attended by dignitaries such as Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, NPP’s National Chairman Stephen Ayensu Ntim, General Secretary Justin Kodua, Mr. John Boadu, Kwabena Agyapong, and many others, all there to honour the memory of Mr. John Kumah.

Wontumi’s earlier tribute to John Kumah:

In the wake of John Kumah’s passing, Wontumi had expressed his sentiments, referring to him as a “loyal friend and a faithful brother,” whose absence would be felt across the Ashanti Region.

He reminisced about how Kumah had supported him during a life-threatening episode some time ago.

“My dear friend and brother, John Kumah, you leave my heart heavy and my eyes brimming with tears. I’m shattered and at a loss for words. The shock and disbelief are overwhelming. Your departure reminds me of the time you were there for me, ensuring my survival when I was on the brink of death. Little did I know that I would live to face the heartbreak of your loss,” Wontumi penned in his tribute.

Background:

The country was struck by the news of the demise of Mr. John Kumah, which occurred on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Suhum government hospital.

He left behind his wife, Mrs. Lilian Kumah, and their six children.

ghanaweb.com

Reason behind Fela Kuti’s controversial decision to marry 27 women in one day – Seun Kuti –

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Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti has shed light on his father Fela Anikulapo Kuti‘s unconventional mass wedding in 1978, where the Afrobeats pioneer married 27 women simultaneously.

During a ‘Fresh Off The Boat’ podcast appearance via Skype, Seun explained that Fela’s decision was a strategic move to defend his female dancers and band members, who were living with him, from media slander labeling them as “prostitutes.”

He said: “My father was under immense media propaganda. He was very scrutinized. Most of the attacks were directed at the women that were in his life; his female back-up singers, dancers. They all lived together with my dad but the media started calling them prostitutes.

“So, my dad, in order to preserve their honour and dignity, asked them if they would choose to be his brides so nobody would call them names anymore and they all agreed. That was how the marriage happened.”

He also disclosed that Fela’s biopic is already in the works.

tigpost.co

People have blocked my number – Renal patients in despair after increase in cost of dialysis treatment –

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Thousands of renal patients across the country are in despair following the increase in the cost of dialysis treatment from GH¢380 to GH¢491 per session.

Renal patients require three sessions of dialysis every week to remove waste by-products and excess fluid from the blood because their kidneys have stopped working properly. However, a significant number of them, due to the worsening economic conditions in the country, cannot afford the required three dialysis sessions a week at the previous cost of GH¢360 per session.

Most could afford only one or two sessions per week to have some energy to go about their daily activities without suffering a medical crisis that could cost them their lives.

GhanaWeb’s visit to the Renal Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, after the recent increase in the cost of dialysis, showed that the increment had left many renal patients in misery, with many having to go back home because they could not afford the new cost of the dialysis treatment.

One of the patients, an elderly woman, who spoke to GhanaWeb said that she had to beg on the street to get extra money for the treatment.

She said that all her relatives have blocked her number because they are tired of her constant requests for money. She, therefore, urged the government to include dialysis treatment in the country’s National Health Insurance Scheme.

“I usually have two sessions every week, but when I came on Sunday, the price had changed, so I went home. However, today I was able to get the treatment; I paid GH¢491, and they said they would not reduce it. Therefore, it is the government who can reduce it for us.

“People have blocked my number because I continuously ask for help from them. I had to sit on the streets to beg for money to top up for this session. So, I’m begging, please help us, help us,” the woman said as she was sobbing.

Another patient, Raphael, said that even when the cost of the treatment was GH¢380, he was only able to afford one session instead of the required three per week.

He indicated that he was still in the hospital because he had not been able to pay for his last dialysis session.

The president of the Renal Patients Association of Ghana, Baffuor Kojo Ahenkorah, who also spoke to GhanaWeb, urged the government to approve the GH¢2 million the National Health Insurance Authority has indicated would be used to support renal patients, following the increase in the cost of dialysis.

“On Monday, about five people didn’t have dialysis; they went back home because they didn’t have the money. Yesterday, about six patients did not turn up for their session because they don’t have the money.

“Today is the same. Go inside and see, the beds are empty because people are not coming for treatment. I’m just praying I don’t hear any bad news this week that I have lost a patient,” he told GhanaWeb’s Ishmael Batoma.

In September 2023, the Renal Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital which provides dialysis treatment to persons with malfunctioning kidneys from across Ghana, made news headlines after the cost of the treatment was increased from GH¢380 to GH¢765.

The then Minister for Health, Kweku Agyemang Manu, and the hospital’s leadership were summoned by the Parliament of Ghana over the increment. Amid the brouhaha surrounding the increment, the Renal Unit was closed with the management of the hospital citing its rising cost of operation and accumulated debts, which, according to reports, resulted in the death of at least 18 people as a result of them not receiving their much-needed dialysis treatment.

The unit was subsequently reopened with the cost of dialysis treatment reverting to the original GH¢380. However, confirmed reports indicate that the cost of the treatment was increased to GH¢491, as of Sunday, May 12, 2024.

Watch videos of their remarks below:

ghanaweb.com

Stephen Adom Kyei-Duah shares $3 million among his church members –

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The head pastor of Believers Worship Center, popularly known as Philadelphia, Stephen Adom Kyei-Duah, has shared $3 million among church members across the church’s three branches.

In a video shared by EDHUB on X, some church members who received the money couldn’t hide their joy as they were seen jubilating and praising their head pastor while counting their money.

The video also captured a church member rolling on the floor with the money he received in his hands.

In an earlier report by adomonline.com, the founder of the church, Stephen Adom Kyei-Duah, announced his plans to give his church members $3 million, which is equivalent to GHC41,723,500.

This contribution forms part of an annual charity he carries out for his church.

The report further stated that the money would be distributed across the three branches of his church, where the members would be given GHC2,000 and GHC2,500 each.

The denominations the church members were captured counting ranged from GHC100.00 to GHC200.00 notes.

It was reported that the money Stephen Adom Kyei-Duah gifted to the church members was to honor a commitment he made to them.

Watch the video below:

ghanaweb.com

List of 24 Ministerial Nominees approved by Parliament 

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By Iddi Yire/Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA 

Accra, May 18, GNA – The list of 24 Ministerial and Deputy Ministerial Nominees of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo approved by Parliament include eight sector Ministers, two Regional Ministers and 14 Deputy Ministers. 

The eight Ministers-Designate include Mrs Abena Osei-Asare, Minister of State Designate for the Ministry of Finance, Mr Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, Minister Designate for Tourism, Art and Culture; Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister Designate for Sanitation and Water Resources; and Mr Martin Kwaku Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Minister Designate for Local Government, Rural Development and Decentralisation. 

The rest are Madam Ophelia Mensah Hayford, Minister Designate for Environmental, Science Technology and Innovation; Madam Darkoa Newman, Minister Designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection; Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, Minister Designate for Health; and Madam Fatimatu Abubakar, Minister Designate for Information. 

The Regional Ministers-Designate are Mr Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, Greater Accra Regional Minister; and Mr Daniel Machator, Minister Designate for Oti Region. 

The 14 Deputy Ministers-Designate include Dr Benjamin Sekyere Yeboah, Deputy Minister Designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mr Sylvester Tetteh, Deputy Minister Designate for Information; Mr Charles Acheampong, Deputy Minister Designate for Communications and Digitisation; and Madam Adelaide Ntim, a Deputy Minister Designate for Health. 

The rest are Mr Alexander Akwasi Acquah, also a Deputy Minister Designate for Health; Mr Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Deputy Minister Designate for Local Government, Rural Development and Decentralisation; and Mr John Kobina Abbam Aboah Sanie, a Deputy Minister Designate for Energy. 

Others are Mr Collins Adomako Mensah, also a Deputy Minister Designate for Energy; Dr Prince Hamidu Armah, Deputy Minister Designate for Works and Housing; Professor Kingsley Nyarko, a Deputy Minister Designate for Education; and Dr Festus Awuah Kwofie, Deputy Minister Designate for Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions. 

Also included are Mr Akwasi Konadu, Deputy Minister Designate for Lands and Natural Resources; Mr Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaba, Deputy Minister Designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Dr Alexander Ampaabeng, a Deputy Minister Designate for Finance. 

The National Democratic Congress NDC Parliamentary Minority Caucus stage a walkout during the approval of the Ministerial Nominees, which they attributed to the large size of the Government. 

Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who congratulated the Ministers Designate on their approval by the House, reminded them that they were accountable to both the President and Parliament. 

GNA 

A vital life has ended – Dr Bawumia’s tribute to John Kumah –

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The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has stated that the tragic loss of the late former deputy Finance Minister, John Kumah, has left an indelible mark in the hearts of many.

In a heartfelt tribute, Dr Bawumia honoured Kumah’s memory and celebrated his contributions to the nation.

“The awful news of a tragic loss to the party, government, and parliament reached me,” Dr Bawumia began while reading a tribute at the funeral grounds at Onwe, a suburb of Ejisu.

He added, “A vital life had ended and I was saddened by the news of his demise. It was even more devastating to me because I was with him on the 5th of March when he paid me a visit at home. It was his routine. It was, therefore, a great loss with a silence as deep as death and the boulders held their breath.”

Standing in solidarity with mourners across the nation, Dr Bawumia expressed his deep sorrow stating that although it was a difficult time, God knows best.

“I stand here today with mourners across the nation to offer my heartfelt tribute to the late John Ampotia Kumah, former legislator for the Ejisu Constituency and former deputy Minister of Finance. It is hard, but we trust in God. He does all things well.”

Reflecting on Kumah’s legacy, he said although the grief is beyond consolation, he was glad their paths crossed. The vice president also praised the deceased for “selflessness, intellectual brilliance.”

“I am glad that our paths crossed. The news of John Kumah’s passing was devastating, plunging the entire nation into shock at the unexpected loss of such a passionate politician. He was renowned for his selflessness, intellectual brilliance, and warm personality. A man blessed with a good heart. His departure has left a void and this grief is beyond consolation.

“Nature, in its inexplicable course, has dealt a cruel blow, taking Kumah away in his prime. Indeed, we have lost a dedicated public servant. I have lost a friend and a strong supporter,” the vice president lamented.

He added, “We appeal and pray to the good Lord to keep John in his bosom.”

ghanaweb.com

My success in music is not just mere luck -Patapaa –

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Ghanaian musician Patapaa, renowned for his 2017 hit “One Corner,” has voiced his frustration with critics who downplay his talent and attribute his success to luck.

In an interview with Graphic Showbiz, Patapaa condemned those who undermine his musical abilities, calling them ignorant of his true worth.

He criticized radio and TV commentators, presenters, and industry insiders for perpetuating negative stereotypes that hinder his career.

“They unfairly label me as lacking talent, which is simply not true. Such perceptions are obstacles to my progress,” Patapaa stated, highlighting the irony of critics who act as experts without understanding the industry’s intricacies.

Determined to challenge these misconceptions, Patapaa asserted, “They constantly try to undermine my brand, not realizing the effort it takes to build it. It’s time for this false narrative to end.”

He emphasized his resolve to educate and instill discipline within the music scene, attributing the negative comments to envy rather than fair assessment.

Patapaa expressed gratitude to his loyal fanbase, the Pa2PaSojas, whose unwavering support has kept him motivated.

“The Pa2PaSojas recognize my contributions to music. Critics, often fans of other artists, aim to belittle me for their gain. They should at least acknowledge that ‘One Corner’ brought international attention to Ghana,” he concluded.

tigpost.co

I sleep beside my open fridge – Keche Andrew on how he deals with ‘dumsor’ –

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One half of the popular Ghanaian duo Keche, Keche Andrew, has revealed his unique strategy for dealing with the scorching heat during power outages, locally known as ‘dumsor.’

In an interview with Elsie Lamar on GhanaWeb’s Talkertainment, Andrew shared his secret to staying cool during night blackouts.

“Nowadays, the light goes off at night when one is asleep. You wake up from sleep abruptly and find out you’re sweating. You start to sweat even in your dreams,” he lamented, highlighting the discomfort caused by frequent power cuts.

To combat this, Andrew disclosed that he resorts to sleeping next to his refrigerator, with its door open, allowing the cool air to circulate and keep him cold.

“As for me, I sweat a lot. Also most of the time, I feel too lazy to go downstairs to refill the diesel and start the generator so I just find means to keep me cold a bit,” he explained.

Moreover, Andrew mentioned using his wife’s portable, rechargeable fans, often used for drying makeup, as an additional measure to beat the heat during ‘dumsor.’

“I’ve had to resort to rechargeable fans lately. And when those run out of power, I use the compact ones my wife uses for her makeup,” he added.

However, his coping mechanisms were not without criticism.

Andrew criticized the government’s handling of ‘dumsor,’ noting a lack of acknowledgment and effective measures to address the issue.

“Our former president owned up to the ‘dumsor’ issues during his term and gave us a schedule. But now, we face a government that won’t admit to the current state of affairs,” he remarked.

Expressing frustration over the politicization of societal issues, Andrew emphasized the need for citizens to voice concerns without fear of being labeled or associated with political affiliations.

“Our president once said we shouldn’t be mere spectators but should voice our concerns. Yet, in our country, when we speak up, we’re quickly labeled and boxed into political affiliations,” he pointed out.

In conclusion, Keche Andrew’s story sheds light on the challenges faced by Ghanaians during ‘dumsor’ and the innovative ways individuals are coping with the heat and discomfort caused by frequent power outages.

tigpost.co