Parish insists Glasner’s position was never in doubt having witnessed his work and upbeat nature on the training ground. This day, when a new chapter was written in Palace’s history, is the payback for that show of faith.

Glasner has devised the perfect system to suit the attacking trio of Eze, Ismaila Sarr and Mateta, the latter the spearhead and focal point, the others drifting behind with freedom and menace.

Palace have strengths elsewhere, with Munoz directly involved in 13 goals in all competitions this season – six goals and seven assists, the joint-most of any defender for Premier League clubs in 2024-25 alongside Tottenham’s Pedro Porro.

The Eagles’ back three of Chris Richards, Lacroix and Guehi have been rock solid, even though Palace lost influential captain Guehi after 61 minutes at Wembley following a blow to the head.

And, crucially on the big occasions when margins are fine, Palace also possess an X-factor.

Glasner’s big players, those he was convinced would come out of that early-season slump, have delivered throughout this FA Cup journey, and were heroes again against City.

Eze’s crisp 16th-minute strike settled this final, finishing off a classic Palace counter-attack with a sweeping finish past City keeper Stefan Ortega.

It was Palace’s first shot and first touch inside the penalty box, but with such economy and ruthlessness came the decisive moment.

The gifted forward set Palace on their way at Fulham in the quarter-final then Aston Villa in the semi-final at Wembley.

When, as they will be forever, stories of Palace’s FA Cup win are told, Eze’s name will be permanently attached.

The Mental Health Authority has identified the shortage of adequate psychiatric facilities as a significant challenge hindering its operations.

Amid the growing number of mentally unstable individuals roaming the streets of Accra, the Authority says the lack of space to house them in appropriate facilities poses a major obstacle.

Speaking to Channel One News on Saturday, May 17, the Deputy Head of Communications, Dr. Josephine Stiles Darko, emphasised the need for a collaborative effort among stakeholders to address the situation.

In 2023, the Mental Health Authority of Ghana announced an ambitious plan: to remove over 6,000 mentally ill persons from the streets of Accra and relocate them to care facilities where they could receive proper treatment.

However, after two years, the authority says that the progress of the initiative has stalled due to certain factors.

“This initiative over the years has not really been on a large scale. This has been a bit slow because of a few practical issues when it comes to caring for them and also reintegrating them back into society. The authority has not stopped working on it it it is just that it is not at a very large scale,”she said.

The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has begun direct engagements with street hawkers in the Central Business District (CBD) ahead of a decongestion exercise set to start on Tuesday, May 20.

The initiative is part of a broader plan to restore order and sanitation in the capital city under President John Dramani Mahama’s renewed vision for urban renewal.

Accompanied by the Municipal Chief Executive for Korle Klottey, Mr Allotey toured key trading corridors including Kinbu Road, Kojo Thompson Road, Sempe Road, Swanzy Road, Market Street, Kantamanto, and other hotspots earmarked for clearance. The visit, held on Saturday, aimed to sensitise traders and solicit their cooperation for the upcoming exercise.

“This morning, we are here for good, this is not just Accra, this is Ghana, and anyone who enters Ghana enters Accra,” the Mayor told traders, urging them to reflect on the state of their trading spaces. “Look around, if this were your home, would you keep it like this?”

Allotey explained that the operation is not a punitive measure, but a step towards transforming Accra into a cleaner, more organised city. He introduced key measures aligned with the government’s 24-hour economy agenda, including the installation of solar-powered streetlights and a new rotational trading system that will allow traders to operate in shifts across longer hours.

“We will fix solar lights that work even without electricity,” he stated. “We will block some parts of the roads three to four times a month so that you can trade for 24 hours.”

Addressing economic concerns, the AMA boss announced a reduction in weekly ticketing fees, promising a more flexible and trader-friendly policy. “If you are paying GHS 60.00 a week, we will reduce it to GHS 40.00. If you pay GHS 30.00, it will be reduced to GHS 20.00,” he said. He further pledged to personally reward traders who consistently pay their tickets over a two-month period. However, he warned of stiff penalties for evasion. “If you don’t pay and we catch you, we will charge you ten times the actual price.”

Allotey gave a firm Tuesday deadline for all traders to vacate unauthorised spots. “Please leave the street. I’m begging you. When you leave the street, we can clean the city,” he said. He also announced a planned demarcation system that will enable three traders to share one spot on a rotational basis, each selling for eight hours per day.

He cautioned that items left behind after the deadline would be confiscated and donated to prisons or orphanages. “If we return on Tuesday and your things are still here, they won’t return to you,” he warned.

Acknowledging frustrations over space competition from foreign nationals, he assured traders that the AMA was in discussions with market leaders to resolve the issue. “We are aware of your complaints, including issues with other nationals taking over your spots. I’m engaging the market leaders and we’ll address those concerns too.”

He concluded his address by encouraging traders to engage directly with his office, saying, “Help me to help you. My doors are always open 24/7. Don’t pay money to anyone to see me. Just walk into my office.”

Mr Allotey reiterated the Assembly’s broader goal: to reposition Accra as a modern, clean, and competitive city that reflects Ghana’s aspirations. “This city is very dirty, but with your help, we can clean it. Let’s make Accra a place of pride. This is the beginning of something new.”

Defending champions FC Samartex 1996 will return to home comforts on Sunday, May 18, 2025, as they host Bechem United at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena in a crucial matchday 31 fixture of the Ghana Premier League.

The Timber Giants head into the clash sitting firmly in the top seven and still in strong contention for a top-four finish, despite seeing their five-match unbeaten streak (W4, D1) snapped by a 2-1 defeat to Heart of Lions last weekend. Christopher Ennin’s men have been impressive on both ends this season, netting 29 goals — joint-fifth highest — while maintaining the third-best defensive record with just 19 goals conceded in 30 games.

Their form at home continues to be a major strength, with Samartex unbeaten in their last five matches at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena (W4, D1). They also boast a perfect Premier League record at home against Bechem United, having won both previous meetings since their top-flight debut in 2022/23 — a 1-0 win in their maiden season followed by a dominant 4-1 victory last term.

Bechem United will be buoyed by a hard-fought 1-0 win over Legon Cities in their previous outing — a result that ended a four-game winless stretch (D1, L3) and brought them back into the race for a top-half finish. The Hunters now sit 8th on the table with 43 points, just one behind Samartex.

With both teams separated by a single point and eager to secure a top-four berth, Sunday’s encounter promises to be a fiercely contested showdown with plenty on the line.

By Godwill Arthur-Mensah 

Accra, May 17, GNA -The Government has urged agencies under the Office of Government Machinery (OGM) to activate their websites, social media handles and information management systems to provide timely and accurate information to the public. 

Madam Shamima Muslim, the Deputy Government Spokesperson, made the call during the launch of 2024 Public Opinion Survey Report in Accra on public perceptions about the activities and services of entities operating under the Office of the President. 

Representing Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of Government Communications, she entreated staff of the entities to avoid partisanship and work collectively to achieve the objectives of their establishments. 

“The OGM entities must provide timely information and be responsive to the demands and requests for information from the public,” she said. 

“We must be proactive in communicating our mandates and services to the people. It is not only the politician who come periodically and exit, but everybody must be interested in the efficiency and effectiveness of the Office of Government Machinery.” 

“It is you, the civil servants or public servants, who are in for the long haul. And so, let the positive outcomes reflect on you and have tangible results.” 

She expressed concern over the outcomes of the 2024 Public Opinion research, which revealed that social media platforms were the primary source of information for the citizens. 

Madam Muslim queried the authenticity of those information if public sentiments were largely shaped by them, since there were so many misinformation and fake news circulating on social media. 

Hence, she tasked the OGM agencies to be proactive in putting out accurate information through their social media handles and websites to help shape the right public perceptions. 

The President Mahama-led Government was truly committed to resetting the country, she said, and that: “Whatever your political affiliation or interest is, Ghana is the only country we have. At least, let us make the system work for our collective benefit.” 

“Let us work hard so that the resetting agenda will be felt on the heart of everybody.”  

The Deputy Government Spokesperson, therefore, underscored the need for the OGM agencies to be proactive in disseminating the right information in the public domain to correct any false information being churned out by individuals with certain interests and agenda. 

She referenced some false publications recently to the effect that GHc78 million was allocated to Government Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, and herself in the 2025 Budget for propaganda work. 

“After the 2025 Budget presentation, I woke up the next morning to the screaming headlines; ‘78 million Ghana Cedis allocated to Felix and Shamima for government propaganda,” she noted. 

Madam Muslim said in such scenarios the OGM agencies like the Information Services Department (ISD) and Ghana News Agency (GNA) must be proactive to correct such misinformation. 

As a new government, the Office of the President would use the outcomes of the 2024 Survey as a baseline to increase public knowledge and understanding of its work and, thus, urged the OGM entities to endeavour to follow suit in the interest of the public and overall development of Ghana. 

Some institutions that constitute the Office of Government Machinery are the State Protocol, Council of State, State Interests and Governmance Authority (SIGA), Ghana News Agency, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, and Information Services Department. 

Others are the National Population Commission, Ghana Aids Commission, and Millennium Development Authority, Zongo Development Fund, Micro and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), and National Centre for Early Warning Secretariat. 

The OGM Agencies are the operation arm of the Presidency that support the Executive branch of government to implement policy interventions to improve service delivery and enhance living standards. 

The research saw more than 1,000 responses from across the 16 regions using focus group discussions and interviews as well as online platforms for respondents to answer the questionnaires. 

GNA 

ABD 

Millions of people are walking a financial tightrope, with one in 10 UK adults saving no money at all, a major report has concluded.

This leaves many exposed to economic shocks and vulnerable to rising bills, according to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Financial Lives survey.

Moreover, anxiety and stress levels were relatively high, particularly among those burdened by debt.

But the regulator said the situation had not worsened since the start of the cost of living squeeze and free help was available for those facing trouble.

Snapshot of our money

The FCA’s Financial Lives survey is a benchmark for the state of the nation’s finances, with nearly 18,000 people questioned about how they deal with money.

The findings suggest that 13 million people – a quarter of the UK adult population – have low financial resilience. That means they have debts that are hard to manage, low savings, and have missed a series of bill payments.

This was unchanged when compared with the previous Financial Lives survey, published in 2022, despite the pressure caused by inflation and rising essential bills on personal finances.

Some 10% of those asked had no cash saved at all. Another 21% had less than £1,000 tucked away.

Other key findings in the wide-ranging report include;

A total of 2.8 million people have persistent credit card debt

Nearly 12 million people feel overwhelmed or stressed dealing with financial matters, including 40% of adults with credit or loans saying they suffer anxiety and stress

Some 3.8 million retirees are worried they don’t have enough money to last their retirement

Difficulties getting to a bank branch face nearly 10 million people

“Our data shows that finances are stretched for many – with some unable to save for a rainy day,” said Sarah Pritchard, from the FCA.

Buy now, pay later surges

The report said that the use of buy now, pay later (BNPL) had “risen significantly” in recent years.

Nearly 11 million people had used BNPL in the previous year, which was two million more than the previous survey of three years ago.

Some 40% of lone parents and 35% of women aged between 25 and 34 use these deferred credit products, which remain unregulated.

Overall, nearly half of adults have outstanding unsecured debt, where the money borrowed is not backed up by assets.

The FCA said the median average amount of debt outstanding among those with debt was £6,300.

Among 18 to 34-year-olds with debt, the median average amount of debt outstanding was £12,500. But, after excluding student loans, that dropped to £1,300.

Debt advisers say they routinely speak to people with mental health issues, which either result in financial difficulties or are caused by money worries.

They say it takes courage to pick up the phone to ask for help, but free debt advice is available and has no impact on someone’s credit score.

How to deal with money worries

Matt Dronfield, managing director of Debt Free Advice – a coalition of charities which can negotiate with creditors on behalf of borrowers – said rent or mortgage arrears, council tax and falling behind on utility bills were the three most common forms of debt.

He said many callers were juggling multiple jobs, but unable to cover their essential expenses.

“It is so common. If you’re not worried, then a friend or family member is definitely going to be,” he said.

“We know you are more likely to tell your pet than your partner or loved one about your financial situation. So, speak to an expert debt adviser about the situation that you are in.

“If you were worried about your health, you’d see a doctor. If you’re car wasn’t working, you’d go to a mechanic. So, if you are worried about your finances, speak to an independent debt adviser, for free.”

He also said that people with no savings should consider “paying yourself first”, by putting a few pounds into a savings account when their receive their income.

This could help get them into a savings habit, while still being able to cover the priority bills.

The average amount people have saved is £5,000 to £6,000, the FCA’s report suggests.

Former Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has stated that the key to overcoming Africa’s longstanding development challenges lies in a strategy he terms “smart formalisation”—a digitally driven approach to transforming public administration, economic systems, and service delivery.

Giving the keynote address at the Cambridge Africa Business Conference themed ‘Africa’s Digital Transformation: Building Resilient Economies Through Innovation,’ on Saturday, May 17, Dr. Bawumia lamented that after more than 60 years of independence, many African countries still face deep-rooted problems that hinder productivity and progress.

He outlined the major challenges including the lack of unique identification for citizens, absence of a functional national property address system, a large informal sector dependent on cash transactions, widespread financial exclusion, lack of individualised credit scoring, high interest rates, fragmented and manual government databases, inefficiencies in health service delivery, limited access to healthcare in rural areas, and poor revenue mobilisation due to weak tax compliance.

He argued that these conditions have led to low productivity, high unemployment, and persistent poverty across the continent.

“Let me quickly dive into what I believe presents the greatest opportunity to surmount these challenges and turn them into progress,” he said. “The solution will have to be one that accelerates Africa’s development… In short, it is what I term ‘smart formalisation’. In this regard, digital transformation is not just a policy aspiration—it is a necessity for resilience.”

Dr. Bawumia explained that “smart formalisation” involves building integrated systems that enable governments to know their citizens better and interact with them efficiently and affordably. He emphasized that this approach creates a “virtuous cycle” where governments deliver better services, citizens engage more transparently and safely, and development is accelerated.

Drawing parallels with the post-WWII development trajectories of countries in the Global North, he pointed out that modern technology—including blockchain, artificial intelligence, and mobile computing—gives African nations the chance to leapfrog outdated systems and adopt smarter, more inclusive economic models.

Dr. Bawumia therefore called on African governments to fully embrace digital transformation, not only as a modernisation effort but as a strategic solution to entrenched structural challenges.

Through “smart formalisation,” he believes the continent can foster inclusive growth, improve public service delivery, and build resilient economies.

Read also…

U.S. tariff hikes will shift Africa toward self-reliance – Bawumia

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Ted News Ghana Blog of Saturday, 17 May 2025

Source: TEDDY VAVA GAWUGA

The Fisheries Commission has stated that it will collect data during this year’s closed season to analyse the effect of the exemption of artisanal fishers from its observation.

The closed season, which aims at sustaining Ghana’s marine stock, would begin from July 1 and end on July 31 for inshore vessels, while industrial trawlers would also observe it between July 1 and August 31, 2025.

Artisanal fishers who form a large number of fishers in Ghana are, however, exempted from this year’s closed season following a directive from the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The Director of Marine at the Fisheries Commission, Madam Esi Bordah Quayson, at a media forum powered by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), said the exemption was just for one year.

The forum was themed “Sustaining Ghana’s Closed Fishing Season: Science, Policy, and the Future of Fisheries”.

Madam Quayson said just as they did during and before every closed season, the Fisheries Commission would collect the data and do their biological analysis to see the difference between when everyone was observing the season, and when there was an exemption.

She said with that, they would come out with the necessary recommendations to help sustain the country’s fish stock while taking into consideration the economic plight of the coastal community.

She said even though before the introduction of the closed season as a conservation measure, the commission had a lot of consultation with stakeholders and got their agreement, it was normal to have a few people who would object to it.

“All is not lost; we are scientists; therefore, we must find alternative ways to reach the same results. We are not doing the close season alone but also with a moratorium running for three years to reduce effects on the resources,” she said.

Madam Quayson added that her outfit was also pursuing other measures to be implemented soon, disclosing that “the documents are almost ready for the reclassification to put a cap on the size of the canoe.”

Further, the fisheries minister was already talking about the closed area; therefore, they, as scientists, had identified some of the areas that they thought were vulnerable, such as the spawning grounds, feeding and nursery grounds, and resting spots for them to be earmarked for closing, Madam Quayson said.

She said that it was unfortunate that about 80 per cent of the artisanal fishers did not have alternative livelihoods, making it difficult to accept sitting at home for one month without fishing, revealing that “the fishers don’t want to hear anything about alternative livelihoods”.

Madam Quayson said these fishers were even being encouraged to go into aquaculture, but they did not want to, arguing that couldn’t wait for the fishes to grow.

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Akpo Abdou Moudjibou (face blurred) was allegedly behind major robberies in Accra from 2022 to 2024

The Ghana Police Service has announced the extradition of notorious Accra-based armed robbery suspect Adina Akpo Abdou Moudjibou from Togo to Ghana.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on May 17, 2025, the Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, said that Togolese authorities handed over Moudjibou, who goes by many aliases, to Ghanaian authorities over the week.

She said that Moudjibou, who has both Ghanaian and Togolese identity documents, has been captured on CCTV footage robbing residents of Accra in prime areas such as East Legon, Ridge, Tesano and Cantonments.

He was arrested by Togolese authorities in January 2025.

His release to Ghana was after the completion of the necessary regulatory documents.

“The GPS has been pursuing a known armed robbery suspect, Adina Akpo Abdou Moudjibou, whose activities have been captured in various CCTV footage and circulated widely on social media,”

“These criminal activities were primarily targeted at high-profile individuals residing in communities such as East Legon, Cantonments, Ridge, Tesano, Airport Residential Area, and Adjiringano within the Greater Accra metropolis between 2022 and 2024,” she said.

She added, “We are pleased to announce that on Wednesday, 14th May 2025, at approximately 08:30 hours, a five-member delegation from Ghana, led by myself, departed Accra aboard a military aircraft to Lome, Togo, to officially receive suspect Adina Akpo Abdou Moudjibou, who had been arrested and was in the custody of the Togolese authorities.”

DCOP Yaako Donkor stated that Moudjibou’s accomplice, Alidu Mansuk, was accosted in September 2024 and remanded by the court to assist with the investigation.

The CID Director General assured the public that the suspect was not going to escape from the place he is currently being detained as he awaits his prosecution.

Watch a video of CID boss’ remarks below:

Ghana Police, in collaboration with their Togolese counterparts, have arrested notorious robbery suspect Adina Akpo Abdou Moudjibou—also known as Mohammed Djandjo—at his hideout in Togo.

His arrest follows an INTERPOL red notice issued for a series of high-profile robberies in… pic.twitter.com/BmqH7aWCTl

— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) May 17, 2025

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