Former NPP flagbearer aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong

Former flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kennedy Agyapong has

in a compassionate and commendable move, assumed full responsibility for the student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology was stabbed during the NPP’s Thank You Tour’ in Kumasi.

Furthermore, he has pledged to cover the remainder of the student’s academic costs, as well as those of all his siblings.

On April 29, 2025, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) kicked off its National Thank You Tour in the Ashanti Region, beginning at Abuakwa and later holding a second meeting at Bantama.

This gathering brought together delegates and supporters from various constituencies within the Kumasi Metropolitan Area, including Manhyia South, Bantama, and Oforikrom, among others.

The event was marked by high energy and overwhelming support, with party faithful turning out in large numbers to show solidarity with leading figures of the party.

However, the enthusiasm was marred by an unfortunate incident. A scuffle broke out after the event, resulting in the stabbing of a young supporter of Ken Agyapong from KNUST.

The young man was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he is receiving medical treatment.

While Arsenal fans continue protesting about the club’s sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda, the African country’s tourism board has signed a deal with another top European football side.

Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have agreed a three-year contract with Visit Rwanda, and their men’s and women’s teams will carry its logo on their shirts next season.

Rwanda’s long-standing partnerships with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain have come under the spotlight after increased violence in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where authorities say 7,000 people have been killed since January.

The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of arming M23 rebels and sending troops to support the militants. Despite assertions from both the United Nations and United States, Rwanda has denied supporting the M23.

A section of Arsenal’s support has formed a group named Gunners for Peace and are calling on the Premier League club not to renew its deal with Visit Rwanda as the partnership does not fit the club’s “values and standards”.

They believe the sleeve sponsorship, which is reportedly worth more than £10m ($13.3m) per year, runs out at the end of this season.

The group has distributed armbands to cover up the Visit Rwanda logo on kits, and held a protest outside the Emirates Stadium ahead of Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat by PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie.

A small number of fans of the French club donned the armbands and joined followers of the north London outfit in standing behind a banner reading ‘Drop Visit Rwanda’.

“I stand with human rights and am not with this kind of sponsor,” PSG fan Chakib told BBC Sport Africa.

“We are rivals in football, but we are brothers to defend human rights.”

Arsenal said the club will not be commenting on the Gunners for Peace campaign, while a Rwanda government spokesperson has defended their sports partnerships and said they helped boost the country’s economy.

PSG recently renewed its partnership with Visit Rwanda until 2028, while Bayern’s deal expires the same year.

Fans of both sides have held up banners criticising the partnerships during games this season.

Rwanda’s values ‘align’ with Atletico’s

The deals with top European clubs tie into Rwanda’s ambition to position itself as a premier global hub for investment, tourism and sports development.

But Rwanda’s government has been accused of investing in sport to enhance its image amid accusations of human rights violations in the country – a strategy labelled by critics as ‘sportswashing’.

Alongside the Visit Rwanda partnerships, Kigali is set to be the venue for cycling’s World Road Championships in September but hopes of the country hosting a Formula 1 race appear to have receded.

The Rwandan government said its sports partnerships had played an important role in the country’s “economic transformation” since 1994, and that the tourism campaign helped generate nearly $650m (£488m) in tourism revenues last year.

Regarding the latest deal, Jean-Guy Afrika, the chief executive of the Rwanda Development Board, said Atletico Madrid’s “values of resilience, discipline, and excellence” closely aligned with Rwanda’s “national ethos and transformation journey”.

The Visit Rwanda logo will be visible immediately, as it will appear on the front of Atletico’s men’s first team’s training and warm-up kits in the remaining five matches of the La Liga season as well as during the Fifa Club World Cup in June and July.

From next season, it will also appear on the women’s first team’s training and warm-up kits and on the back of shirts of both of the club’s senior teams.

An Atletico official highlighted that Rwanda was a country “in constant growth” and added the deal had “great importance” as part of the club’s aims of international expansion.

Sovereignty agreement and peace talks

The decades-long conflict in eastern DR Congo has intensified since January when M23 staged an unprecedented offensive, seizing the cities of Goma and Bukavu and sparking fears of a wider regional war.

Rwanda has said its forces are acting in self-defence against the Congolese army and allied militias, some of which it accuses of links to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

DR Congo also accuses Rwanda of illegally exploiting its mineral deposits, which Rwanda denies.

At the end of last week DR Congo and Rwanda signed an agreement to respect each other’s sovereignty and come up with a draft peace deal by Friday.

That agreement in Washington DC came about after the government in Kinshasa turned to the United States for help in exchange for access to mineral deposits, and both sides now expect significant investments facilitated by the US government and private sector.

Meanwhile, DR Congo and the M23 group said last week that they were committed to peace, expressing hopes that a permanent ceasefire could be reached.

More than a week of talks mediated by Qatar have been described as “frank and constructive”.

Congolese Arsenal fan Tresor Kudabika, who is part of the Gunners for Peace campaign, said that peace negotiations would not change their ultimate target of getting the club to end the Visit Rwanda deal.

“Some way or another we will find a way to end this conflict, but it is not the right moment for Arsenal to keep this deal,” he told BBC Sport Africa.

“It is not giving a good image.”

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President John Mahama on Thursday addressed a durbar of workers during the 2025 May Day celebrations at the Black Star Square in Accra, where thousands of employees participated in the exercise.

The programme, organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), was under the theme ‘Resetting Pay and Working Conditions in Ghana: The Role of Stakeholders’.

Workers from the public and private sectors represented their organisations in the annual march past.

During the event, some of the companies used the opportunity to display their products and services, while some workers carried placards to draw attention to their plight.

In attendance were the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; the Employment and Labour Minister, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo; and the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.

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.

McDonald’s has suffered its biggest drop in US sales since the height of Covid, a fall that it said was driven by people’s concerns over the US economy.

Despite a marketing tie-in with the Minecraft movie and extended price deals, US customers made fewer visits to the burger chain in the first three months of this year, compared to a year ago.

Chief executive Chris Kempczinski said customers were “grappling with uncertainty”.

But he assured investors that the firm could “navigate even the toughest of market conditions”.

McDonald’s has been working for months to try to reignite enthusiasm among customers, after facing a backlash over rising prices, especially from lower-income households.

However, revenue at US McDonald’s outlets that have been open at least a year sank 3.6% in the first three months of 2025 compared to a year earlier.

That is the steepest decline in like-for-like sales in the US since the three months to the end of June 2020, when pandemic restrictions were in place.

The surprise drop in sales coincided with a contraction in the US economy, which shrank at an annual rate of 0.3% in the first three months of 2025, the first quarterly decline in output since 2022.

Reacting to the growth figures, President Trump called for patience, saying he needed “a little bit of time” and described the numbers as a reflection of the “Biden economy”, a reference to his predecessor as president.

However, Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said Americans were nervous and cutting back on discretionary spending as a result.

“They’re worried prices will rise even higher and that household budgets, already feeling the impact of previous inflation, will be stretched beyond breaking point,” she said.

“They’re also nervous about the potential for job losses if the economy continues to stutter as businesses try and make sense of an evolving tariff environment.”

McDonald’s figures reflect the first two months of Donald Trump’s presidency, with the reporting period ending just before his barrage of tariff announcements on 2 April.

Dubbed “Liberation Day”, that broadside prompted further confusion among many firms and consumers.

Mr Kempczinski said: “Consumers today are grappling with uncertainty, but they can always count on McDonald’s […] for exceptional value”.

“McDonald’s has a 70-year legacy of innovation, leadership, and proven agility, all of which give us confidence in our ability to navigate even the toughest of market conditions and gain market share,” he added.

Over the same three-month period to March, the slump in McDonald’s US sales dragged its global like-for-like revenue down 1%, despite growing sales in Japan, Australia, and the Middle East.

Businesses have had a mix of reactions since Trump began revealing and enforcing his plans for tariffs, which are a tax payable by a person or firm buying a good from overseas.

This week, technology giant Intel said costs would rise and a recession was more likely because of Trump’s tariffs.

Sportswear brand Adidas said they would lead to higher prices in the US for popular trainers including the Gazelle and Samba.

Meanwhile, delivery giant DHL paused deliveries worth more than $800 (£603) due to US trade policy before lifting them after negotiating “adjustments” to customs rues.

Trump and his allies have said the policies will help to bring more jobs to the US as firms base factories and operations the country to avoid the new taxes.

However, many companies and economists have said this will be difficult to achieve and will likely mean job losses and economic pain at least in the short term.

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 Eastern South Regional Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation into a deadly shooting incident that claimed five lives at Asiyaw, near Akwane-Dobro in the Nsawam area on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

According to a statement issued by the police, a crime scene team dispatched to the area found the bodies of five male adults with gunshot wounds, sparking fears of escalating violence linked to illegal sand winning operations in the enclave.

The police recovered several items from the scene, including:

• One Toyota Tacoma vehicle

• One Toyota Tundra vehicle

• One pump action gun with 17 live cartridges

• Four empty cartridges

• Three 7.62/39mm empty shells

• One 9mm empty shell

• Five heavy-duty motorbikes

Preliminary investigations point to a violent confrontation between two rival groups allegedly fighting over sand mining activities at the location.

The bodies of the deceased have been transported to the Police Hospital mortuary in Accra for preservation, identification, and autopsy.

Police say efforts are underway to track down and arrest the perpetrators behind the violence.

A Trump-appointed federal judge has ruled that the US president cannot use the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants.

US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez said Donald Trump’s use of the wartime power was “unlawful” and had been improperly invoked.

The law was written in 1798 to allow the removal of non-citizens in times of war or invasion. It has been used by Trump to deport Venezuelans to El Salvador on the basis they were members of the Tren de Aragua gang and “conducting irregular warfare”.

The judge said the act only applied when the US was facing an “armed organised attack”, which it is not. The administration has not commented.

President Trump in March issued a proclamation claiming that Tren de Aragua was invading the US, and justified the use of special powers to deport immigrants identified as gang members without court proceedings.

He used the act to deport two plane loads of alleged migrant gang members to the El Salvadoran terrorism prison known as Cecot.

Neither the US government nor El Salvador has provided details of the deportees’ alleged criminality or gang membership.

The ruling is the first time a federal judge has ruled the use of the act is “unlawful”.

“The historical record renders clear that the president’s invocation of the AEA… is contrary to the plain, ordinary meaning of the statute’s terms,” the judge wrote.

“As a result, the court concludes that as a matter of law, the executive branch cannot rely on the AEA… to detain the named petitioners… or to remove them from the country.”

The judge pushed back against the Trump administration’s argument that the president’s use of the act was beyond the purview of the courts.

“Allowing the president to unilaterally define the conditions when he may invoke the AEA, and then summarily declare that those conditions exist, would remove all limitations to the executive branch’s authority under the AEA,” he said

He added that allowing such a move would “strip the courts of their traditional role of interpreting Congressional statutes”.

The Alien Enemies Act has only been used three times before in US history – during World War Two, World War One and the War of 1812.

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President John Dramani Mahama [L] and Alexander Afenyo-Markin

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has stated that President John Mahama’s nomination of seven Court of Appeal judges to the Supreme Court is a ploy to advance his third-term agenda.

Speaking at a news conference at the NPP Headquarters on Thursday, May 1, Afenyo-Markin cautioned that the move poses a significant threat to the independence of the judiciary and the balance of power.

He argued that this is not a routine judicial appointment, but rather a calculated and deliberate effort to stack the Supreme Court with loyalists in order to pave the way for President Mahama to secure a third term in office.

“It is obvious that the bold attempt by the President to nominate, out of the blue, seven judges to the Supreme Court is the first major step in a well-rehearsed plan — a third-term agenda. Everything the NDC is doing, and everything our President is doing, under the advice of the hawks within the NDC, is geared toward establishing a third-term agenda for his leadership,” he said.

Alexander Afenyo-Markin also advised the government to act with caution, noting that its actions will set a precedent for future administrations.

“This government must tread with the greatest caution, always keeping tomorrow in mind when making decisions today. These decisions will shape future governments. If we continue down this path, we risk creating a culture of retaliatory politics, where successive governments are more focused on settling political scores than solving national problems,” he warned.

President Mahama’s nomination of 7 Court of Appeal judges to the Supreme Court is a ploy to achieve his third-term agenda – Afenyo-Markin pic.twitter.com/bfdx0ULf6W

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) May 1, 2025

KA

How on earth will cardiac surgeons fight galamsey? Watch as Jennifer Queen slams Prof Frimpong-Boateng

President John Dramani Mahama [L] and Alexander Afenyo-Markin

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has stated that President John Mahama’s nomination of seven Court of Appeal judges to the Supreme Court is a ploy to advance his third-term agenda.

Speaking at a news conference at the NPP Headquarters on Thursday, May 1, Afenyo-Markin cautioned that the move poses a significant threat to the independence of the judiciary and the balance of power.

He argued that this is not a routine judicial appointment, but rather a calculated and deliberate effort to stack the Supreme Court with loyalists in order to pave the way for President Mahama to secure a third term in office.

“It is obvious that the bold attempt by the President to nominate, out of the blue, seven judges to the Supreme Court is the first major step in a well-rehearsed plan — a third-term agenda. Everything the NDC is doing, and everything our President is doing, under the advice of the hawks within the NDC, is geared toward establishing a third-term agenda for his leadership,” he said.

Alexander Afenyo-Markin also advised the government to act with caution, noting that its actions will set a precedent for future administrations.

“This government must tread with the greatest caution, always keeping tomorrow in mind when making decisions today. These decisions will shape future governments. If we continue down this path, we risk creating a culture of retaliatory politics, where successive governments are more focused on settling political scores than solving national problems,” he warned.

President Mahama’s nomination of 7 Court of Appeal judges to the Supreme Court is a ploy to achieve his third-term agenda – Afenyo-Markin pic.twitter.com/bfdx0ULf6W

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) May 1, 2025

KA

How on earth will cardiac surgeons fight galamsey? Watch as Jennifer Queen slams Prof Frimpong-Boateng

A senior official of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has delivered a sharp critique of Ghana’s public sector pay system, calling for a complete overhaul to address what he described as glaring inequalities and widespread worker hardship.

Speaking at this year’s May Day celebrations at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi, Augustine Adongo, the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the TUC, said Ghanaian workers are struggling to survive under an outdated and unfair wage framework.

“There is a huge and unacceptable gap in pay and benefits between the political class under Article 71 and the rest of public sector workers on the Single Spine Salary Structure,” he told a large crowd of workers and dignitaries.

Adongo said the disparity extends even further between civil servants and executives of state-owned enterprises, many of whom receive significantly higher allowances despite being paid from the same public purse.

“It is a scandal that some Chief Executive Officers of state entities have rent allowances that are three times more than the salary of the highest-paid public servant on the Single Spine,” he said.

He warned that the current system is “energy-sapping and demotivating” for workers who are unable to meet the basic needs of their families.

“The pay structure in Ghana today does not reflect the cost of living or the economic realities facing workers,” he noted. “We demand a total reset of the pay regime.”

Mr Adongo called for the introduction of a transparent wage-setting mechanism grounded in economic indicators and fairness, proposing the replacement of Ghana’s national minimum wage with what he described as a “living wage.”

He explained that a living wage would take into account not just the survival needs of workers and their families, but also the productivity concerns of employers.

The TUC has long advocated for reforms to the country’s salary system, but the call has gained renewed urgency as inflation and economic pressures continue to weigh heavily on ordinary Ghanaians.

This year’s May Day theme, “Resetting Pay and Working Conditions in Ghana: The Role of Stakeholders,” reflects growing calls for reform across several sectors of the economy.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, commended Ghanaian workers for their resilience and continued dedication despite the economic hardships facing the country.

Boadi, who represented the Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene acknowledged the frustrations many employees experience, particularly with low wages and tough living conditions. He, however, assured workers that the government remained committed to improving their livelihoods through policy reforms and job creation efforts.

“Our workers are the backbone of our economic transformation,” Mr Boadi said. “This May Day, as we celebrate your sacrifices, we renew our pledge to create an environment where hard work is rewarded, and workers’ rights are protected.”

He also urged workers to invest in upgrading their skills to remain competitive in an evolving job market, adding that sustainable progress required a partnership between government and the private sector.

“I encourage all private sector employers to work with government in championing better working standards,” he said.

The May Day parade featured vibrant displays from major labour unions including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the Health Services Workers’ Union, and the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU).

Workers marched through the streets of Kumasi in colourful uniforms, hoisting placards with messages calling for improved wages, safer workplaces, and respect for labour rights.

Special awards were presented to outstanding workers and unions who demonstrated exceptional commitment to excellence and service over the past year.

Ghana’s Black Satellites are set to ignite their quest for continental supremacy as they lock horns with the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening Group C clash of the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt this evening.

Kick-off at the Suez Stadium is scheduled at 18:00 GMT. 

It is a historic first-ever showdown between the two nations at the U-20 level, but it is not just pride on the line — a potential ticket to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile hangs in the balance.

Contrasting histories

While DR Congo will return to this stage for the first time since 2013, Ghana will arrive with pedigree and purpose.

The four-time African champions — winners in 1993, 1999, 2009, and most recently in 2021 — have a proud legacy to uphold, especially on Egyptian soil, where they became the first and only African side to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2009.

The Congolese, by contrast, have never gone past the group stage in three previous appearances and are still chasing a maiden title at youth level.

But their triumph at the recent UNIFFAC Championship — where they edged Congo 2-1 in the final — signals a resurgent force eager to upset the established order.

Ghana’s quiet confidence

Ghana secured their AFCON ticket the hard way — navigating a tough WAFU Zone B tournament as runners-up. 

Draws with Togo (1-1) and Benin (2-2) were followed by steely knockout wins over Niger and Côte d’Ivoire. That grit could be their secret weapon.

All eyes will be on Spain-based goal-poacher Jerry Afriyie, who netted five in five during qualifiers. He is the arrowhead in a youthful, exciting Ghanaian side packed with talent.

Alongside him, Aziz Musibau of Dreams FC who brings flair and firepower, while gifted midfielder Michael Amer Mahama and FC Barcelona youngster Abdul-Aziz Issah are expected to pull the strings with precision. Their chemistry could be the difference in tight games.

On the other side, DR Congo may not boast the same star billing, but their road to Egypt — bouncing back from an early UNIFFAC loss to beat Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon (on penalties), and Congo — showcases resilience and belief. 

They’re here to compete, not just to participate.

Desmond Ofei, fresh from leading Ghana to gold at the 13th African Games in Accra, has instilled a structured, possession-based identity built on flexibility and pressing intensity.

“This group is challenging, but every team at this level brings quality,” Coach Ofei said “We respect our opponents, but we also believe in our identity and strengths.”

With only four World Cup slots available, and Senegal and the Central African Republic lurking in the same group, there is no room for early slip-ups for the Satellites, whose aim is to get out of the group, and the road to Chile begins to take shape.

The Satellites have won their last three opening games at this level, including a 4-0 demolition of Tanzania in 2021. 

History also favours them in North Africa — they reached the final in Algeria in 2013, narrowly losing to hosts Egypt on penalties.

The President, John Dramani Mahama, has charged the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, to hold a ceremony to honour legendary highlife musician Agya Koo Nimo.

Mahama made this admonition during the launch of the Blackstar Experience on Thursday, May 1,  2025 in front of the Freedom and Justice Monument at the Blackstar Square in Accra.

While appreciating the Legon Palmwine Band for their performance on the night, he also paid tribute to Agya Koo Nimo, one of the early proponents of palmwine music.

“We watched the palmwine music and I asked if the King of Palmwine music was still alive – Agya Koo Nimo, and I hear he is alive. This is a man we must honour before he passes. Because that was a genre of music that has become a part of our musical archive and our folklore. For people like this, we should not wait till they die and we go and cry at their funerals,” he said.

The President, therefore, proposed that a ceremony be held to celebrate the music legend.

“So wherever Agya Koo Nimo is, Dzifa, you and your team [should] organise some ceremony, let’s honour him. I know he has been honoured in the past. Let’s honour him again vefore God calls him,” he said.

Agya Koo Nimo has received numerous awards and recognitions in the past.

In 2007, he received the Order of the Volta Award from President John Agyekum Kufuor, acknowledging his outstanding contributions to Ghanaian music heritage.

He has also received honours including the Asanteman Award from the Asantehene, the Konkoma Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, Entertainment Achievement Awards, among a litany of others.

Palmwine music

It is a type of music created by the local working-class people who would go to palm-wine bars to drink and listen to music. Portable instruments and local string and percussion merged to create this style. It was out of this genre that the traditional two-finger plucking of a guitar came when musicians played it similarly to how they played the local lute or harp. This style was typically played in a syncopated 4/4 metre. In some instances it is also performed to 6/8 rhythms.

In Ghana, some of the early proponents of palmwine music were Jacob Sam and the Kumasi Trio, Kwesi Pepera, Appianing, Kwame, Mireku, Osei Bonsu, Kwesi Menu, Kamkan and Appiah Adjekum. In the 1950s, Agya Koo Nimo gained prominence with this style of music even though he had been introduced to western music while growing up.

About Agya Koo Nimo

Born on October 3, 1934, Agya Koo Nimo was named Kwabena Boa-Amponsem. His father was a trumpeter and his mother was a singer in the local Methodist church where he was christened, ‘Daniel’. His official name is Daniel Amponsah (Ph.D).

He attended Adisadel College at Cape Coast from 1947-1952, inspired by his relationship with Otumfoͻ Opoku Ware II, who was an old student. He took a technician’s course at the Medical Research Institute, Korle Bu, for one year and worked at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for five years from 1955 to 1960 as a technician.

Despite not working directly in the music related industry, his interest in music was intact. When he began performing, he took the professional name Koo Nimo.

The Addadam Agofomma ensemble is one of the traditional musical groups that upholds palm wine music and the original Ghanaian highlife music. The ensemble was formed by Agya Koo Nimo. Some of the major instruments for palm wine music include, apentemma, the dondo, the frikyiwa (metallic castanet), the prempensua (rhumba box), nnawuta (consisting of two iron bells that provide the key rhythmic pattern) and the ntͻwa (hollow gourd rattle with beads or seeds woven around it on a net) or dawuro (banana-shaped bell). He fuses storytelling with guitar and vocals, including spoken word poetry in his compositions.

In 1979, in recognition of his services to Ghanaian music as performer, teacher and administrator, Agya Koo Nimo was elected President of the Musicians’ Union of Ghana (MUSIGA). In 1985, he was appointed interim chairman of the Copyright Society of Ghana (COSGA). He is an honorary life member of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music, along with such distinguished names as Professor J. H. K. Nketia of blessed memory and Professor John Collins.

His eight-track album, titled ‘Osabarima’ was released as a compact disc (CD) in 1990, making it the first work by a Ghanaian artist to be put on CD. In recognition of his dedication to music and his country, Agya Koo Nimo received the prestigious Asanteman award from the Asantehene in February, 1991. In the following month of the same year, he received the Flagstar Award from ECRAG (Entertainment Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana). The year 1991 ended with an honourable invitation to serve on the National Folklore Board of Trustees.

Dr. Andrew L. Kaye, an ethnomusicologist who has published on topics in African music, the history of stringed instruments, and film music presented his dissertation entitled “Koo Nimo and his circle: A Ghanaian Musician in Ethnomusicological Perspective” and was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree for his work at Columbia University, New York in January, 1992. In 1998, the University of Washington in Seattle, U.S.A employed Agya Koo Nimo as a Professor of Ethnomusicology for two years. From there he joined the University of Michigan.

Some of his popular compositions include, ‘Ͻdͻnson’ (Let love prevail), ‘Akuafo Monno Mfuo’ (Farmers cultivate the land), ‘Abrokyire Abrabo’ (Life overseas), ‘Mewu Na Agoro Agu’ (My death would spell the doom for my group), ‘Ohia Ne Yareɛ Yɛ Ya’ (How painful it is to be poor and sickly) and ‘Adampa/Wo Wu a Na Wadane Saman’ (The dead becomes a ghost). He returned to Ghana in 2006 after his international exploits, and resides in Kumasi till date.

He is a leading folk musician of palm wine music or highlife music from Ghana who is internationally revered and appreciated not only for his music, but his love and respect for tradition and indigenous culture.

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.

Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to strengthening occupational safety and health (OSH) standards across Ghana, particularly in response to emerging technological changes in the workplace.

Speaking at a World Safety Day event on Wednesday in Accra, Dr Pelpuo stressed that worker safety and health remain top priorities, forming a key pillar of the government’s productivity and development agenda.

“Worker safety and health are non-negotiable,” Dr. Pelpuo stated. “Improving the welfare and well-being of our workforce is integral to the government’s resetting agenda.”

He outlined plans for increased investment in health infrastructure, workplace modernization, and the integration of advanced technologies to improve safety across industries.

“Through these initiatives, we are laying the foundation for a resilient economy where safety and productivity go hand in hand,” he added.

The event, themed “Emerging Technologies and Their Impact on Workers’ Health and Safety,” brought together key stakeholders to address the critical need for safeguarding workers amid rapid technological advancements.

Dr Pelpuo noted that sustained improvements in safety protocols are essential for protecting workers and enhancing national productivity. Since taking office, he has worked closely with the Chief Inspector of Factories and other stakeholders to strengthen Ghana’s OSH systems.

“I have established a dedicated team to expand OSH outreach, ensuring nearly every workplace is reached and that workers operate under safe, dignified conditions,” he said.

Looking ahead, the Minister announced the upcoming launch of innovative, data-driven strategies aimed at transforming health and safety compliance nationwide.

“In the coming weeks, we will unveil bold, data-driven strategies that will revolutionize compliance across all sectors,” he revealed. “We are working toward a national framework where emerging technologies drive economic growth while upholding the safety and dignity of every Ghanaian worker.”

These strategies will include enhanced hazard surveillance, digital labour inspection systems, smart personal protective equipment, and improved data collection to inform policy.

Also speaking at the event, Acting Chief Inspector of Factories, George D Gashon, emphasized the Directorate’s strengthened capacity to enforce safety regulations and support compliance across industries.

By Kojo Adams 

Accra, May 1, GNA – The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union of Trade Union Congress Ghana has urged the government to adopt prudent economic policies for sustainable growth benefiting all Ghanaians.   

The Union said recent public sector negotiations resulted in a 10 per cent salary increase, far below the inflation rate, eroding workers’ earnings.   

King James Azortibah, General Secretary of TEWU of TUC Ghana, made the call in his May Day message to the Ghana News Agency.   

“We pray for economic stability and growth to ensure improved remuneration for all workers,” he said.   

Azortibah urged members to remain united and focused on advocating better conditions of service.   

He called on the government to finalize outstanding negotiations swiftly to prevent agitation and maintain industrial harmony.   

“There is an urgent need to recruit additional staff, especially kitchen and security personnel, particularly in Senior High Schools.  

“The current workforce is overstretched, which is impacting service delivery,” he said.   

The General Secretary also appealed to the government to prioritise workplace safety and health standards.   

“It is unacceptable that in 21st-century Ghana, some of our members continue to work under substandard and hazardous conditions.”   

Azortibah demanded an immediate halt to unauthorised deductions under the “Retro Net Offset” by the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.   

He stated that the deductions were made without prior consultation with affected members or relevant agencies and observed that substantial amounts were deducted from credited arrears without clear explanations, eroding trust in the payroll system. 

Azortibah criticised political interference in public sector appointments, stating that replacing institutional heads with each change of government must stop.   

He called for broader consultations, genuine consensus-building, and patriotic leadership to ensure good governance and national development. 

GNA 

KAS

The Blackstar Experience, the headline programme for Ghana’s tourism, culture and creative arts industries, has been launched.

The ceremony took place on Thursday, May 1,  2025 in front of the Freedom and Justice Monument at the Blackstar Square in Accra.

The programme was attended by government officials, dignitaries from the orange economy and stakeholders from the tourism, arts and culture space.

In his address, the Coordinator of the Blackstar Experience, Rex Owusu Marfo indicated that the Blackstar Experience was more than just a project, but rather a movement, a re-awakening of the national pride and an invitation to the world to experience the soul of Ghana.

He said Ghana had long been celebrated for its hospitality, history and dynamic cultural expressions: from the rhythmic beat of its music, to the captivating stories of its ancestors, from the bustling markets, to the serene landscape, indicating that these are things Ghana could offer to the world.

Rex further highlighted that the Blackstar Experience will be hinged on seven pillars: cinema, audio, cuisines, aesthetics, style, literature and heritage.

He said that the overarching vision of the Blackstar Experience Secretariat will be to align Ghana’s brand reputation with 20 most esteemed countries or country brands worldwide.

“It means we are going to rebrand Ghana to align with the world’s 20 successful countries when it comes to tourism,” he explained.

According to the veteran musician, the Secretariat will incorporate the Blackstar Experience framework into all facets of the nation’s initiatives across multiple sectors, elevate Ghana’s image as a preeminent and a preferred destination for global travelers, and transform Ghana into Africa’s cultural capital.

While some new programmes and products will be created, existing ones will also be amplified and fine-tuned to suit the objectives of the experience.

As part of the events earmarked for the Blackstar Experience, Rex Owusu Marfo indicated there will be collaborations with international organisations and groups like one in Atlanta which celebrates Blackstar Week every year.

“This is an opportunity to showcase Ghanaian talents, creative products, and to take advantage of partaking in investments, expos and meetings that exist,” he said.

He stated that there will also be exhibition football matches between legends of an international football clubs and legends of national football team, the establishment of a multi-million dollar film studio called Ananse Studio, Ghana Music Week celebration, annual stakeholder meeting dubbed Creative Connect and Detty December.

While assuring the Blackstar Experience of her maximum dedication, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie mentioned that the creative economy would do wonders if it was given a much bigger share of the national cake.

“Usually, we are at the bottom of the pile when the money is being shared. Bring us in the middle and see the magic we will bring to you, ‘ she said.

The President, John Dramani Mahama, therefore, reiterated his unflinching love for the tourism, arts and culture sectors and pledged to position it on a higher pedestal.

The Black Star Experience’ is the government’s flagship Culture, Arts, and Tourism brand to redefine and affirm the Ghanaian identity, attract investments, create new jobs, and increase tourism. It will undertake a year-round celebration in all the major entertainment, artistic, and educational disciplines.

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