Ghanaian winger Maxim Zeulevoet

Ghanaian winger Maxim Zeulevoet has completed a move to Belgian side KRC Mechelen following the expiry of his contract with KRC Gent.

The 25-year-old joins on a free transfer, bringing experience and flair to Mechelen’s squad as they prepare for the new campaign. Zeulevoet, who was born in Belgium but has Ghanaian heritage, has spent most of his career in the Belgian lower leagues and is seen as a solid addition to the team.

He began his career at VW Hamme U21 before securing a move abroad to St Joseph’s FC in Gibraltar, where he featured in the top flight and gained valuable international experience. He returned to Belgium to join KRC Gent, where he spent the last two seasons.

Zeulevoet’s versatility and work ethic on the wings have earned him praise, and KRC Mechelen will be hoping he can make an impact as they aim to climb higher in Belgian football next season.

Ghana stands at a critical juncture in its democratic journey. At 68 years, the country has come a long way from its turbulent beginnings marked by coups, instability, and repeated interruptions to civilian rule. The Fourth Republic, which has endured for over three decades, is the longest and most stable period in Ghana’s history. But stability without substantial development and responsive governance has brought the nation to a boiling point.

Since the start of the Fourth Republic, Ghanaians have witnessed power alternate between the NDC and the NPP four times. While this has often been cited as a sign of democratic progress, many citizens are increasingly questioning what that democracy has tangibly delivered. The picture is sobering: high unemployment, deepening corruption, eroding public trust, and widespread disillusionment—particularly among the youth. A growing number of Ghanaians feel abandoned by a political elite more focused on self-preservation than national transformation.

The 2024 elections were a sharp expression of that frustration. They represented more than a rejection of a party—they signaled a demand for leadership that delivers, and a public hunger for real transformation. It is in this climate that John Dramani Mahama, a former president once voted out, has been granted a rare second chance to lead.

Mahama’s return is not just another chapter in Ghana’s familiar political cycle. It may well be the most pivotal moment in the country’s democratic journey. This is no ordinary second term—it is a reckoning for the political establishment, a test of the resilience of democratic hopes, and a defining chance to reshape the future of the nation.

A UNIQUE SECOND CHANCE

John Mahama is the only Ghanaian leader to be voted out and given the opportunity to return. This unique scenario places an enormous weight of expectation on his shoulders. For many citizens, his return must not mean a return to business as usual. It must mean a break from the past, a clean, bold pivot toward leadership that is ethical, visionary, and people-centered.

John Mahama has had eight years to reflect—eight years to revisit his first term, confront its shortcomings, listen to the people, and chart a more purposeful course forward. This time, the stakes are far higher. Ghana’s democratic fabric is under strain, and public confidence in the political class is waning. Ghanaians are no longer moved by promises or political theatrics—they are demanding results.

A COUNTRY ON THE EDGE

Ghana is not insulated from the political tremors shaking West Africa. Coups in neighbouring countries have rekindled dangerous sentiments, with a worrying number of Ghanaians—particularly the youth—expressing admiration for leaders who seized power through unconstitutional means. They are drawn by the illusion of decisiveness and a clean break from a failing elite. That should alarm us all.

A disillusioned population is a volatile one. Ghana’s much-vaunted democratic reputation—long seen as a beacon in the region—is under threat. If governance continues to overlook the pain and aspirations of ordinary citizens, the country risks slipping into a crisis from which it may take generations to recover. John Mahama’s second term must serve as a firewall against that descent.

WHY MAHAMA CANNOT AND MUST NOT FAIL

John Mahama cannot afford to fail—because the cost of failure is not merely political, it is existential. A failed second term would not only erase his legacy but risk plunging the country into a spiral of instability and civic decay. He must fight corruption—not just to appease public outcry, but to restore the sense of fairness and accountability that sustains any functional democracy.

He must rebuild the economy—not for the applause of global financial institutions, but to create real jobs, empower local businesses, and offer Ghanaian youth hope for a future rooted here, not in migration or fantasies of revolt.

He must unify the country—bridging ethnic, regional, and political divides—and govern with empathy, inclusion, and integrity. He must deliver bold, urgent reforms in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and public service.

But perhaps more importantly, he must not be allowed to fail. This moment demands active citizenship. Civil society, the media, and even the political class must rise to the challenge. This is not the time for blind loyalty or passive cynicism. It is a time for vigilance and sustained pressure. Ghanaians must demand results, transparency, and truth—daily and relentlessly. Mahama must feel that accountability is not episodic, but constant.

His second coming is not a political reward—it is a national test. A test of whether leadership can be redeemed. A test of whether Ghana can still be pulled back from the brink. This time, Mahama must lead with the urgency of a man who understands this is no longer about legacy—it’s about national survival.

The stakes are simply too high. He cannot—and must not—fail. Because if he does, it may not just mark the end of his political journey. It could trigger something far more dangerous for Ghana’s future.

John Dramani Mahama you cannot fail and we will not allow you to fail!!

 

By: Fred Djagbanor

Ghanian journalist, Meshack Okai of PN Media – Ghana – writes Arewa PUNCH on the fast growing and embarrassing  sex trafficking scandal currently rocking Ghana, and involving many unsuspecting and impressionable young Nigerian girl who are lured with job promises but end up in brothels.

A growing crisis of sex trafficking involving young Nigerian girls in Ghana’s mining town of Obuase has come to light, with victims lured under the pretense of legitimate employment only to find themselves trapped in the sex trade.

The heartbreaking testimony of a young Nigerian girl who managed to escape her traffickers reveals the dark underbelly of a thriving illicit industry in the bustling town.

The girl, whose name is being withheld for her safety, told a Ghana based media, PN Media in a documentary titled “From Hope to Horror, the Obuasi Nightmare” which exposes a disturbing reality of how young Nigerian women are being lured to Ghana under false pretenses for sex trade.

The victim had trusted her boyfriend when he asked her to move to Ghana, believing she would be managing his business.

“He said he had opened a business that I should manage for him,” she recalled. But upon arrival, the reality was starkly different.

“I found out that they had already paid him to bring me here,” she said and was handed over to a strange girl with no clear explanation.

Soon, her hopes unravelled. When she questioned her boyfriend about their living arrangements, he dodged the topic. Eventually, he revealed his intentions: “The way you are in Nigeria and your fellow girls are here making money,” he hinted.

The shocking truth was that she was expected to sell her body, a betrayal that left her devastated. Trapped in Obuase, she was told she owed a large debt.

“Arriving in Obuase, they told me I owed a huge amount of money, and I had to sleep with men to pay off the debt,” she explained.

Fear tactics were used to control the girls. “Girls are scared to speak up,” she said. They were made to swear oaths and warned: “If you try to run away, you will run mad, and it’s true. Most of the girls have run mad in this business. If you try to run away, you will run mad.”

Each day became a struggle to survive, marked by trauma and silence. Her most harrowing moment came when her madam forced her to meet a man in a hotel. “I had to be crying. I wasn’t even feeling what he was doing,” she said.

The payment, “300 cedis (about N20,000) per night,” went straight to her madam. Reflecting on her ordeal, she said, “What pains me most is leaving your house and coming to Ghana, without being told what you are coming to do.” What began as a promise had become a life sentence.

Journalists investigating the crisis say the trafficking network is deeply entrenched and operates in plain sight.

Koo Gyamfi of Aseda Fm in Ghana is one of the newsmen involved in exposing the racket. He said self-trafficking has been with them in the country for quite some years now.

Gyamfi revealed that those behind the trafficking make large profits and are willing to go to great lengths to protect their business.

“I’ve seen girls loitering around the streets, and many of them tell me they were lured under the guise of getting good jobs in Obuase. But they end up working as sex workers in hotels here.

“Your safety can be compromised when you try to shed light on this sex menace. It puts our security at risk. But it is our job to tell the truth,” He said.

Leaders of the Nigerian community in Obuase have voiced grave concerns about the situation, particularly the involvement of young girls.

Chief Nwakaibeya Okpanambalagu, Opinion leader of Nigeria community in Ghana, said they started experiencing the inflow of Nigerian girls around 2018, linking the development to greed on the part of the victims.

“Not about economic hardship,there is nothing good about prostitution. Not even the money. It is blood money,” said the head of the Igbo community in Obuase.

He recounted a disturbing case involving a child victim. “I met a Nigerian girl — about 13 or 12 — running on her own. She told me she had been in the sector for over a year.

“Her own auntie brought her into this system. That case opened my eyes. It is a web of criminality involving kidnapping, drug addiction, and more,” he revealed.

The Igbo leader further warned that Ghanaian hotel owners are now playing a more active role in the trade.

“The owners of the hotels are now becoming part of the business. They are buying the girls, while Nigerians hunt and bring them. That is what is happening now.” He said.

Meanwhile, the escaped victim had a stark warning for other girls considering a move to Ghana.

“I am clearly saying that it is not what you think it is here. It’s really hard. Leaving your comfort zone and coming to Ghana just to be working for someone,” she said.

“I would advise you to stay back in your home. Find a job, even if it doesn’t pay well. It is not safe for a girl to come here to sell her body for money.”

As authorities face mounting pressure to clamp down on the traffickers, community leaders are calling for urgent action.

“I’d behold the authorities in Obuase to take pragmatic actions to curb this issue of sex trafficking. They are not doing enough. Something must be done before this thing contaminates everybody,” the Igbo leader warned.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission, when contacted, condemned parents for allowing their children to be trafficked without questioning their certificates and motives for travelling.

Ndam Nanfa, the Assistant Chief Administration Officer at the NHRC in Gombe office, queried, “What qualifications do they have? Sometimes, people want to  escape the hard work route to making wealth. It’s part of the get-rich-quick syndrome.”

He continued, “Some of those girls have not finished secondary school. However, there are those using them to get money and they fell for it but parents should know that since their children don’t have certificates, how and where do they expect them to get high paying jobs?

“Many people are not contented with their situation, but rather than explore self-improvement in the skills and academics, they want the easiest way out. There is a need for proper care from parents.

“Some are making it big here at home. All they need is to focus and be competitive in their vocations with the latest technology and trends.

“I think we need to advocate that henceforth when victims are arrested for being trafficked outside the country, then the parents of such victims too should be arrested parents, especially if they haven’t reached the maturity age. Come to think of it, what sort of job can you get without going to school for proper education, or with no skills, if not prostitution?” He lamented.

Attempt to get an official response on the inquiries of our correspondent sent to Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.

More attempts made to get response from the Gombe State Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Aminu Shira, proved abortive as calls and text were unreplied to as at the time of filing this report.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has apologised to the Spanish people after an escalating corruption scandal brought down a senior Socialist party colleague.

Sánchez, who has led Spain since 2018, said there was no such thing as “zero corruption” and he sought to put distance between himself from the affair, ruling out early elections.

Opposition conservative leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo said it was time for Sánchez to resign: “Survival is no longer an option.”

A downbeat Sánchez admitted he had been wrong to trust Santos Cerdán, the secretary of his Socialist party, and spoke of his deep disappointment.

Cerdán has been asked to testify in court after a judge suggested he may have acted with former party officials in improperly awarding public contracts in exchange for kickbacks.

He said on Thursday he was stepping down to defend himself in the Supreme Court on 25 June, maintaining he had “never committed a crime nor have I been complicit one”.

Despite his seven years in power, Sánchez heads a shaky, minority coalition, secured after the conservative Popular Party won 2023 elections but failed to form a government.

Amid mounting speculation over his own future, he called a news conference in a bid to head off the creeping scandal.

In a statement followed by media questions, he said he knew absolutely nothing about the corruption affair and instead pledged to restructure the leadership of his Socialist PSOE party.

“This is not about me, and it’s not about the Socialist party,” he said.

His government would continue its “political project”, insisting that no new elections would take place until 2027.

However, Sánchez may face pressure from within his coalition, after deputy prime minister Yolanda Díaz from left-wing coalition partner Sumar said she also wanted explanations.

The opposition Popular Party has been buoyed by a weekend rally in the centre of Madrid that attracted tens of thousands of supporters, calling for Sánchez to go under a slogan “mafia or democracy”.

Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo appealed to other coalition parties to abandon the prime minister. There was no possible firewall, he told reporters on Thursday: “Corruption is already the hallmark of this government and it must end.”

Little over an hour earlier, Sánchez had made his first appearance answering media questions since a national power outage that hit Spain in April.

Speaking from Socialist party (PSOE) national headquarters in Madrid, the prime minister said he had until Thursday morning been persuaded of Santos Cerdán’s integrity and wanted to apologise to Spanish citizens.

“There is no such thing as zero corruption, but there must be zero tolerance when it takes place,” said Sánchez, the secretary-general of the PSOE. “We shouldn’t have trusted him.”

Sanchez accuses the opposition of conducting a smear campaign. Like many others he said he had his faults and asked the Spanish people for forgiveness.

He went on to accuse the conservatives of besieging his government on a multitude of issues and followed up his appearance with a message on social media, vowing to continue working for what he had always stood for: “clean politics and democratic renewal.”

Sánchez has faced repeated political crises and in April 2024 threatened to stand down.

He took five days to decide on his future, when a court decided to open preliminary proceedings against his wife over allegations surrounding her business dealings.

Then too he called a televised news conference, and in a moment of high drama announced he had decided to stay on in the job.

However, the Cerdán resignation represents a moment of political jeopardy for the prime minister.

Even though he is not personally implicated in the corruption allegations, one of his closest political allies is, along with two other officials.

Supreme Court Judge Leopoldo Puente acted after a lengthy report from Spain’s Civil Guard Central Operative Unit concluded that Socialist party organiser Cerdán would have had full knowledge of payments made in the alleged kickbacks scandal.

The judge said the report revealed that evidence suggested Cerdán had acted in collusion with a former Sánchez-era transport minister, José Luis Ábalos, and the minister’s ex-adviser Koldo García.

Ábalos lost his job in a reshuffle 2021 and was then forced to resign from the Socialist party as well in 2024. He remains an independent MP.

The police report is based on a number of recordings made by Koldo García over a four-year period and it estimates that the payments were worth €620,000 (£530,000).

Transcripts of some of the recordings appeared in Spanish media on Thursday, alleging that Cerdán and Koldo García had discussed payments of substantial sums of money.

Koldo García and José Luis Ábalos have also been called to testify by the judge. The former minister denies he has done anything wrong.

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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 Ghana Health Service (GHS) has urged the public to stay alert and report any unusual skin rashes to the nearest health facility, as cases of Mpox continue to rise across the country.

So far, Ghana has recorded 85 confirmed cases of the viral disease. While no deaths have been reported, health officials are stressing the need for early detection and prevention to keep the situation under control.

In an interview with the media, the Director of Public Health at GHS, Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, warned that Mpox spreads mainly through close contact with infected individuals, particularly when rashes are present.

“MPox is a disease of contact, so you get the disease either directly or indirectly when you come into contact with somebody who has the infection. When somebody has the rash, let’s avoid direct contact. If you have the rash, what we expect you to do is to go to the nearest health centre,” he said.

While the GHS maintains that the outbreak is under control, the public is being urged to remain vigilant, practice good hygiene, and seek medical attention at the first sign of symptoms.

Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, is a viral disease that causes skin rashes, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. It is not typically fatal, but prompt medical care can reduce the risk of complications and prevent further spread.

 

2025 CBF: $400m monthly fuel import bill ‘sickening’ – COPEC

 

A British man has walked away from the wreckage of the Air India crash that killed 241 people in an extraordinary tale of survival.

Vishwashkumar Ramesh was in seat 11A on the London-bound Boeing 787 flight when it crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, western India.

Mr Ramesh’s brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, told BBC News that Vishwashkumar “has no idea how he survived” and escaped the plane as the only survivor.

Air India said all other passengers and crew were killed, including 169 Indian nationals and 52 Britons.

Nayan told the BBC “it feels great seeing him [Vishwashkumar] doing well” but he was worried about his other brother Ajay, who was also onboard.

“We were all in shock as soon as we heard what happened, just utter shock. Speechless,” he said.

“He [Vishwashkumar] himself has no idea how he survived, how he got out the plane.

“When he called us he was just more worried about my other brother, like ‘Find Ajay, find Ajay.’ That’s all he cares about at the moment.”

A relative called Jay told the PA news agency: “He’s got some injuries on his face. He was painted in blood. He’s doing well I think. It’s a big shock.”

Video shared on social media showed Mr Ramesh walking towards an ambulance, with smoke billowing in the background.

He was later seen in a hospital bed meeting Indian interior minister Amit Shah.

Dr Dhaval Gameti, who treated Mr Ramesh, said: “He was disoriented, with multiple injuries all over his body. But he seems to be out of danger.”

Indian media said he shared his boarding pass, which showed his name and seat number.

The businessman, who was born in India and has lived in the UK since 2003, has a wife and four-year-old son.

The plane crashed into accommodation used by trainee doctors less than a minute after take-off in Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat. It is not clear how many people on the ground died and the cause of the crash is still unknown.

Three Britons thought to have died on the flight have been named by Gloucester Muslim Society as Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their daughter Sara.

“They touched lots of people and they will be missed by lots of people,” Imam Abdullah Samad.

Couple Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, who run a spiritual wellness centre in London, are also thought to have been on the flight.

They laughed and joked in an Instagram video as they told of their “10-hour flight back to England”.

Their firm, the Wellness Foundry, has been approached for comment.

Also on the plane were Javed and his wife Mariam Syed, from West London, alongside their two young children.

Ammaarah Taju, the granddaughter of a couple from Blackburn who were onboard the flight, said she was in shock and disbelief.

Adam Taju, 72, and his wife, Hasina, 70, were flying back from Ahmedabad’s International Airport with their 51-year-old son-in-law, Altafhusen Patel, who lives in London with his wife.

In a statement from the King, he said he and his wife were “desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning”.

“Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones,” the statement added.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said his thoughts were with the families who were going to be “absolutely devastated by this awful news”, while his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi said it was “heartbreaking beyond words”.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has arranged crisis teams in India and the UK, and has chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency committee in response to the crash.

London Gatwick Airport confirmed that a reception centre for relatives of passengers was being set up where information would be provided, and that it was liaising closely with Air India.

It said on X: “British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call 0207 008 5000.”

Air India flight AI171 left Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 local time (08:09 GMT), Air India said.

It was scheduled to land at London Gatwick at 18:25 BST.

One video verified by the BBC shows the plane descending before a large explosion as it hits the ground.

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Last month, Boeing celebrated carrying its billionth passenger on the 787 Dreamliner – an impressive feat given it only launched 14 years ago.

Until today’s tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, the model was a mainstay of intercontinental travel and had an exemplary safety record.

This is a different plane from the Boeing 737 Max, which was in the headlines after fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, which killed hundreds of people in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

A software fault was found to have caused those incidents, and the model was grounded worldwide for 18 months.

So far, there is nothing to suggest any fault on Boeing’s side today in India. A much fuller picture will come once the plane’s black boxes – the electronic recording devices that store vital flight information – have been recovered.

Various theories have been posited as to what could have caused the crash in Ahmedabad, but one pilot I spoke to said that nowadays it’s rare for a manufacturer’s fault to cause a fatal incident.

Barring the very notable exception of the Boeing 737 Max crashes, he said, most were down to human error in the cockpit.

It’s also important to remember that when you fly commercially, you will almost always either be on a Boeing or an Airbus model, as the plane-making industry operates as an effective duopoly.

Even so, Boeing has found its name associated with yet another tragic aviation incident.

The company said its “thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected” and added that it was working with Air India to gather more information on the crash.

Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg said the firm’s “deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the passengers and crew” on the flight, and that Boeing would support the investigation into the crash led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.

When stock markets closed in New York on Thursday, Boeing shares were down nearly 5%.

The tragedy is another problem for a firm that lost nearly a billion dollars a month last year, as it grappled with a safety crisis, quality control issues, as well as a damaging workers’ strike which lasted seven weeks.

After one of its doors flew off midway through an Alaska Airlines flight in 2024, Boeing was forced to pay $160m (£126m) in compensation.

Before that, the company also reached a $428m settlement with Southwest Airlines for the financial damages caused by the long-term grounding of its 737 Max fleet.

In addition to severe financial issues, Boeing has faced serious questions over its safety practices. In April, the company said it had seen “improved operational performance” from “our ongoing focus on safety and quality”.

In 2019, a former employee told the BBC that under-pressure workers had been deliberately fitting sub-standard parts to aircraft on the production line.

John Barnett, who worked as a quality control manager during his more than 30 years at Boeing, took his own life in March last year. Boeing denied his assertions.

Another whistleblower, engineer Sam Salehpour, told US politicians that he was harassed and threatened after he raised concerns about the safety of Boeing’s planes.

Boeing said retaliation was “strictly prohibited” and it had seen a “more than 500% increase” in reports from employees since January, “which signals progress toward a robust reporting culture that is not fearful of retaliation”.

Boeing has also been embroiled in a series of legal battles related to the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

Last month, the firm narrowly avoided criminal prosecution by coming to an agreement with the US Department of Justice (DoJ).

To the dismay of victims’ families, the DoJ said Boeing would admit to “conspiracy to obstruct and impede” an investigation by the US Federal Aviation Administration and would pay more than $1.1bn in fines.

Unsurprisingly, Boeing’s top executive team has undergone a pretty significant shake-up over the past couple of years.

Its new boss, Kelly Ortberg, came out of retirement a year ago to try to revive the ailing company.

He has promised an improvement to Boeing’s safety culture and recently said he was confident the aviation giant would soon return to profitability.

Today he faces more awful news to navigate.

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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.

Democratic US Senator Alex Padilla has been forcibly removed from a news conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles.

Noem was offering the latest figures on immigration enforcement in the area, which has led to nearly a week of protests in the city, to members of the news media when Sen Padilla interrupted and started shouting a question.

Once removed from the room, the California senator was handcuffed.

Padilla’s removal caused condemnation on both sides of the aisle, with fellow senators calling the arrest shocking and a “sickening disgrace” and the Trump administration dubbing it “disrespectful political theatre”.

“I’m Senator Alex Padilla,” he said as he was confronted by authorities. “I have questions for the secretary!”

Noem, who was speaking about immigration and the protests in LA, continued addressing reporters and law enforcement officers while the senator was ejected from the room.

Padilla’s office said he was “forced to the ground and handcuffed” by federal agents when trying to ask the secretary a question, and added that he was not currently being detained.

The Department of Homeland Security said Padilla had engaged in “disrespectful political theatre” and that Noem met with the senator after the news briefing.

LA Mayor Karen Bass called the incident “absolutely abhorrent and outrageous”, adding that the Trump administration’s “violent attacks on our city must end”.

Padilla told reporters that he was already in the federal building for a previously scheduled meeting. He said he stopped by Noem’s news briefing because he and his colleagues have received “little to no information in response” to several immigration-related queries.

Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants, is the most senior Democrat on the Senate’s Border Security and Immigration subcommittee.

“I came to the press conference to hear what she had to say, to see if I could learn any new additional information,” he said.

“If this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine what they’re doing to farm workers, to cooks, to day labourers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country.”

He urged Americans across the country to “continue peacefully protesting” the Trump administration and its policies.

The DHS in a statement said Padilla didn’t identify himself and was not wearing the Senator’s pin on his clothing so officers thought he was an attacker.

Video footage of the incident shows Padilla saying he was he was a senator as he was being pushed outside the room.

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom called on Republican congressional leadership to condemn the detaining of Padilla.

“If they can handcuff a U.S. Senator for asking a question, imagine what they will do to you,” Newsom wrote on social media.

But the White House accused the California senator of storming the press conference, and said he “yelled and lunged toward Secretary Noem”.

“Padilla didn’t want answers; he wanted attention,” Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson said. “Padilla embarrassed himself and his constituents with this immature, theater-kid stunt – but it’s telling that Democrats are more riled up about Padilla than they are about the violent riots and assaults on law enforcement in LA.”

Former vice-president and Trump opponent, Kamala Harris also criticised the move and said the California senator was trying to get answers for his constituents about the ongoing immigration raids in the state.

“United States Senator Alex Padilla was representing the millions of Californians who are demanding answers to this Administration’s actions in Southern California,” she said on Twitter. “This is a shameful and stunning abuse of power.”

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.

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.

US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has appointed eight new people to the committee that issues official government recommendations on immunisations, days after removing all 17 previous members.

In an announcement on X, Kennedy, a vaccine sceptic, said reconstituting the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP) was a “major step towards restoring public trust in vaccines”.

Kennedy said the new members “have each committed to demanding definitive safety and efficacy data before making any new vaccine recommendations.”

Health experts have criticised his questioning of the safety and efficacy of vaccines, although he previously told the Senate he is “not going to take them away”.

Kennedy named the new members as Joseph R Hibbeln, Martin Kulldorff, Retsef Levi, Robert W Malone, Cody Meissner, James Pagano, Vicky Pebsworth and Michael A Ross to the committee.

Some of new members are close allies of Kennedy and have histories of vaccine scepticism.

Dr Malone was accused of spreading misinformation about the mRNA vaccines during the pandemic, while Dr Kulldorf claimed he was fired from his position at Harvard university for criticising the university’s Covid-19 requirements.

Kennedy praised the new members in his announcement, saying this slate includes “highly credentialed scientists, leading public-health experts, and some of America’s most accomplished physicians”, he said in his post.

“All of these individuals are committed to evidence-based medicine, gold-standard science, and common sense,” the health secretary added.

Dr Jason Goldman, the president of the American College of Physicians, criticised the new committee.

“The speed with which these members were selected, and the lack of transparency in the process, does not help to restore public confidence and trust, and contributes to confusion and uncertainty,” he said in a statement to CBS, the BBC’s American news partner.

On Monday, Kennedy announced in a Wall Street Journal editorial that he was “retiring” all 17 members of the Acip over conflicts of interest.

Eight of them were appointed in January 2025, in the last days of President Biden’s term.

He noted that if he did not remove the committee members, President Trump would not have been able to appoint a majority on the panel until 2028.

“The committee has been plagued with persistent conflicts of interest and has become little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine,” Kennedy wrote.

However, critics and former members said the board adhered to rigorous conflict of interest and ethical standards.

Kennedy claimed that health authorities and drug companies were responsible for a “crisis of public trust” that some try to explain “by blaming misinformation or antiscience attitudes.”

After the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves vaccines based on whether the benefits of the shot outweigh the risks, Acip recommends which groups should be given the shots and when, which also determines insurance coverage of the shots.

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Mercy360 Blog of Thursday, 12 June 2025

Source: Mercy Mensah

As Ghana approaches another July 1st, I find it imperative to remind the nation of the historical and constitutional importance of Republic Day, and to voice my strong disapproval of any attempts to dilute or distort its meaning. It is of utmost importance that Ghanaians be reminded of the true significance of Republic Day, and the urgent need to preserve it as a cornerstone of our nationhood. The attempt to repurpose this historic day under political pretexts is a dangerous distortion of Ghana’s national memory — one that must be strongly resisted. 

Historical Context: Independence Was Not Enough 

Ghana gained political independence from British colonial rule on 6th March 1957, becoming the first sub-Saharan African country to do so. However, that independence was partial, as Ghana still recognised the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, as the ceremonial head of state. Ghana operated under a constitutional monarchy, with a Governor-General representing the Crown in Accra. In effect, Ghana remained a dominion within the British Commonwealth, much like Canada or Australia at the time. 

This changed on 1st July 1960, when Ghana became a Republic under a new constitution, following a national referendum held on 27th April 1960. The people of Ghana voted overwhelmingly to transition into a republic, replacing the Queen with a President as head of state. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was sworn in as the first President of the Republic of Ghana. 

From that day forward, Ghana gained full sovereignty over its domestic and foreign affairs, including defence, foreign policy, legislation, and constitutional governance. The nation was now fully in charge of its destiny. 

Institutional Growth Rooted in Republicanism 

The Republic era paved the way for Ghana’s institutional development. It was during this period that: 

 The Ministry of Defence was fully Ghanaian-controlled. 

 The Ghana Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force, were consolidated and expanded under Dr. Nkrumah. 

 Educational institutions like the University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Cape Coast, the Ghana School of Law, and the University of Ghana Medical School gained national priority. 

 Among others. 

This progress flowed from Republican status, not from the limited self-rule of 1957. It was on 1st July 1960 that Ghana truly took control of its future — politically, economically, and institutionally. 

Current Developments and the Misrepresentation of History 

In 2019, the government led by President Nana Akufo-Addo introduced the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 989). This act abolished July 1st as a public holiday and instead introduced:

 4th August as Founders’ Day, recognising multiple contributors to Ghana’s independence, including members of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC). 

 21st September as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, to commemorate Nkrumah’s birthday. 

The government explained that 4th August, the founding date of the UGCC in 1947, better represented the collective foundation of Ghana’s struggle. However, this shift undermines the constitutional significance of 1st July, which marks the transition from British dominion to full republican statehood. It also reduces Republic Day to a non-holiday, despite its historic and political weight. 

Furthermore, attempts to rename or replace Republic Day as a “Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving” risk erasing the essence of Ghana’s full independence. While spiritual reflection has its place, it must not override constitutional milestones. 

A Categorical Rejection of Historical Revisionism 

I, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, categorically reject any effort to erase or reframe Republic Day. The 1st of July is not a religious day. It is not a partisan day. It is the day our republic was born. 

To turn it into something else — or to ignore it altogether — is to commit historical sacrilege. A nation that forgets its foundational moments cannot build a coherent future. Republic Day is not only important — it is more fundamentally transformative than even Independence Day. Independence gave us the chance to govern ourselves. Republic status gave us the power to do so. 

Call to Action: Preserve July 1st for Posterity 

I call on: 

 The Parliament of Ghana to revisit and restore 1st July as a national holiday. 

 Our educational institutions to teach the real history of Ghana’s republican journey. 

 Our media to highlight this truth every year. 

 Our youth to study and defend Ghana’s authentic past. 

 All governments, present and future, to place national history above partisan convenience. 

If we fail to defend Republic Day, we betray the very ideals of independence and self-determination. Let us restore Republic Day to its rightful place as the symbol of Ghana’s full freedom and sovereign identity. 

Signed: Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe (Former Ambassador | Statesman | Founding Member, New Patriotic Party) 

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.

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.

Manchester United and Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres has released a statement as speculation surrounding his future rumbles on.

The 27-year-old is expected to leave Sporting this summer, but he is reportedly concerned that the club will price him out of an exit.

On Wednesday, Sporting president Frederico Varandas publicly aimed fire at Gyokeres’ agent for telling media outlets that there was an agreement to let him leave for as low as £57m.

He strongly refuted those reports, insisting Gyokeres’ suitors will have to offer more to be successful.

And now the Swedish striker has had his say on the saga, taking to social media to shrug off most of the noise as lies.

“There is a lot of talks at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right,” Gyokeres wrote on his Instagram story.

By Iddi Yire  

Accra, June 12, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation to liaise with the National Communications Authority (NCA) to immediately restore the broadcast of 64 radio stations affected by the regulator’s action.  

A statement issued by Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidential Spokesman and Minister of State in-charge of Government Communications, said the President believes that regulatory compliance must take into account the need to uphold and enhance media freedom, and that requiring radio stations to shut down while awaiting the regularisation of their authorisation could limit the space for expressing such freedoms.  

It said the President had asked the Minister to work with the NCA on a reasonable timeframe within which the affected stations should regularise their authorisation.  

GNA  

Kenneth Odeng Adade