Emmanuel Adu Gyamfi (Youth Leader) addressing the press

Angry and concerned citizens of Assin South in the Assin South Constituency have urged the National Security and Police Service to stop intimidating their Member of Parliament, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, for invading his residence in an attempt to arrest him for exposing the NDC’s alleged plan to export cocaine and launder money.

Addressing the press, the leader of the Angry Concerned Citizens, Adu Gyamfi, expressed his disappointment at how the Member of Parliament’s house was invaded by National Security and alleged thugs to arrest the MP.

He said Rev John Ntim Fordjour has done nothing wrong but expose the plan of money laundering involving an aircraft.

The Concerned Citizens are urging National Security to use the strength they applied in invading their Member of Parliament’s house to investigate the matter in the fight against corruption and galamsey issues in the country.

The Concerned Citizens want an immediate halt to any further attempts to intimidate or arrest Rev John Ntim Fordjour and also call on Parliament, civil society organizations, and all democracy-loving Ghanaians to speak out against this abuse of power.

They insist that the allegations he has raised regarding national security be investigated independently and thoroughly.

The group assured Rev John Ntim Fordjour of their support.

Speaking in an interview with GHOne News, Yaw Boagyan, some of the Angry Concerned Citizens of Assin South also called on National Security to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and stop intimidating their MP.

They said invading his house without his consent was unlawful and must be condemned.

According to them, they want peace in Assin South, so they will not allow anybody to intimidate their Member of Parliament for revealing the truth.

The angry and concerned residents stated that they will resist any attempt to arrest and intimidate their Member of Parliament, who has not committed any sin.

Read the full statement below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 10, 2025

PRESS RELEASE BY CONCERNED CITIZENS OF ASSIN SOUTH CONSTITUENCY

We Stand with Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour: An Attack on One Is an Attack on All

We, the concerned citizens and residents of the Assin South Constituency, have received with grave concern and utter disappointment reports of an attempted arrest of our Member of Parliament, Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, at his private residence earlier today.

This unwarranted act by state security agencies is not only an affront to his liberty and a blatant abuse of power, but it is also a dangerous signal to all well-meaning Ghanaians who seek to uphold truth, transparency, and national interest. Hon. Ntim Fordjour, in his capacity as Ranking Member of the Defense and Interior Committee of Parliament, raised genuine concerns regarding suspicious flights into the country that potentially point to illicit drug trafficking and money laundering. Rather than treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves, the response of the government and its agencies has been to intimidate and silence a lawmaker fulfilling his constitutional duty of oversight.

We strongly condemn this action and view it as a direct attack on the people of Assin South, whose democratic will and voice Rev. Ntim Fordjour represents. Any attempt to persecute him is an attempt to silence our entire constituency and to undermine the very foundation of our democracy.

We, the people of Assin South:

Stand firmly with Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour.

Demand an immediate halt to any further attempts to intimidate or arrest him.

Call on Parliament, civil society organizations, and all democracy-loving Ghanaians to speak out against this abuse of power.

Insist that the allegations he has raised regarding national security be investigated independently and thoroughly.

We reaffirm our full support for our MP and assure him that he does not stand alone. His boldness in speaking truth to power is a reflection of the courage, values, and integrity of the people of Assin South.

Let it be known that we will not be silenced. We will not be intimidated. We stand by the truth, and we stand by Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour.

Speaker: Emmanuel Adu Gyamfi (Youth Leader)

SIGNED: Concerned Citizens of Assin South Constituency

Kantamanto Market plays a crucial role in Ghana’s informal economy

The leadership of Kantamanto Market has publicly rejected assertions made by the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association (GUCDA), describing them as misleading and unrepresentative of the true voices within the market.

In a statement issued by the market leadership, they reaffirmed their commitment to transparency, sustainability, and their ongoing partnership with The OR Foundation.

According to the Kantamanto Market leadership, GUCDA represents only a small segment of the secondhand clothing trade — mainly importers — and not the diverse community of small-scale retailers, head porters (kayayei), tailors, upcyclers, and resellers who drive the market’s daily operations.

“GUCDA does not represent us,” the leadership emphasised, reiterating a previous public declaration and calling on the media and development stakeholders to make this distinction clear.

The leadership also expressed strong support for The OR Foundation, highlighting its years of collaboration with Kantamanto retailers.

They noted that the OR Foundation has earned the community’s trust through consistent support, including fire recovery aid, upcycling training, public health initiatives, and research carried out in partnership with market workers.

“Their estimate that around 40% of clothing that enters the market becomes waste is not misinformation — it is an accurate reflection of our daily experience,” the leadership asserted.

They also explained that traders often have no control over the contents of imported clothing bales, which frequently contain torn, stained, outdated, or excess items that are difficult or impossible to sell.

“Waste is not a smear campaign — it is the reality we confront every day,” the leadership said, dismissing GUCDA’s suggestion that the issue was an attack on livelihoods.

The leadership emphasised that the waste problem was systemic, stemming from overproduction in the Global North.

“Kantamanto and Ghana are not dumping grounds by choice, but by design. The global fashion system creates this imbalance, and until that is addressed, local traders will continue to bear the burden,” they said.

Responding to GUCDA’s claim that their strike action represented the interests of Kantamanto traders, the leadership strongly disagreed, noting that prominent individuals featured in GUCDA’s campaign were importers and not the traders who deal with the day-to-day labor and risks of selling secondhand clothes.

“We reject any effort to erase the voices of those who work hardest to sustain this market,” the statement said, adding that attempts to incite protests were undermining the progress being made through local and international collaboration.

The leadership declared that Kantamanto Market remains open and active despite recent challenges, including a devastating fire earlier in the year.

They credited the OR Foundation for providing essential support, such as construction materials and emergency financial aid, to over 9,000 people.

“Our resilience is strong, and our market is vibrant. We welcome all partners who want to trade, collaborate, and invest in a sustainable future,” the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, catch up on the concluding part of the story of Fort William, which is the only fort in Ghana with a children’s condemned cell below:

GA/AE

The newly constituted board held its inaugural meeting at the BOST head office in Accra

The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) has officially ushered in a new era of leadership with the inaugural meeting of its newly constituted board, held at the company’s headquarters in Accra.

The session marks a pivotal step in repositioning the state-owned energy logistics firm as a driver of innovation, transparency, and operational excellence in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.

The board, chaired by renowned academic and energy policy expert Professor Saint Kuttu, convened for the first time to align the company’s strategic goals with national energy priorities. The meeting was attended by all newly appointed board members, including Afetsi Awoonor (CEO), Otoo Allister, Mahammed Adams Sukparu, Delphina Jones, Atchere Asuah-Kwasi, Esq., Albert Tibe Anarwat, and Ludwig Akpene Hlodze.

“We are entering a transformative phase in BOST’s journey,” Prof. Kuttu remarked. According to the chair, the board is committed to enhancing efficiency, promoting transparency, and positioning BOST as a key pillar in Ghana’s energy security framework.

Strengthening National Energy Resilience

BOST plays a critical role in Ghana’s petroleum distribution system. It operates six depots and a nationwide network of pipelines and storage infrastructure, supporting the government’s strategy to stabilize fuel supply and pricing across all regions.

With a mandate that includes the development and management of strategic petroleum reserves and the development of storage and transmission assets, BOST is poised to elevate its national impact. The company aims to increase its fuel reserves from the current target of six weeks’ national consumption to twelve weeks, reinforcing Ghana’s energy buffer against global supply shocks.

Revenue Growth Through Strategic Assets

The board discussed new pathways to bolster BOST’s revenue generation through leasing strategic infrastructure and enhanced reserve management. These efforts are part of a broader agenda to shift the company from cost-recovery operations toward sustainable profitability and sector leadership.

A Moment of Renewal

Internally, the meeting was seen as more than just a formal gathering. “It’s a moment of renewal,” noted a senior staff member. “There’s a genuine sense that BOST is transitioning toward a more strategic and impactful role in the national interest.”

The new board’s vision reflects growing calls for public enterprises to not only deliver services efficiently but also to contribute meaningfully to national development. Under this refreshed leadership, BOST is expected to lead key energy initiatives, especially as Ghana eyes greater energy self-sufficiency and regional influence.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has exempted smartphones, computers and some other electronic devices from “reciprocal” tariffs, including the 125% levies imposed on Chinese imports.

In a notice, US Customs and Border Patrol said that the goods would be excluded from Trump’s 10% global tariff on most countries and the much larger Chinese import tax.

It marks the first significant reprieve of any kind in Trump’s tariffs on China, with one trade analyst describing it as a “game-changer scenario”.

Late on Saturday, while travelling to Miami, Trump said he would give more details of the exemptions at the start of next week.

“We’ll be very specific,” he told reporters on Air Force One. “But we’re taking in a lot of money. As a country we’re taking in a lot of money.”

The move came after concerns from US tech companies that the price of gadgets could skyrocket, as many of them are made in China.

Exemptions – backdated to 5 April – also include other electronic devices and components, including semiconductors, solar cells and memory cards.

“This is the dream scenario for tech investors,” Dan Ives, who is the global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities, posted on X. “Smartphones, chips being excluded is a game-changer scenario when it comes to China tariffs.”

Big tech firms such as Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft and the broader tech industry can breathe a huge sigh of relief this weekend, he added.

The White House indicated the exemptions were made to ensure companies had more time to move production to the US.

“President Trump has made it clear America cannot rely on China to manufacture critical technologies such as semiconductors, chips, smartphones, and laptops,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

“At the direction of the president, these companies are hustling to onshore their manufacturing in the United States as soon as possible.”

Trump, who is spending the weekend at his Florida home, told reporters on Friday he was comfortable with the high tariffs on China.

“And I think something positive is going to come out of that,” he said, touting his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

These electronic goods are still subject to the 20% tariff on China related to fentanyl, White House Deputy Chief of Staff on Policy Stephen Miller posted on X.

Some estimates suggested iPhone prices in the US could have as much as tripled if costs were passed on to consumers.

The US is a major market for iPhones, while Apple accounted for more than half of its smartphones sales last year, according to Counterpoint Research.

It says as much as 80% of Apple’s iPhones intended for US sale are made in China, with the remaining 20% made in India.

Like its fellow smartphone giant Samsung, Apple has been trying to diversify its supply chains to avoid an over-reliance on China in recent years.

India and Vietnam emerged as frontrunners for additional manufacturing hubs.

As the tariffs took effect, Apple reportedly looked to speed up and increase its production of India-produced devices in recent days.

Trump had planned for a host of steep tariffs on countries around the world to take effect this week.

But on Wednesday he announced he would implement a 90-day pause for countries hit by higher US tariffs – except China, whose tariffs he raised to 145%.

Trump said the tariff increase for China was because of the country’s readiness to retaliate with its own 84% levy on US goods.

In a dramatic change of policy, Trump said all countries that had not retaliated against US tariffs would receive the reprieve – and only face a blanket tariff of 10% – until July.

The White House then said the move was a negotiating tactic to extract more favourable trade terms from other countries.

Trump has said his import taxes will address unfairness in the global trading system, as well as bring jobs and factories back to the US.

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.

JoyNews‘ multiple award-winning journalist Emmanuel Dzivenu, has been nominated by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to participate in the 60^th edition of the Union of African Journalists (UAJ) Training Programme in Cairo, Egypt.

The highly esteemed training brings together young journalists from across the African continent to deepen their understanding of the evolving media landscape, foster professional collaboration, and sharpen their storytelling skills in a rapidly digitising world.

Mr. Dzivenu’s selection is a proof to his consistent impact through powerful human-interest reporting, especially on issues of disabilities, social justice, education and climate change.

The three-week-long training, organised in partnership with the Supreme Council For Media Regulation as well as the Training and Media Studies Center, will feature workshops that address critical issues facing modern journalism – from the impact of social media on traditional media, to how journalists can navigate and counter false news.

Participants will also explore Africa and the Palestinian cause, Free Trade Zone and Economic Integration, Opportunities and Challenges in Africa, African Soft Power as well as African media in front of the new international conflict

Speaking ahead of his departure, Emmanuel Dzivenu expressed appreciation for the opportunity to represent Ghana and JoyNews on an international platform.

“It’s a huge honour to be part of this continental learning experience. Journalism is not just about telling stories – it’s about understanding the people behind the headlines and advocating for change. This programme offers a chance to grow, to share ideas with colleagues from across Africa, and to become a better journalist for the communities I serve,” he said.

Dzivenu’s nomination follows a string of awards recognising his exceptional storytelling.

He recently emerged as overall best Merck Foundation Multimedia Journalist in West Africa (Diabetes & Hypertension) for their gripping hotline documentary, “NCDs – The Silent Epidemic.”

In 2024, he won the National President’s Special Award at the 35th Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) Awards for his JoyNews feature “This Abled: Friendship Without Bounds”. The emotional documentary spotlighted the inspiring friendship between two University of Ghana students living with disabilities – Felicity Wedava Ajure, a little person, and Esther Boadu, who is visually impaired.

He was also named Best Disability Reporter for 2022 by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), solidifying his reputation as a leading voice for underrepresented groups in Ghanaian society.

Beyond the newsroom, Mr. Dzivenu is known for his collaborative spirit, working closely with videographers, producers, and local communities to bring authentic stories to life. His feature work blends compassion with journalistic integrity – often drawing attention to the triumphs and trials of people who are otherwise left out of mainstream narratives.

The UAJ Training Programme is expected to provide a blend of workshops, field visits, and cross-cultural exchanges. The organisers say the initiative aims to empower the next generation of African journalists with the knowledge, ethics, and digital tools necessary for impactful reporting.

With representatives from over 25 countries attending, the programme is as much a learning platform as it is a celebration of the continent’s diverse media talents.

As he joins his peers in Cairo, Mr. Dzivenu carries not only the Ghanaian flag but also the hopes of many young African journalists who believe in using the power of the microphone to cause positive change in society.

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.

Penplusbyte, a non-profit organization, has urged the government to review laws combating misinformation and disinformation for greater effectiveness.

It also called for improved implementation of the Right to Information Act (RTI), Act 2019, to ensure timely disclosures and reduce misinformation.

The appeal followed a study supported by the Open Government Partnership (OGP), which revealed that existing laws lack relevance to current trends.

Key frameworks reviewed included the Criminal Offences Act (1960), the 1992 Constitution, the Electronic Communications Act (2008), the Cybersecurity Act (2020), and the RTI Act (2019).

Presenting the findings of the study at a Multistakeholder Conference on Fighting Misinformation and Disinformation in Ghana in Accra, on Friday, Professor Abena Yeboah-Banin, Lead Researcher, stated that most current laws were not originally designed to combat misinformation and disinformation.

Rather, she explained, they had been repurposed to address this new challenge, which means they lack “the currency” to tackle the phenomenon effectively.

She highlighted the example of the Criminal Offences Act, enacted in 1960, which was introduced before the internet and social media became major drivers of misinformation.

“… we’re dealing with an issue that is happening now and has so many nuances, including even the role of AI in generating and spreading misinformation and disinformation.

“And so how suited these existing laws are to addressing the issue we have on the table is one of the queries that we raised out of our findings,” she added.

Prof. Yeboah-Banin also raised concerns about vague terms like “fear and panic,” which she said have been exploited to target dissenting voices.

She called for clarity to protect freedom of speech and recommended establishing a non-partisan ombudsman to assess mis/disinformation cases before prosecution.

Prof. Yeboah-Banin urged the government to pursue a regional harmonized legal framework through the African Union to hold tech and social media giants accountable.

Madam Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Minister of State for Public Sector Reforms, affirmed the government’s commitment to combating mis/disinformation, citing significant efforts taken over the years to provide vital information to Ghanaians.

These include publishing budget and expenditure data online and strengthening institutions like the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

“We must remain steadfast in our pursuit of governance reforms, safeguarding every citizen’s right to know and participate in shaping our nation’s future,” she said.

Mr. Jerry Sam, Executive Director of Penplusbyte, advocated for media and digital literacy to complement fact-checking efforts.

He proposed civil penalties for spreading misinformation instead of criminal punishment to protect individual rights.

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.

First Sky Construction Limited has resumed works on the 10.5-kilometre Ho bypass dual carriage road in the Ho metropolis of the Volta Region. 

This follows an announcement on the readiness of the road design in due course by the Roads Minister, Kwame Agbodza, after visiting the site in March 2025.

Construction of the road was a core of the catalog of promises by President John Dramani Mahama to the people of the Volta Region, the governing National Democratic Congress’ stronghold during the 2024 electioneering,

Five earth-moving machines were seen clearing the bushes within the road markings as part of preliminary works on the much-anticipated project.  

The road is expected to divert traffic coming from Accra to Aflao, off the inner roads of the regional capital when completed. 

It stretches from Sokode Etoe Roundabout, through UHAS, Mirage, Ho Technical University, Power House, and Dave before joining the main Ho-Denu road around Ipalco.

Myjoyonline.com also learned that a roundabout will be constructed at the intersection at Mirage to ensure an easy flow of traffic. 

Works started but progressed at a snail’s pace during the erstwhile Akufo-Addo-Dr-Bawumia-led administration between 2016 and 2024t, as he contractor was said to be cash-strapped and hence could not deliver on schedule.

Nonetheless, there was extensive work, including bitumen surfacing at sections of the stretch between Sokode-Etoe and Mirage.

Residents are in high anticipation of the completion of the road, which they identify as a major addition to the road infrastructure and a boost to commercial activities and social life.

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.

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The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Awatey has emphasised the determination of the regional security council to secure water bodies and provide clean water sources to the Ghana Water Company Limited for treatment for public consumption.

Due to the government’s resolve to protect these water sources and forest covers, the security council has begun clamping down on illegal mining in the region.

The exercise has been intensified with the seizure of mining equipment, including excavators and washing machines.

“We are poised to keeping our water clean so that GWCL will not struggle to have clean water to produce for us,” the minister said, explaining that “As result, we formed a taskforce to lead the clampdown exercise and I can assure you that we’ve been able to impound more than 10 excavators belonging to illegal miners in less than a week and trust me, we’ll ensure that these miners are made to face the law.”

Rita Akosua Awatey disclosed this when she paid a working visit to the regional office of the GWCL and some facilities that supply water to the Koforidua metropolis.

She commended the management and staff of the GWCL for their dedication to supplying potable water to residents while calling for stronger collaboration between the company and the Regional Coordinating Council.

She also challenged management to make the supply of water more accessible, reliable and to enhance the quality of the product.

Her visit took her to the Densuano old water works, the filter house which treats raw water from the Densu river, Spring Water from Okume and Suhyen mountains and ended her visit at the Bukunor Plant.

On his part, Ing. Paul Akpanya, the Eastern Regional Chief Manager of the GWCL expressed the appreciation of Management and staff for the minister’s visit.

He spoke of the operations of the company and briefed the minister about efforts to increase the volume of water produced by the Nsawam Water Treatment Plant, as well as efforts to supply water to the new Somanya Government Hospital and its environs, directly from the Akorley Booster Station.

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.

AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and other top AI labs are increasingly being used to assist with programming tasks. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in October that 25% of new code at the company is generated by AI, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has expressed ambitions to widely deploy AI coding models within the social media giant.

Yet even some of the best models today struggle to resolve software bugs that wouldn’t trip up experienced devs.

A new study from Microsoft Research, Microsoft’s R&D division, reveals that models, including Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet and OpenAI’s o3-mini, fail to debug many issues in a software development benchmark called SWE-bench Lite. The results are a sobering reminder that, despite bold pronouncements from companies like OpenAI, AI is still no match for human experts in domains such as coding.

The study’s co-authors tested nine different models as the backbone for a “single prompt-based agent” that had access to a number of debugging tools, including a Python debugger. They tasked this agent with solving a curated set of 300 software debugging tasks from SWE-bench Lite.

According to the co-authors, even when equipped with stronger and more recent models, their agent rarely completed more than half of the debugging tasks successfully. Claude 3.7 Sonnet had the highest average success rate (48.4%), followed by OpenAI’s o1 (30.2%), and o3-mini (22.1%).

A chart from the study. The “relative increase” refers to the boost models got from being equipped with debugging tooling.Image Credits:Microsoft

Why the underwhelming performance? Some models struggled to use the debugging tools available to them and understand how different tools might help with different issues. The bigger problem, though, was data scarcity, according to the co-authors. They speculate that there’s not enough data representing “sequential decision-making processes” — that is, human debugging traces — in current models’ training data.

“We strongly believe that training or fine-tuning [models] can make them better interactive debuggers,” wrote the co-authors in their study. “However, this will require specialized data to fulfill such model training, for example, trajectory data that records agents interacting with a debugger to collect necessary information before suggesting a bug fix.”

The findings aren’t exactly shocking. Many studies have shown that code-generating AI tends to introduce security vulnerabilities and errors, owing to weaknesses in areas like the ability to understand programming logic. One recent evaluation of Devin, a popular AI coding tool, found that it could only complete three out of 20 programming tests.

But the Microsoft work is one of the more detailed looks yet at a persistent problem area for models. It likely won’t dampen investor enthusiasm for AI-powered assistive coding tools, but with any luck, it’ll make developers — and their higher-ups — think twice about letting AI run the coding show.

For what it’s worth, a growing number of tech leaders have disputed the notion that AI will automate away coding jobs. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has said he thinks programming as a profession is here to stay. So has Replit CEO Amjad Masad, Okta CEO Todd McKinnon, and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna.

There always used to be a long line of traffic waiting to cross the steel truss Danube Bridge over the river between Giurgiu in Romania and the Bulgarian city of Rousse on the other side.

But since both EU countries fully joined Europe’s Schengen open-borders zone this year, removing time-consuming frontier checks, traffic flow has increased significantly.

One traveller, who only gave his name as Christian, drives the 75 kilometres (46 miles) south from the Romanian capital Bucharest to Rousse to stock up on “cheaper” cigarettes or perfumes that save him money.

“With Schengen, it’s faster: no more queueing to have our papers checked,” he said, leaning against his blue Mustang.

On weekends, a long line of cars with mostly Romanian registration plates crosses the border bridge towards the Bulgarian commercial hub, bringing with them tourists who boost the local economy.

According to data from Romania’s road management agency, around 160,000 cars crossed the border at Giurgiu between January and March 2025, compared to 128,000 during the same three-month period last year.

Read also

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Romanian menus

With tourism in Rousse booming, Bulgaria’s fifth-largest city has begun catering to its new clientele, with restaurant menus printed in Romanian and bilingual staff highly sought-after.

The city of 125,000 people — also called “little Vienna” — is known for its eclectic mix of architecture ranging from neo-baroque to communist-era buildings.

In front of a popular restaurant in the city’s central square, a young couple from Giurgiu waited patiently in a long queue.

“It’s easier to come now. We really like this place, it’s one of our favourites,” said 43-year-old teacher Claudia Badarau, standing next to her partner Bogdan.

Full integration into the now 29-country Schengen zone has had “a positive impact on the city, because there are many more tourists”, restaurant manager Todor Ratsov told AFP.

“There are quite a few Romanian tourists, mainly because of easier entry,” he said, adding that “90 percent of his menus” are now in Romanian.

Read also

German refinery’s plight prompts calls for return of Russian oil

According to Adrian Nikolov, senior economist at the Sofia-based Institute for Market Economics think-tank, “the effect is almost exclusively tourism-related”.

Over time, Nikolov added, it will be interesting to assess the impact on turnover of hotels and restaurants.

More pilgrims

Created in 1985, the Schengen zone includes 25 of the 27 European Union member states as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and allows more than 400 million people to travel freely inside the area.

Romania and Bulgaria endured a frustrating 13-year wait for full entry and finally joined on January 1, after Austria dropped its threat to veto membership over migration concerns.

Truckers and cross-border workers especially have benefited.

“For companies whose lorries cross the border, this means reduced journey time, more reliable delivery times, and lower fuel and personnel costs on the same route compared to last year,” Nikolov explained.

According to Romania’s transport federation, each carrier can save “two to three hours on average”, which translates into “extra money and extra freight”.

Read also

Iraqi markets a haven for pedlars escaping Iran’s economic woes

The Basarbovo monastery just outside Rousse — named after a shepherd who once lived there as a hermit and whose relics are venerated in Bucharest — has seen more visitors.

Carved into the side of a mountain, the monastery remains a popular destination for Romanian pilgrims — and more recently families on holiday.

Father Aleko has noticed a “clear increase” in the number of visitors.

“Once they pass through Rousse, they never fail to come and light a candle and pray to the saint,” he told AFP, referring to the shepherd who became Saint Dimitar.

Translator Oana Manulescu was visiting the hermit’s cave with her family from Bucharest.

“There are things to see, the prices are more affordable. And the Bulgarians are a very welcoming people,” she said.

Source: AFP

AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and other top AI labs are increasingly being used to assist with programming tasks. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in October that 25% of new code at the company is generated by AI, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has expressed ambitions to widely deploy AI coding models within the social media giant.

Yet even some of the best models today struggle to resolve software bugs that wouldn’t trip up experienced devs.

A new study from Microsoft Research, Microsoft’s R&D division, reveals that models, including Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet and OpenAI’s o3-mini, fail to debug many issues in a software development benchmark called SWE-bench Lite. The results are a sobering reminder that, despite bold pronouncements from companies like OpenAI, AI is still no match for human experts in domains such as coding.

The study’s co-authors tested nine different models as the backbone for a “single prompt-based agent” that had access to a number of debugging tools, including a Python debugger. They tasked this agent with solving a curated set of 300 software debugging tasks from SWE-bench Lite.

According to the co-authors, even when equipped with stronger and more recent models, their agent rarely completed more than half of the debugging tasks successfully. Claude 3.7 Sonnet had the highest average success rate (48.4%), followed by OpenAI’s o1 (30.2%), and o3-mini (22.1%).

A chart from the study. The “relative increase” refers to the boost models got from being equipped with debugging tooling.Image Credits:Microsoft

Why the underwhelming performance? Some models struggled to use the debugging tools available to them and understand how different tools might help with different issues. The bigger problem, though, was data scarcity, according to the co-authors. They speculate that there’s not enough data representing “sequential decision-making processes” — that is, human debugging traces — in current models’ training data.

“We strongly believe that training or fine-tuning [models] can make them better interactive debuggers,” wrote the co-authors in their study. “However, this will require specialized data to fulfill such model training, for example, trajectory data that records agents interacting with a debugger to collect necessary information before suggesting a bug fix.”

The findings aren’t exactly shocking. Many studies have shown that code-generating AI tends to introduce security vulnerabilities and errors, owing to weaknesses in areas like the ability to understand programming logic. One recent evaluation of Devin, a popular AI coding tool, found that it could only complete three out of 20 programming tests.

But the Microsoft work is one of the more detailed looks yet at a persistent problem area for models. It likely won’t dampen investor enthusiasm for AI-powered assistive coding tools, but with any luck, it’ll make developers — and their higher-ups — think twice about letting AI run the coding show.

For what it’s worth, a growing number of tech leaders have disputed the notion that AI will automate away coding jobs. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has said he thinks programming as a profession is here to stay. So has Replit CEO Amjad Masad, Okta CEO Todd McKinnon, and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna.

The government will ensure prompt and consistent transfers to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and other statutory funds to improve service delivery and strengthen public confidence in the system, says the Deputy Min­ister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem

Speaking at the launch of the 50th anniversary celebration of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Tech­nology (KNUST) in Kumasi, the deputy minister reiterated the government’s renewed focus on ensuring the timely release of funds as part of broader efforts to improve public financial man­agement.

Mr Ampem (second from left) being assisted by Prof. (Mrs) Rita Akosua Dickson (fifth from right), Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Dr Frank Amoakohene (fifth from left), Ashanti Regional Minister and other dignitaries to cut the cake

“Transfers to the NHIS and other statutory funds will be done promptly going forward,” Mr Am­pem said, adding “This is essential to ensure that institutions like the National Health Insurance Authority can function efficient­ly and deliver services without delay.”

“As part of this renewed commitment, we have already transferred GH¢1.4 billion to the NHIS this year, and we are en­suring that such payments are not only made, but made on time,” he said.

The assurance comes in the wake of long-standing concerns from healthcare providers about delayed reimbursements from the NHIS, which have often threat­ened the sustainability of health­care delivery across the country.

The Deputy Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency, noted that in line with President Mahama’s directive, government has uncapped the National Health Insurance Fund, paving the way for more flexible and responsive financing of healthcare services.

He added that timely transfers to statutory funds such as the Dis­trict Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), and the Road Fund were also critical to the government’s broader devel­opment goals.

“Delays in these statutory pay­ments often undermine service delivery at the local level. Going forward, the Ministry of Finance is working to streamline fund dis­bursement processes and enhance transparency to build trust and efficiency,” he stated.

The government will ensure prompt and consistent transfers to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and other statutory funds to improve service delivery and strengthen public confidence in the system, says the Deputy Min­ister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem

Speaking at the launch of the 50th anniversary celebration of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Tech­nology (KNUST) in Kumasi, the deputy minister reiterated the government’s renewed focus on ensuring the timely release of funds as part of broader efforts to improve public financial man­agement.

Mr Ampem (second from left) being assisted by Prof. (Mrs) Rita Akosua Dickson (fifth from right), Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Dr Frank Amoakohene (fifth from left), Ashanti Regional Minister and other dignitaries to cut the cake

“Transfers to the NHIS and other statutory funds will be done promptly going forward,” Mr Am­pem said, adding “This is essential to ensure that institutions like the National Health Insurance Authority can function efficient­ly and deliver services without delay.”

“As part of this renewed commitment, we have already transferred GH¢1.4 billion to the NHIS this year, and we are en­suring that such payments are not only made, but made on time,” he said.

The assurance comes in the wake of long-standing concerns from healthcare providers about delayed reimbursements from the NHIS, which have often threat­ened the sustainability of health­care delivery across the country.

The Deputy Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency, noted that in line with President Mahama’s directive, government has uncapped the National Health Insurance Fund, paving the way for more flexible and responsive financing of healthcare services.

He added that timely transfers to statutory funds such as the Dis­trict Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), and the Road Fund were also critical to the government’s broader devel­opment goals.

“Delays in these statutory pay­ments often undermine service delivery at the local level. Going forward, the Ministry of Finance is working to streamline fund dis­bursement processes and enhance transparency to build trust and efficiency,” he stated.

The government will ensure prompt and consistent transfers to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and other statutory funds to improve service delivery and strengthen public confidence in the system, says the Deputy Min­ister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem

Speaking at the launch of the 50th anniversary celebration of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Tech­nology (KNUST) in Kumasi, the deputy minister reiterated the government’s renewed focus on ensuring the timely release of funds as part of broader efforts to improve public financial man­agement.

Mr Ampem (second from left) being assisted by Prof. (Mrs) Rita Akosua Dickson (fifth from right), Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Dr Frank Amoakohene (fifth from left), Ashanti Regional Minister and other dignitaries to cut the cake

“Transfers to the NHIS and other statutory funds will be done promptly going forward,” Mr Am­pem said, adding “This is essential to ensure that institutions like the National Health Insurance Authority can function efficient­ly and deliver services without delay.”

“As part of this renewed commitment, we have already transferred GH¢1.4 billion to the NHIS this year, and we are en­suring that such payments are not only made, but made on time,” he said.

The assurance comes in the wake of long-standing concerns from healthcare providers about delayed reimbursements from the NHIS, which have often threat­ened the sustainability of health­care delivery across the country.

The Deputy Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency, noted that in line with President Mahama’s directive, government has uncapped the National Health Insurance Fund, paving the way for more flexible and responsive financing of healthcare services.

He added that timely transfers to statutory funds such as the Dis­trict Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), and the Road Fund were also critical to the government’s broader devel­opment goals.

“Delays in these statutory pay­ments often undermine service delivery at the local level. Going forward, the Ministry of Finance is working to streamline fund dis­bursement processes and enhance transparency to build trust and efficiency,” he stated.

The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has urged telecommunication companies to improve their quality of service or face sanctions.

This follows the approval and allocation of additional spectrum to mobile network operators to enhance connectivity and service delivery as a result of several complaints about poor service by almost all the network providers in the country.

“I wish to serve notice that the NCA will, within three months of the assignment of this additional spectrum, begin a rigorous enforcement of quality of service by the providers.

“Failure to provide a marked improvement in quality of service by the network operators will result in stiff fines,” Mr George added.

The minister was speaking at a press conference in Accra last Wednesday to elaborate on key initiatives and developments within his sector.

Affordable data

Mr George, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for the Ningo-Prampram Constituency, also said that the government was focused on ensuring affordable data for consumers, which he described as essential for digital inclusion.

In light of that, he said a data cost-pricing committee, established in February this year, had produced a roadmap for more cost-effective data pricing.

The committee’s report, the minister said, had been referred to the NCA, which had engaged with mobile network operators to create tailored data bundles for students, content creators and e-economy users.

Additionally, special data packages for all subscribers will be available on five national holidays – Independence Day, May Day, Republic Day, Founders Day and Farmers Day.

SIM registration

On the upcoming SIM Registration and Central Equipment Identity Register, the minister said the process would be a seamless and technology-driven exercise, which would be convenient to the public.

He said citizens would not have to endure long queues or abandon work to register their SIMs as the exercise would be human-centred and efficient.

“Once more, I make a firm pledge that people will not be saddled with having to abandon work and queue for long hours to register their SIMs.

“The process would be human-centred and technology-driven. This registration is critical for our collective security as a nation,” Mr George said.

He, therefore, urged all stakeholders to support the process.

Legislation

Mr George also highlighted the ongoing review of outdated laws that no longer serve the evolving business environment.

Many of those laws, he said, were decades old and, therefore, hindered progress in today’s fast-paced economy.

In line with that, he said a Startup Bill was being introduced to support entrepreneurship through tax incentives, simplification of regulatory frameworks and improvement in access to funding for new businesses.

The minister further explained the rationale behind the government’s decision to end the Common Monetary Platform Contract with KelniGVG, citing concerns over its effectiveness.

On measures to curtail misinformation and disinformation, he said that the government had instructed the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) to enhance digital surveillance and also collaborate with security agencies in their activities.

Mr George said a specialised legislation would be introduced in Parliament to establish a clear legal framework for law enforcement.

Salvage cars include a vehicle that has been critically damaged to the extent that any part of the safety cage and/or chassis is broken, cracked, bent or twisted or a vehi­cle abandoned and has a value only as a source of parts and scrap metal.

They stressed that the issue was critical to the growth and stability of the auto mechanic industry in Ghana.

The Western Regional Chair­man of the association, Mr Justice Jeo Aryitey, made the appeal at a stakeholders’ meet­ing with the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu- Agyare, in Takoradi on yesterday to discuss the matter as enshrined in the Customs Amendment Act, 2020 (Act 1014), but yet to be imple­mented.

The group further complained about the effects of high taxes, including import and export duties, on their operations.

They again noted government’s efforts in reducing some nuisance taxes, such as those on betting, lottery, and the E-Levy, but ob­served that import duties had not been revised.

“As an industry that depends on imported spare parts and equipment, the high import duties significantly increase our costs, making it unbearable for business­es to thrive,” they lamented.

The Ghana Standards Author­ity (GSA) together with relevant industry players defined salvage vehicles under “GS 4510” – road vehicles, with requirements for “Imported Used Motor Vehicles” including a motor vehicle that has suffered minor or major damages.

Mr Aryitey said the auto me­chanic industry believed that the law would affect spare parts, weld­ing and spraying business within the garages.

He again mentioned that garages were currently in the final stages of securing state land to provide permanent structures and ensure the stability of their members and appealed to the minister to help expedite the final stages to ensure a smooth and successful acquisition.

The District Chairman, Ko­kompe branch, Charles Mensah, said the security situation with­in the Kokompe enclave was alarming and continued to hinder business growth as incidents of theft and vandalism had left many of the members vulnerable, and urged the government to help safeguard the industry.

He added: “Kokompe’s acces­sibility remains a major concern “As we have only one major route serving the entire area. We look forward to working closely with your office to ensure meaning­ful progress in addressing these challenges.”

Moreover, Mr Mensah spoke about the unutilised training Cen­tre, with an office complex, com­pleted in 2019 through a collabo­ration between the Government of Ghana and the Government of France.

Designed to train the youth in motor artisanal works, he said, the centre remained unused, with equipment left to deteriorate.

By Iddi Yire

Accra, April 12, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama, the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, has pledged his full support for the establishment of the National Defence University by the Ghanaian Military. 

He said to support the National Defence University to realise its full potential, this specialised institution would run strategic academic courses to support government’s efforts for strategic high education for qualified Ghanaians, civilians, and the military. 

“Talking about academics in relation to the Ghana Armed Forces, I am particularly elated about the coming on stream of the National Defence University with a Presidential Charter,” President Mahama said in his address at the graduation of the Regular Career Course 63 of the Ghana Military Academy at Teshie, near Accra. 

President Mahama granted the Graduating Officer Cadets of Regular Career Course 63, the President’s Commission into the Ghana Armed Forces. 

He noted that the Presidential Charter provided the Ghana Armed Forces the mandate to explore and facilitate extensive teaching and learning towards more effective national defence and security.  

“Conceptually, as one of the constituent colleges of the National Defence University, the Ghana Military Academy will receive the needed facilities to achieve its mandate.” 

The President reiterated that the intervention would actualise the upgrading of the commissioning course to a postgraduate diploma, status for newly commissioned officers; saying, “So, when the officers are commissioned, they will come out with a postgraduate diploma.”  

He said the Ghana Military Academy had remained resolute and well-focused in achieving its mandate, notwithstanding some challenges it faces.  

The President said the Academy had a very rich history of training many of West Africa’s great and famous military leaders and the National Defence University would be another opportunity to incorporate a mainstream military discipline and doctrine in their people, pursuing higher education.  

He said the Minister for Defence had informed him that the Ghana Military Academy as they see it today had only undergone its first phase of expansion and was awaiting a second phase and a third phase.  

President Mahama said complementing the need to make the facilities more functional, he would give attention to their urgent requirement for a sports complex with a modern gymnasium and a swimming pool, and the construction of an outer perimeter road to facilitate training in the Academy. 

Touching in instability in the West African sub-region, President Mahama said: “Our sub-region is affected by the scourge of terrorism. Terrorist attacks close to our northern border have become a regular feature. Ghana is also not immune from the influence and effects of the complex challenges posed by the global security environment.” 

This, he said, was due to globally non-state security actors were becoming or in some instances had already become central and pivotal.  

He explained that the situation required a comprehensive approach to state security, and one could not underestimate the importance of active participation of all citizens in the security and stability of their state.  

“As citizens of Ghana, we must recognize that the nature of contemporary threats that confront us demand that we do not perceive our security services as the exclusive institutions responsible for our safety and security.” 

The President urged Ghanaians to support the security services and the Ghana Armed Forces with information that was useful and intelligence that was helpful that would advance their work rather than retrogress it.  

GNA 

LAA 

By Erica Apeatua Addo,  

Akyempim (W/R), April 12, GNA – To bridge the digital gap and equip pupils with essential Information Technology (IT) skills, GASO Petroleum Limited, has donated desktop computers, laptops and accessories, projectors and pen drives to two Basic Schools in the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality.  

The beneficiary institutions are Adieyie Municipal Assembly Basic School and New Tokunaso Basic School.  

Speaking at the presentation, Mr Isaac Asante, the Managing Director of GASO Petroleum Limited, said as partners of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, and as part of their community engagement and social responsibility initiatives, they decided to support the communities they worked in.  

He said GASO operates in Obuasi, Tarkwa, Damang and other mining communities in Ghana, and they were committed to ensuring that their host communities benefit from their operations. 

Mr Asante said: “We chose ICT because of the critical role it plays in the development of children, particularly in today’s digital age. We expect our pupils to have a strong foundation in computer skills by the time they enter the university, so it opens more career opportunities for them.”  

In addition, he announced that the company would adopt the ICT department of the two schools and provide more assistance to ensure that they were fully equipped.  

The Managing Director said: “This donation is just the beginning. We are pleading with the team from Iduapriem Mine to identify areas where the schools needed further help. For instance, if it’s internet connectivity, we will work on it to ensure both schools benefited more from the ICT equipment” 

Mr Asante revealed that only 40 per cent of basic schools have access to ICT, saying, “We believe that corporate bodies should support government to develop the country’s ICT sector.” 

Mr Stephen Adjei, Senior Manager-Sustainability, observed that the ICT equipment donated would enhance the learning experience and equip pupils with the skills to succeed in a rapidly changing world. 

He urged all contractors to emulate the example set by GASO and explore ways to support their host communities, adding, “by working together and contributing to our communities, we can drive a meaningful change and create a better future for all.”  

Mr Adjei thanked the donors for their generosity and commitment to empower communities, saying, “let us continue to work together to drive positive change through sustainable partnership.”  

Mrs Catherine Andoh-Mensah, Municipal Director of Education, explained that computers provided access to information, develop basic skills, improve upon communication and enhance teaching and learning.  

“This time ICT teaching will not be an abstract thing because pupils can now see, touch, and play with gadgets. This will make learning enjoyable and effective,” she said. 

Mrs Andoh-Mensah said this initiative would not only provide access to various learning tools but also foster a collaborative environment to enable pupils to develop essential skills in research, reading and studying.  

She noted that although the donated items should be kept in good condition, the pupils should be given the chance to experiment and learn with proper supervision.  

GNA  

JP/BM 

Accra Lions staged a late comeback to beat Basake Holy Stars on matchday 27 of the Ghana Premier League on Saturday, April 12.

Hamzata Musah and Lucky Nwafor scored two second-half goals to turn the game around for Accra Lions at the Accra Sports Stadium after Prince Tweneboah had scored for the away side.

Tweneboah opened the scoring for Holy Stars after just five minutes played to put his side in the lead.

Holy Stars held on and protected their lead as they went into the break on the winning side.

The second half started on a good note for the visitors, who continued to create chances in the early part, but they were unable to add to their lead.

With 20 minutes to go, the home side grew into the game.

Hamzata drew them level in the 72nd minute before Nwafor completed the comeback six minutes later.

The win meant Accra Lions avoided losing both league encounters against Holy Stars this season, having lost their earlier meeting.

All three points also mean Lions move out of the relegation zone ahead of Sunday’s fixtures, just one point above the danger area.

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Accra, April 12, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched the “Feed Ghana Programme”, the flagship initiative of his government at Techiman in the Bono East Region.

The “Feed Ghana Programme” is designed to boost food production through the implementation of modern farming techniques, strengthen agricultural infrastructure and establishment of agro-industrial zones throughout Ghana.

The President stressed the need for bold and decisive actions to be taken in order to elevate agriculture to a central position in the country’s economic transformation.

More to follow.

GNA