Meta is facing a second set of lawsuits in Africa over the psychological distress experienced by content moderators employed to take down disturbing social media content including depictions of murders, extreme violence and child sexual abuse.

Lawyers are gearing up for court action against a company contracted by Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, after meeting moderators at a facility in Ghana that is understood to employ about 150 people.

Moderators working for Majorel in Accra claim they have suffered from depression, anxiety, insomnia and substance abuse as a direct consequence of the work they do checking extreme content.

The allegedly gruelling conditions endured by workers in Ghana are revealed in a joint investigation by the Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

It comes after more than 140 Facebook content moderators in Kenya were diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder caused by exposure to graphic social media content.

The workers in Kenya were employed by Samasource, an outsourcing company that carries out content moderation for Meta using workers from across Africa. Majorel, the company at the centre of the allegations in Ghana, is owned by the French multinational Teleperformance.

One man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he attempted suicide owing to the nature of his work. His claims his contract was subsequently terminated and he has returned his home country.

Facebook and other large social media companies employ armies of content moderators, often based in the poorest parts of the world, to remove posts that breach their community standards and to train AI systems to do the same.

Moderators are required to review distressing and often brutal pictures and videos to establish whether they should be removed from Meta’s platforms. According to workers in Ghana, they have seen videos of a person being skinned alive and a woman being beheaded.

The moderators claim mental health care offered by the firm was unhelpful, was not delivered by medical doctors, and that personal disclosures made by staff about the effects of their work were circulated among managers.

Teleperformance disputed this, saying it employed licensed mental health professionals who are registered with the local regulatory body and hold a master’s degree in psychology, counselling, or another mental health field.

The legal case is being prepared by a UK-based nonprofit, Foxglove. It would be the second case brought by content moderators in Africa, after Samasource workers in Kenya sued in December.

Foxglove said it was “urgently investigating these shocking abuses of workers” with a view to using “every tool at our disposal, including potential legal action” to improve working conditions.

It is working with a Ghanaian firm, Agency Seven Seven, on preparing two possible lawsuits. One would allege psychological harms and could involve a group of moderators, and the other unfair dismissal, involving the moderator from east Africa whose contract was terminated after he attempted suicide.

Foxglove’s co-executive director Martha Dark said: “These are the worst conditions I have seen in six years of working with social media content moderators around the world.

“In Ghana, Meta is displaying nothing short of a complete disregard for the humanity of its key safety workers upon whom all its profits rely – content moderators. They are treated as objects who can be used up, burned out and replaced with no care whatsoever for the permanent damage to their mental and physical wellbeing.”

Dark said basic wages for content moderators in Accra were below living costs, incentivising them to work overtime, pay for which pay is understood to be even lower than normal rates. Moderators face deductions from their pay for failing to meet performance targets, she added.

Contracts seen by the Guardian show that the base wage starts at about 1,300 Ghanaian cedis a month – just over £64. This is supplemented by a system of performance-related bonuses, the upper range of which amounts to about 4,900 cedis (£243) a month, significantly less than the estimated cost of living in Accra.

A Teleperformance spokesperson said that content moderators enjoyed “strong pay and benefits, including monthly pay that is roughly 10 times the country’s minimum wage for domestic moderators, and 16 times the minimum wage for those who have relocated from other countries, when including project allowance, transportation allowance, language premium and more – all of which are automatically paid to the moderator and are not performance-based”.

Foxglove’s researcher Michaela Chen said she had seen photos of moderators’ living quarters, in which they were “crammed five to a flat, two to a room”. She said there appeared to be a culture of secrecy, including surveillance from managers, who follow workers into the toilets during breaks.

This extends to moderators’ work for Meta. She said: “Workers spend all day working on Meta’s platforms, moderating to Meta’s standards and using Meta’s systems, but at the same time, moderators are told constantly: ‘You do not work for Meta,’ and are forbidden from telling anyone they do.”

Teleperformance said that moderators are “offered housing in… one of the most upscale and well-known residential and commercial neighbourhoods in Accra”.

The spokesperson described the housing as ‘safe, with strong security’ and having air conditioning, recreation facilities, including gyms and pools.”

Carla Olympio, a partner at Agency Seven Seven, said she believed a personal injury case could succeed in Ghana’s courts and would set a precedent establishing that worker protections extend to psychological harms as well as physical injury.

“[There is] currently a gap in our laws because they haven’t necessarily caught up with the new developments that cover technology and virtual work,” she said.

Rosa Curling, co-executive Director at Foxglove, said it was seeking for the court to “order immediate changes to the content moderators’ workplace”, including proper safeguards and psychiatric care.

A spokesperson for Teleperformance said: “At TP in Ghana, we take our content moderation work seriously. From the very beginning during the interview process, within the employee contract and through employee training and resiliency testing, we are fully transparent with our prospective moderators regarding the content they might see during their work to help keep the internet safe for our communities. We have robust people management systems and workplace practices, including a robust wellbeing program staffed by fully licensed psychologists to support our content moderators throughout their content moderation journey.

Meta said the companies it works with are “contractually obliged to pay their employees who review content on Facebook and Instagram above the industry standard in the markets they operate”.

The tech company said it takes “the support of content reviewers seriously”, including detailing expectations around counselling, training and other support in contracts with the companies it outsources.

It said all content moderators sign client confidentiality agreements because they are dealing with user information which needs to be protected and for their own safety, but moderators may discuss their jobs with doctors and counsellors, and some aspects with family members.

Donald Trump has questioned Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war in Ukraine following his meeting with the country’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral.

Posting on social media after leaving Rome, Trump said he feared Putin was “tapping me along” after Moscow’s strikes on Kyiv earlier this week, adding there was “no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas”.

Earlier in the day Trump and Zelensky were seen in deep discussion in St Peter’s Basilica shortly before the funeral began.

The White House described the 15-minute meeting with Zelensky as “very productive”. The Ukrainian president said it had the “potential to become historic”.

It was Trump’s first face-to-face encounter with the Ukrainian president since February’s acrimonious Oval Office showdown.

Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump said the Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities “makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?'”.

Trump had previously said Russia and Ukraine were “very close to a deal” following Friday’s three-hour talks between his envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russian president.

The Kremlin meanwhile said on Saturday that Putin had confirmed to Witkoff Russia’s readiness to enter into direct talks with Ukraine “without preconditions”.

Trump and Zelensky’s sit down in Rome was the first time the leaders had come face-to-face since their White House meeting, when Trump told Zelensky “you don’t have the cards” and he was not winning against Russia.

He repeated that message this week, saying the Ukrainian leader had “no cards to play”. Trump has previously blamed Ukraine for starting the war and has accused Zelensky multiple times of being an obstacle to peace negotiations.

But the White House struck a more positive tone about Saturday’s meeting, while Zelensky described the sit down as a “very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results”.

Two images were released of the meeting, showing the US leader in a blue suit and Ukrainian president in a black top and trousers, sitting opposite each other in intense conversation.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also posted an image of the meeting on X with the caption: “No words are needed to describe the importance of this historic meeting. Two leaders working for peace in St. Peter’s Basilica.”

Another image posted by the Ukrainian delegation from inside St Peter’s showed the two men standing alongside British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron, his hand on Zelensky’s shoulder.

The implication was that the prime minister and French president had helped to bring the two together, against the sombre backdrop of the funeral.

After the meeting, Trump and Zelensky walked down the steps of the basilica, where Zelensky’s arrival was met with applause from the crowds, and took their seats in the front row.

During the service, the pair sat a short distance from each other, with Macron and other heads of state in between.

In his homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re spoke of Pope Francis’s incessant calls for peace. “‘Build bridges, not walls’ was an exhortation he repeated many times,” said the cardinal.

Ukrainian officials had talked of a possible second meeting but Trump’s motorcade drove away from St Peter’s immediately afterwards and his plane left Rome a short time later.

Zelensky, however, later met Macron in the garden of Villa Bonaparte, home to the French embassy to the Holy See.

He also met Sir Keir at Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador’s residence, as well as holding separate talks with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

In a post on X, Macron said ending the war in Ukraine was an objective that “we share in common with President Trump”, adding that Ukraine was ready for “an unconditional ceasefire”.

A Downing Street spokesperson said Starmer and Zelensky discussed the positive progress that had been made recently to “secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” adding that the pair had agreed to “maintain momentum” and “speak again at the earliest opportunity”.

During February’s heated White House exchange, Trump accused the Ukrainian president of “gambling with World War Three” by not going along with ceasefire plans led by Washington.

Kyiv has been on the receiving end of growing pressure from Trump to accept territorial concessions as part of an agreement with Moscow to end the war.

These concessions would reportedly include giving up large portions of land, including the Crimean peninsula which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Zelensky has repeatedly rejected the idea in the past. He suggested to the BBC on Friday that “a full and unconditional ceasefire opens up the possibility to discuss everything”.

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Belinda Kpentey and Daniella Abass scored two second-half goals, securing a 2-1 win for Ghana against Uganda in the 2025 CAF African Schools Football Championship final.

The breakthrough came when Christiana Ashiaku’s brilliant solo effort, beating her markers with a sprint, perfectly set up Belinda Kpentey to open the scoring. Daniella Abass then doubled Ghana’s lead with remarkable composure, finishing clinically to seal the victory.

Despite Uganda’s attempts to mount a comeback, Ghana’s defense held firm, ensuring a triumphant win for the Damsels.

Photos from the University of Ghana Stadium were sent in by our photographer, Gloria Omari.

GFA COMMUNICATIONS

In a vibrant display of skill, camaraderie, and sporting spirit, the University of Ghana, Legon, Table Tennis team locked rackets with the Veterans Table Tennis Association (VTTAG) in an electrifying competition at the University of Ghana Sports Gymnasium in Accra yesterday. 

The event, held to commemorate World Table Tennis Day, brought together players of all ages under the theme, “Table Tennis: The Best Holistic Health Sport for All Ages,” transforming the gymnasium into a hub of energy and enthusiasm.

 Is John Mahama on a reset mission? It’s too early to say, argues BANJI OJEWALE

Here in Anyaa, Accra, capital of Ghana, I’ve come across some of the country’s leading newspapers. Their contents – news reports, opinions, vox pop, book reviews, cartoons, (dearth of these), sports, photo stories, advertorials, etc. – give me a larger-than-life image of the Ghanaian society.  The two oldest journals, Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times, with their sister weeklies, The Mirror and The Spectator, respectively, are on parade.  The later appearances, Daily Guide, The Ghanaian Chronicle, Modern Ghana (Online), The Insight, Finder, Business Ghana, Statesman, etc., have also been consulted, considered or captured for this short essay.

Ghana no longer has evening sheets. Kwame Nkrumah, the country’s founding president, introduced an Accra evening paper in the late 40s to fight colonial rule and give a voice to the local population. In the 60s, there was also the popular Evening Times. Since then, there’s been no serious contention for a comeback.

The national broadcaster, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), together with a rash of a mixed multitude of FM stations and TV outlets across the Black Star country, constitutes bottomless depths of resources to guide a sweeping view of life in this former Gold Coast land.

Therefore, whether what you get from them comes down as skewed or straight, embellished or exposed, some wandering warts would rebel and escape through to settle the argument. So you can’t but end up with a fair grip of the unhidden state of the society. This is in defence of the media – of any hue.

I don’t believe we should be paranoid about perceptions of the media’s so-termed anti-system or antisocial bent. They are better to be with us, than not to have them. A necessary ‘evil’, some might conclude. An iconoclastic American president, Thomas Jefferson, said long ago that he preferred a society with newspapers without a government to one with a government denied the media.

So, from the press, I have observed Ghanaians welcoming their new leader, John Dramani Mahama, a left of centre Nkrumahist. He swept the ballot last December with the flag of National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party formed by the very much admired Jerry Rawlings. At most campaign scenes, Mahama told wild ecstatic crowds that he’d return to what Nkrumah stood for: developing a progressive and organic society, freeing the grassroots from elite control, pursuing Pan-Africanism, reviewing Ghana’s relationship with Western financial institutions, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, etc. He says also that Founder’s Day, as Nkrumah’s birthday is called, would receive more national acclaim.

The point critics are raising, however, is that although this great African seems to have been fully rehabilitated over the decades after the 1966 February 24 coup overthrew him, there remains the ideological business of rebuilding the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) Nkrumah formed to propel Ghana into history.

For many, it’s not enough that we already have Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah’s totems of homage all over: Mausoleum, a university, streets, intersection, research centres, etc. But many wonder why all who were nostalgic about Nkrumaism went on to form their own political parties instead of simply going back to their hero’s dear old organisation. A military ruler and closet Nkrumah sympathiser, Ignatius Acheampong, frittered the opportunity to recall Nkrumah from exile in Guinea in 1972 for his reinstatement.

Then there’s the Kotoka International Airport, Accra, matter. The hawks want the president to rename the facility. They argue that you can’t claim to honour Nkrumah and still celebrate Emmanuel Kotoka, the military officer who led the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency-inspired putsch against the revered Ghanaian leader.  

Meanwhile, when Ghanaians celebrated their nation’s 68th Independence in March this year, the new government came up with this mantra: Reflect. Review. Reset. It is the charge that the citizens must reflect on the past; they would then review it, and reset it. Partly, it’s a huge and disconcerting admission that Ghana isn’t where the founding fathers projected it. Hence, there’s urgent need to reset (redirect) the journey.

The administration just displaced didn’t face these challenges squarely, Mahama says. It left behind a lot of rot. Fiery cabinet member, Sam Nartey George, says the old government operated on legislation that “belonged to the museum”.

The sitting government has also alluded to a frenzy of embezzlement under the former regime. It has set up Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), whose ruthless agents crash into bedrooms seizing cash and jewellery of ex-public officers.

The government is in high spirits, saying its policies and new budget would truly “reset” Ghana to the vision of the Nkrumah era.

Ernest Kofi Adu, who covers the Parliament for the Daily Guide newspaper, says the “2025 (projections) present a blend of ambitious policies and potential challenges.”

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has acidic comments on the budget, however. It says it’s lopsided, as it gives more funds to satisfy the palatial palate of the presidency than it has given the youth and women ministries put together.

The government has dismissed the charge, referring to its 24-Hour Economy Agenda (24-HE) as the magic lever “ensuring that employment opportunities are not dictated by location, but talent and competence… equitable employment, economic flexibility and sustainable business growth”.

Ghanaians are also debating the petitions said to have been sent to President Mahama for the removal of the Chief Justice. What she’s accused of, is still shrouded. But there are strong indications she would go.

Liberal watchers want Mahama to be gender-smart. His NDC has been accused of not being friendly towards the fair sex, despite having a female as his Vice. They are pointing at Namibia, where a woman has just been sworn in as the president. They are also reminding him of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Affirmative Action on women this year.

Ghana under an Nkrumahist is still at war with galamseyers, the armed illegal miners destroying the forests and water sources of the land. The Bawku communal crisis in the far north hasn’t abated, in spite of security intervention and pleas by Mahama.

The stakeholders on the religious front are not missing from the media watch. There’s Reverend Tayo Aremu of Mark Hayford Memorial Baptist Church on Hansen Road, Accra. He refuses to be addressed as the shepherd of the assembly, preferring to be called undershepherd. His Master, Jesus Christ, he says, is the Shepherd. It was the first time I saw such ecclesiastical self-effacement in Ghana. Elsewhere, on the other hand, another ‘man of God’ asked his audience on the radio to come for coins that would lead them to breakthroughs. At a session, when a caller said his ailment was addiction to akpeteshie (ogogoro), the ‘servant of heaven’ asked the drunkard to come along for healing with a bottle of the drink!

On the sports scene, Ghana under an Nkrumahist is returning to old-time blaze in football. In two 2026 World Cup qualifiers, home and away, the Black Stars have scored eight goals, conceding none. For a country once hosting the best of African football, the citizens are not composing new victory songs. They are going into the archives, looking for what the people sang to hail the all-conquering Black Stars of old.

   Ojewale, an author, writes from Accra, Ghana

By Anthony Adongo Apubeo 

Bolgatanga, April 26, GNA – The Catholic Diocese of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga has held a Requiem Mass for the late Pope Francis who died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at age 88. 

The Holy Mass, presided over by The Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of the Diocese of was to thank God for the time the late Pope spent serving the Church and pray for the peaceful repose of the late Supreme Pontiff. 

The Mass, held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish in Bolgatanga and attended by priests, religious (brothers and sisters) and the Catholic faithful within the Diocese, was to also pray for direction of God to choose a new Pope to lead the Church in these contemporary times. 

Delivering a homily during the mass, The Most Reverend Agyenta described the late Pope as a gift to the Universal Church and the world as his works and liturgy was a direct response to the current challenges confronting the world. 

He said the late Pope Francis was known for leading the Church towards the mercy of God, adding that his leadership, liturgy and teachings centred on compassion and mercy towards one another. 

“We are saying goodbye to a man with a big heart”, The Most Reverend Agyenta eulogized the late Pope, adding “that was what the world needed at the time because there was so much hatred, conflicts, wars, wickedness and exclusiveness”, he said. 

He said the late Pope Francis described the Catholic Church as hospital that was opened for all vulnerable people and wounded people across world to seek refuge and stressed the need for Christians to show compassion towards one another. 

He said the late Pope worked towards inclusiveness and urged Christians to practice the teachings of the late Pope for a transformed world. 

Apart from advocacy through his teachings and works, his lifestyle was urging Christians to have mercy on the vulnerable and believed that God would guide the College of Cardinals to choose the next Pope who would respond to the needs of the current times. 

“Let us pray that God, knowing the challenges we are experiencing now will elect a leader that we need”, he said. 

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected the 226th Pope of the Church in 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. 

GNA 

GRB  

Doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) have called off their industrial action and resumed full services following discussions with the Minister of Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

The Doctors’ Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) withdrew their services on April 23  2025, after an incident during Mr Akandoh’s visit to the hospital the previous day.

The disruption occurred when members of the Association raised concerns about longstanding operational difficulties and other challenges affecting healthcare delivery.

The suspension of services affected both routine and emergency operations at the facility.

Following the development, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and a delegation from the Overlord of Dagbon, His Majesty Ndan Yaa-Naa Abukari II, engaged with the leadership of DATTH in an effort to resolve the impasse.

After consultations with the National Executive Council of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), emergency services were partially restored at TTH from 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25 2025.

On the same day, the GMA facilitated a meeting between DATTH executives and Mr Akandoh. At the meeting, Mr Akandoh conveyed his regret over the challenges faced by the hospital over the years and the events that triggered the industrial action.

He assured the doctors that steps had been taken to address their concerns, including the provision of medical equipment and supplies to the hospital.

Following these developments, DATTH held an emergency meeting on April 26 2025 and resolved to call off the suspension of services. ]

In a statement issued after the meeting, the Association directed all doctors to resume full duties with immediate effect.

The Association also indicated that it would continue to engage hospital management, the Ministry of Health, and other relevant parties to tackle the longstanding difficulties affecting healthcare delivery at the facility. It urged the hospital’s leadership to be more open with the public regarding the challenges faced by the institution.

DATTH also called on the media to be fair and circumspect in their reportage on health-related matters. It cautioned that should logistical and equipment challenges persist in the short to medium term, the Association would consider further action.

The Association acknowledged the role of His Majesty Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II in helping to resolve the matter and pledged to work towards improving healthcare delivery at Tamale Teaching Hospital.

Read the full statement below:

Published:
Saturday, 26 April 2025

History was made at the University of Ghana on Saturday, 26 April as Ghana’s U-15 Girls team and Tanzania’s U-15 Boys team were crowned champions of the CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals following thrilling final matches in Accra.

Ghana’s U-15 Girls delivered a spirited performance in front of an electrified home crowd, defeating Uganda 2-0 to lift the continental title in their debut appearance at the Finals. Their victory marks a proud moment for Ghanaian youth football, showcasing the nation’s bright future on the African stage.

Meanwhile, Tanzania’s U-15 Boys successfully defended their title, overcoming a strong Senegal side in a dramatic penalty shootout after a fiercely contested 0-0 stalemate.

The tournament, held at the University of Ghana from 23 to 26 April 2025, brought together the best young talents from across Africa, celebrating excellence, unity, and the transformative power of football.

The successful conclusion of the four-day competition which marks is third successive season was attended by CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe alongside Ghana Head of State, His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama who jointly handed over the titles to both teams.

The Ghana Boys U-15 also secured a podium finish on Saturday after overcoming Uganda in the third-place play-off, while former champions in the Girls division, South Africa also secured a bronze medal after edging Morocco 2-1.

Saturday’s final marks yet another successful season of Africa’s largest schools football competition and continues to form a key component to achieving CAF President, Dr Motsepe’s bold vision of Making African Football Globally Competitive and Self-sustaining.

 

CAF African Schools Football Championship Ghana 2025 Individual Awards:

GIRLS 

Top Scorer: Pulane Moloi (South Africa)

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Precious Akenguwie (Ghana)

Player of the Tournament: Jennifer Awuku (Ghana)

Fair Play Team: Morocco 

 

BOYS:

Top Scorer: John Andor (Ghana), Ingatus Cyril Acquah Hagan (Ghana)

Player of the Tournament: Souleymane Commissaire Faye 

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Rajabu Manyelezi (Tanzania)

Fair Play Team: Tanzania

 

 

 

Jules Kounde lashed in an extra-time screamer as Barcelona beat Real Madrid to win the Copa del Rey in a remarkable Clasico in Seville.

After a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes and with penalties appearing inevitable, the Barcelona defender got the ball 22 yards out and drilled a fine effort into the bottom corner.

Barca had been by far the better side in the first half and led through Pedri’s fantastic first-time strike from outside the box after Lamine Yamal’s cut-back.

Real improved dramatically after Kylian Mbappe came on as a substitute, and he curled a free-kick, which he had won, into the bottom corner via the inside of the post.

Aurelien Tchouameni then headed Real ahead from Arda Guler’s corner.

But Barcelona levelled when Ferran Torres ran onto Yamal’s long ball and rounded goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois before slotting in.

Hansi Flick’s side thought they had a chance to win it in injury time when they were awarded a penalty for a Raul Asencio tackle on Raphinha but the decision was overturned after a long video assistant referee check.

That meant the game went to extra time, when Kounde’s fourth goal of the season was the difference.

And at the end of a game of which the build-up had been dominated by referees, Antonio Rudiger was shown a straight red card from the Real bench.

That was the last meaningful act of a first Clasico final in a major tournament since 2014, when Gareth Bale scored a fantastic late winner for Real in a 2-1 victory.

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“More than a pope, he was a fatherly figure for us migrants,” said Virginia Munos Ramires, 30, an El Salvador native, as she held onto a railing in St. Peter’s Square under the beating sun. “He represented Latinos, immigrants — he was a reference for all of us.”

Some of the mourners wore suits, others the blue and white soccer jerseys of Francis’ native Argentina. Still others were dressed in traditional Polish garments or colorful cloths from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Many broke into loud applause when Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who was officiating the Mass, recalled in his homily that the pope’s first trip had been to Lampedusa, a southern Italian island that has become emblematic of large numbers of migrants arriving in Europe over the past decade.

Pope Francis was “giving himself without measure, especially to the marginalized,” Cardinal Re said, as he stood within sight of a giant statue of St. Peter, the Roman Catholic Church’s first pope.

With gulls crying out overhead and helicopters roaring higher in the sky, the crowd was largely silent as readings in Latin, Italian and other languages resounded in the square.

For all of its pomp and ceremony, the experience for the crowd also had something of the feel of a stadium concert. The Mass took place on a stage so distant that the figures appeared tiny. What made it feel close were giant screens and a speaker system that resonated around the piazza.

At one moment, the cameras focused on a tiny detail from the pope’s coffin, making the solemnity of the occasion feel all too real. At another, they showed President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine as he walked to his seat, prompting a bout of applause from the crowd.

But no one who was present needed a video display to be captivated by the grandeur of the surroundings. The piazza, arrayed around the Vatican obelisk, is bounded by enormous colonnades topped with sculptures that stand in silhouette against the sky.

Among the mourners were Catholics from places that Francis had made a point of reaching out to. Many, like the retired owner of a grocery story in the northern Italian city of Genoa, said they felt that Francis was a “normal person,” like them. “The world you loved is here today to say thank you,” one banner read.

Francesca Butros, a nun from Egypt, had run into the piazza to secure a spot. She had prayed that Pope Francis, who suffered from knee ailments, would relieve her legs from pain and allow her to make it to St. Peter’s in time for the funeral. She did, although another nun twisted her ankle in the subway, she said.

Epiphana Lubangula, 53, a Tanzania native who works as a nurse in Italy, said, “We are here from the West to the East.” She said she hoped that “the powerful who are here today will treasure Francis’ message.”

A priest from Myanmar, the Rev. Caesar Htoo Ko Ko, said that since the pope’s 2017 visit to the country, people there finally “have an image of what a Catholic is.”

And while the media’s attention turned to a meeting between Mr. Zelensky and President Trump in the basilica before the funeral, many of the mourners were mostly focused on saying goodbye to the pope.

“He was like family,” said Colette Sandjon, 68, a Cameroon native who had traveled from Paris and spent the night standing in a Vatican City side street to secure a spot at the pope’s funeral.

“When he spoke to me, it’s as if he was speaking to the whole of Africa,” she added, her eyes reddened by the sleepless night.

Toward the end of the ceremony, it was approaching midday, and the spring heat was taking a toll on those who had been standing since before dawn. Hundreds sat down for the homily, while others tried to fan themselves with the funeral program booklet.

With the pope being laid to rest, many Catholics were also starting to look ahead. Some wondered who would defend the voiceless now that their loudest champion was gone. Others said they hoped that Francis’ era of emphasizing charity and pastoral work over church doctrine was over.

The Rev. Joseph Jaros, of the Czech Republic, said he agreed with Francis that the church needed to change, but, echoing of a criticism often heard among conservatives, he said that it should be in keeping with tradition. “The world is changing a lot, but the church should not change too much,” he said.

Ms. Munos Ramires, the migrant from El Salvador, said she was more concerned about the pope’s message. “As migrants we are worried,” she said. “We hope we’ll get another advocate.”

After the Mass ended, the cardinals descended the basilica’s staircase in a red cascade and the crowd trickled out. The piazza outside the basilica was cleared. An eerie silence remained.

Jason Horowitz contributed reporting.

FC Barcelona’s dream of potentially winning a treble this season is now one-third closer after winning against Real Madrid in the 2025 Copa del Rey final 3-2 in Seville on Saturday.

The Catalan team now faces the most decisive weeks of the season ahead, with the UEFA Champions League semifinals’ first leg against Inter Milan on Wednesday. As well as the last weeks of the Spanish La Liga season.

Despite a tie that took the game to extra time, Barça won the final in the last 10 minutes of the game. Hansi Flick’s team drew 2-2 during the first 90 minutes, but a goal by Koundé put an end to the final when there were five minutes left in the game.

Barça player Pedri scored the first goal of the night during the first half of the game. The Catalan team led the match until the second half, when Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni scored two goals in quick succession.

And when the game was almost lost for Barça, Ferran Torres scored in minute 83. A few minutes later, when the game was already drawn at 2-2, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea did not give a penalty in favor of the Catalan team despite a VAR review.

Koundé scored in minute 116 and fans in Seville’s La Cartuja did not stop celebrating until the end of the game.

Best player of the game, Ferran Torres, and top goal-scorer in the King’s Cup tournament celebrated the victory as “it was about time to give some happiness to Barça fans, and it is now time to enjoy it, but not much as we have Champions’ semifinals on Wednesday,” he said after the game from the pitch.

“I am not sure if this is the start of a new era, but we are ready and full of energy to face what is coming ahead,” he added.

Meanwhile, Catalan president Salvador Illa congratulated the team and all its supporters “for this well-deserved triumph, after a very fascinating game against Real Madrid,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Barça already won Spain’s Supercup in January.

Real Madrid referee scandal

Before the clock ticked to 10 pm on Saturday night in Seville, the major story was the threat made by Real Madrid CF against the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), VAR referee Pablo González Fuertes, and the lead referee Burgos Bengoetxea.

Real Madrid TV, the television channel of the Spanish football club, has been publishing videos criticizing the referees for what it considers a conflict of interest and a bias against the team.

Players from the Spanish capital and Ancelotti did not even train in Seville on Friday, nor did they attend the previous press conference before the final, showing their discontent.

 

In a rapidly changing world, the challenge of adhering to the law becomes more complex. Increasingly, we find ourselves in situations where public opinion calls for deviance from established legal norms. Yet, we must remind ourselves that “no matter how much noise is made, the law is the law.”

This truth serves both as a destination and as a compass on the often-turbulent journey toward justice.

In the unfolding Chief Justice saga, it appears that some are making a mountain out of a molehill, crying more than the bereaved as they dramatise the situation for all it is worth.
In efforts to gain attention, they make the loudest noise in a bid to draw the public eye to their narrative.

On 22nd April 2025, President Mahama suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, following the establishment of a prima facie case based on petitions for her removal.

The decision involved consultations with the Council of State, thereby adhering to constitutional guidelines. A five-member committee was subsequently formed to investigate the matter. According to Article 146, a Chief Justice can be removed from office for “stated misbehaviour” or “inability to perform the functions of the office.” Therefore, the procedure initiated by President Mahama is rooted in legal provisions and reflects a constitutional process that warrants a serious and impartial inquiry.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has vehemently opposed the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo by President John Dramani Mahama.

The NPP’s response, characterised by declarations of nationwide demonstrations and claims of an unfair attempt to politicise the judiciary, raises critical concerns about their motivations. The argument that the integrity of the judiciary is under threat is paradoxical, considering that such a robust reaction to a legal process may exacerbate the politicisation they claim to abhor.

The million-dollar question is: are they genuinely concerned about judicial integrity, or are they attempting to protect their political interests by framing the suspension as a politically motivated action?

While the NPP calls for protests and presents an image of urgency, it is essential to recognise that the investigative committee is yet to publicly disclose its findings. In the realm of law, judicial matters are governed by principles of due process, which demand patience and adherence to established legal procedures.

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has rightly emphasised the necessity to uphold the rule of law throughout this process. By launching demonstrations prior to any outcome from the committee, the NPP risks undermining the very judicial integrity they claim to defend.

The Ghanaian citizenry must question the motivations behind the NPP’s actions. Why is it that prominent party members, including lawyers, have publicly dismissed the legitimacy of the petitions without waiting for the committee’s conclusions?

The legal profession is expected to uphold high ethical standards. Commentators—especially those trained in law—should refrain from making determinations on the merits of a case still under consideration, as doing so breaches the fundamental principle of impartiality and could be viewed as an attempt to sway public opinion during an ongoing investigation.

It is pitiful that some lawyers who ought to know better are participating in commenting on a case that is sub judice, influencing the result only for political reasons.

Furthermore, the intervention of the NPP calls into question its understanding of constitutional provisions and judicial independence. By asserting that they will not rest until the Chief Justice’s suspension is reversed, they place undue pressure on the investigative committee, potentially compromising its integrity.

Judicial independence is a cornerstone of democracy; legal practitioners and political actors alike are called to respect this independence and the constitutional processes therein.

Rather than adopting a posture of resistance, the NPP and other political entities should promote an atmosphere conducive to objective examination and resolution of the issues at hand.

The outcome of the committee’s investigation must be respected, regardless of whether it aligns with the interests of any political party. The core function of the judiciary is to adjudicate impartially and ensure justice for all, which includes holding errant officials accountable, irrespective of their positions.

I must finally say, the NPP’s reaction to Chief Justice Torkornoo’s suspension, while ostensibly aimed at protecting judicial integrity, appears instead to be an effort to secure political advantage amidst a legitimate constitutional process.

Let us remember that the essence of democracy lies not just in the challenge of authority, but also in upholding the institutions that safeguard our rights and liberties. Rather than allowing political narratives to cloud judgment, Ghanaians must support a thorough and impartial investigation, thereby strengthening our judicial system and reinforcing the rule of law.

After all, justice, in its truest form, must always transcend political affiliations.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

The match so farpublished at 23:08 British Summer Time

23:08 BST

FT: Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid

This outcome seemed very unlikely at half-time.

Barcelona were in full control after Pedri’s sensational strike.

But then Kylian Mbappe enters the match.

Two goals in seven second half minutes give Real Madrid an unlikely lead.

Ferran Torres then scores the equaliser in the 84th minute.

Barcelona are denied a late penalty after Raul Asensio is adjudged to have fouled Raphinha in the box.

The penalty decision is then overturned and Raphinha is booked for simulation.

Got it? Good!

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, has commended Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and his team for their “strong commitment to the Fund-supported program and reforms aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability.”

During a meeting on Saturday, Georgieva praised the leadership shown by Dr. Forson noting the significant progress Ghana has made under challenging circumstances. She reaffirmed the IMF’s continued support for the country, stating, “The IMF remains a strong partner of Ghana.”

This high-level endorsement follows the announcement that Ghana has reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on the fourth review of the Fund-supported program.

Once formally approved by the IMF Executive Board, the agreement will pave the way for the disbursement of approximately 370 million dollars to Ghana.

The achievement is particularly remarkable given that, before the new government assumed office, several structural benchmarks and quantitative targets under the program had been breached.

The breakthrough reflects the aggressive and focused efforts of the Mahama administration to reverse the economic situation and restore confidence in Ghana’s financial management.

Since taking office, the government has accelerated the implementation of structural reforms, delivering results ahead of schedule and bolstering optimism about Ghana’s economic prospects.

A major focus of the administration’s reform agenda has been the resolution of the large accumulation of payables in 2024, which had contributed to a significant primary deficit instead of the modest surplus originally targeted.

To address this, the government has introduced a range of bold and pragmatic measures aimed at strengthening spending controls, restoring budget credibility, and ensuring fiscal and debt sustainability.

In addition to these reforms, the government has already completed a number of structural benchmarks that were originally scheduled for completion at the end of December 2024 and March 2025, underlining its strong commitment to economic recovery.

Also in attendance were governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr. Johnson Asiama, Senior Economic Advisor, Seth Tekper and chairman of the National Development Planning Commission Dr. Nii Moi Thompson.

Former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Cynthia Morrison, has revealed that she faced opposition from within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) due to her involvement in the controversial “Ken must go” movement.

In an exclusive interview with Sweetie Aborchie on JoyNews, Madam Morrison disclosed that her political career suffered setbacks as a result of her stance against the former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

“Elements within the NPP worked against me because I was part of ‘Ken must go’,” she stated, referring to the internal campaign that sought the removal of Mr Ofori-Atta from his ministerial position.

The former Minister stated that she stood alone as the only female voice in the movement.

“I was the only lady in ‘Ken must go’. I supported the removal of the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta,” she said, showing no regret for her position despite the consequences.

Madam Morrison also revealed her support for Kennedy Agyapong during the NPP’s internal contests, describing him as a crucial figure in the party’s Central Region stronghold.

“I supported Ken Agyapong. Kennedy Agyapong was our pillar in the Central Region,” she said, highlighting the MP’s significance to the party’s regional structure.

When questioned about her political allegiances, particularly regarding her relationship with current party leadership, Madam Morrison explained that she thought the NPP needed a better candidate to win the 2024 elections.

“I am not a hypocrite. Even though Bawumia is my friend, I supported Ken because we needed to support a candidate who could win for the NPP,” she explained.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has stated that the unity the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is currently seeking will only be achieved if the party grants amnesty to Alan Kyerematen and Paul Afoko.

Following the party’s primaries to elect a flagbearer for the 2024 elections, former Trade Minister and leading NPP member, Alan Kyerematen, broke away to form an apolitical movement, the Movement for Change, to contest the 2024 general election as an independent candidate.

Paul Afoko, on the other hand, was indefinitely suspended in 2015 while serving as the party’s Chairman. He was accused by party supporters of undermining Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s chances of winning the 2016 elections.

Speaking at the Takoradi Technical University Auditorium during the start of the NPP’s nationwide Thank You tour, Kennedy Agyapong emphasized the need for genuine reconciliation within the party.

“With reorganisation and unity, we were able to win power again. So, I am pleading with you, let us stop the public display of support for one candidate or the other. If we want to unite again as a party, I stand before the national executives to say that they should extend amnesty to Paul Afoko, Alan Kyerematen, and anybody who have been suspended, for them to come back.

“When we are able to do that it will serve us well. All the persons we have suspended have relatives and friends who can augment our votes as a party,” he stated.

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, has commended Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and his team for their “strong commitment to the Fund-supported programme and reforms aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability.”

During a meeting on Saturday, April 26, 2024, Madam Georgieva praised the leadership shown by Dr. Forson, noting the significant progress Ghana has made under challenging circumstances.

She reaffirmed the IMF’s continued support for the country, stating, “The IMF remains a strong partner of Ghana.”

This high-level endorsement follows the announcement that Ghana has reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on the fourth review of the Fund-supported program.

Once formally approved by the IMF Executive Board, the agreement will pave the way for the disbursement of approximately US$370 million to Ghana.

The achievement is particularly remarkable given that, before the new government assumed office, several structural benchmarks and quantitative targets under the program had been breached.

The breakthrough reflects the aggressive and focused efforts of President Mahama’s administration to reverse the economic situation and restore confidence in Ghana’s financial management.

Since taking office, the government has accelerated the implementation of structural reforms, delivering results ahead of schedule and bolstering optimism about Ghana’s economic prospects.

A major focus of the administration’s reform agenda has been the resolution of the large accumulation of payables in 2024, which had contributed to a significant primary deficit instead of the modest surplus originally targeted.

To address this, the government has introduced a range of bold and pragmatic measures aimed at strengthening spending controls, restoring budget credibility, and ensuring fiscal and debt sustainability.

In addition to these reforms, the government has already completed a number of structural benchmarks that were originally scheduled for completion at the end of December 2024 and March 2025, underlining its strong commitment to economic recovery.

In attendance at the meeting were Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama; Senior Economic Advisor to President Mahama, Seth Terkper and the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Published:
Saturday, 26 April 2025

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Executive Committee (“EXCO”) met in Accra, Ghana on Saturday ahead of the Final matches of the CAF African Schools Football Championship.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, who chaired the meeting, announced five new CAF Vice Presidents.

The newly-elected CAF Vice Presidents are: 

• CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)  
• CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
• CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
• CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)

Additionally, Dr Motsepe announced that Mr Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football (“FIF”), has been co-opted onto the CAF Executive Committee.

The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on sseveral CAF Committees.

Organizing Committee for the African Nations Championship (“CHAN”)

• President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)

CAF Technical and Development Committee

• President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
• Vice President: Mr Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)

CAF Medical Committee:

• President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
• Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)

Dr. Motsepe expressed gratitude to the outgoing CAF Vice-Presidents for their contributions and leadership during their tenure.

 

For more information, please contact: CAF Communications

[email protected]

Drivers and passengers commuting along the Damongo-Sawla-Bole road have appealed to the government to urgently maintain and reconstruct the deteriorating road in the Savannah Region.

They complain that the poor condition of the road is making travel increasingly difficult and hazardous for both passengers and vehicles, especially with the onset of the rainy season.

The Damongo-Sawla-Bole road, part of the 147.5-kilometre Fulfulso-Sawla double-sealed surfaced road project, was constructed in 2012 and commissioned in 2015. Today, the once-praised road has severely deteriorated, becoming a death trap for both travellers and vehicles.

Speaking to Channel One News, some drivers reported that armed robbery cases along the stretch have become rampant, calling for increased security patrols to safeguard lives.

They also lamented that the poor road conditions frequently cause vehicle breakdowns, making it necessary for the government to intervene urgently by maintaining and reconstructing the road.

“The bad nature of the road is exposing us to robbery, because you get to a point that the car will not be able to move as fast as possible, and that exposes us to robbers,” a driver told Channel One News

Passengers also expressed frustrations over the long hours now spent on the road due to its poor state, which has led to a sharp rise in transportation fares.

They further highlighted the difficulties in transferring pregnant women and sick patients from Bole to Tamale, stressing the urgent need for road repairs to facilitate safer and quicker travel.

“At least we need more security for the road because it’s too bad. Instead of using two hours to reach your destination, you can end up using four hours,” a passenger said.

“We are suffering. Even when they are transferring a pregnant woman to Damongo or Bole, it is always a problem,” another passenger lamented.

Mumuni Mohammed, the Assembly Member for Kabampe and the Presiding Member for the West Gonja Municipal Assembly, stated that deterioration of the road began while the contractor was still on-site.

He emphasised that although the road is barely a decade old, it has now become a major danger zone, with increased incidents of armed robbery and frequent vehicle breakdowns.

“Ten years down the line, portions of the road have deteriorated so badly, and this has made commuters and vehicle owners so worried,” he said.

 

Six killed, one injured in Adansi Dompoase road accident

Piwak Natural Health, producers of 3P Garlic Mixture, has underscored the urgent need for the victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage to refocus their energies on rebuilding their communities.
Chief Executive Officer of Piwak Natural Health, Dr Prince Nelson Mortoti, says the company will continue to play its role in shaping lives, but the greater work depends on the zeal of the affected individuals to lift themselves from the clutches of the disaster.

In October 2023, Piwak made a cash donation of four hundred thousand Ghana cedis (GH₵400,000) and relief items to affected communities that were severely impacted by the Akosombo Dam spillage.
This, he said, was in line with supporting the victims to regain their economic and social stability.

Piwak, on Thursday, 24 April 2025, again met with the chiefs and people of Aveyime in the second phase of its donation, where it donated two hundred and ten thousand Ghana cedis (GH₵210,000) to the affected communities. The donation was made under the theme: “Rebuilding Together, Restoring Hope.”

Speaking at the short ceremony, Chief Executive Officer Dr Prince Nelson Mortoti intimated that the call to revisit the affected victims goes beyond a show of empathy.
“Today we return — not just to show sympathy, but to act once again. Today’s donation is the second phase of our ongoing support programme. This time, we are providing GH₵1,000 in direct financial aid to 200 affected individuals — 60 from South Tongu, 60 from Central Tongu, and 80 from North Tongu,” he intimated.

Dr Mortoti further added that the suffering of the affected victims cannot be compensated for, but they can be supported to find new avenues for survival.
“You have suffered enough. You deserve support that restores not just your life, but your dignity. Let me emphasise: this is not charity — it is responsibility. A responsibility we all share as leaders, as businesses, and as fellow citizens,” he added.

He expressed his firm belief that hope would rise again and urged the victims to stay united and support their community’s resuscitation agenda.
“But while the floods may have displaced our homes, they have not displaced our humanity. They have not drowned our spirit. They have not taken away our unity. Indeed, they have brought us together. And it is this unity that I appeal to today. Let us join hands — government, private sector, NGOs, and citizens — to do more,” he added.

In October 2023, more than 200 communities in parts of the Volta and Eastern Regions were submerged, leading to the destruction of lives and property when the authorities of the Akosombo Dam spilled excess water due to rising levels.

The affected areas include North, Central, South Tongu, and Anlo in the Volta Region, as well as the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region and Ada in the Greater Accra Region. Large portions of Siame-kome, Old Bakpa, Awadiwoe-kome, Tuanikope, Agorta, Avedzakeme, Gamenu, Tefle, Dalive, Sokpoe, Agorme, Ziwoenu, Amutinu, Tornu, Vome, Sikor, Kenu, Klamadaboe, and other riverbank communities were inundated. Mepe remains the most affected.

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