The entire clan of Odai Tɛi Tsɛ We (Teshie) under the leadership of Nii Agoe Laryea Husunu, Nii Otu Kwei II (Nii Odai Tɛi Tsɛ We Akutso Tsɛ Nungua 

Adonten/Abekunane Mantsɛ), Nuumo Afotey Tsawe (Tsawe Wulɔmɔ – Teshie) and allied families, Rev. Professor Philip Tetteh Laryea, Nana Opare Kwadwo III Mampong Akuapem), Nii Anang Laryea Minie II (Achiase – Teshie Maŋ Maŋkralo), Obaapanyin Dede Kwaayisi and siblings, Opanyin Kwaku Ansah (Okomahene Division, Akropong-Akuapem), Sophia Ayebea Colley, Edward Amadi Sampson and siblings, E.S. Odotei ((Nii Odotei Ahimakor We), elders of the Local Churches in Ghana and the entire West Africa and the Veterans Administration, Ghana announce the home call of their beloved; 

Ex. Warrant Officer, James Emmanuel Nii Tsawe Laryea which sad event occurred on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. 

The funeral arrangements are as follows; 

There will be NO VIGIL. A night of songs will however be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025, from 6-8 pm at the family house at Beulah Villa, Teshie. 

The burial service will be held the following day, Friday, March 7, 2025, at the meeting hall of the Church In Accra at Achimota near the Kingsby Hotel roundabout at 9 am after the file-past from 7:30 am. 

He will be interred at the new Military Cemetery behind Burma Camp. 

The thanksgiving service will be on Sunday, March 9, also at the Church In Accra meeting hall, Achimota.

 WIDOW 

Mrs. Constance Naa Odole Laryea (nee Odoteye) 

CHILDREN 

Dorcas Momo Laryea (UK), Mrs. Grace Korklu Boateng (UK), Israel Laryea, and Phoebe Mantekai Gagbo 

IN-LAWS 

Mrs. Louisa Laryea, Roland Gagbo and Sam Boateng 

ATTIRE – BLACK AND WHITE on Friday and ALL WHITE on Sunday 

All friends and sympathisers are welcome 

The funeral will be streamed live on Facebook at theIsraelLaryea  

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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IUX, a globally recognized CFD brokerage, ihas announced its expansion into Nigeria and Ghana, bringing its cutting-edge trading platform and exceptional services to traders in these dynamic markets.

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Tullow Plc Board Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko has reaffirmed the company’s strong commitment to the growth of Ghana’s energy sector, highlighting its long-term partnership with the country for close to two decades.

In a recent meeting with Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, Phuthuma Nhleko reiterated the company’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Ghana.

He emphasised the importance of harnessing the country’s vast oil and gas resources efficiently, sustainably, and with environmental responsibility.

As the lead operator of Ghana’s key oil fields—Jubilee and TEN —Tullow and its partners have invested over $19 billion in the sector since inception, contributing more than $6 billion in revenue to the Ghanaian government.

During the meeting, the Chairman also introduced Richard Miller, Tullow’s interim Group CEO, to the President, following the recent announcement by the company of the exit of former CEO, Rahul Dhir, after four years.

Phuthuma assured the President of Tullow’s commitment to continuity and stability of the business as it drives its strategy.

He also emphasised the significant potential of gas as a key driver of economic growth and revenue generation, adding that a conducive business environment is crucial for strengthening investor confidence and fostering long-term collaboration.

President Mahama, in response, underscored the vital role of the energy sector in Ghana’s economic advancement. Underlining the importance of gas for Ghana, the President also emphasised the urgent need for an economic reset to make way for a business environment that encourages investment.

Tullow Ghana’s Managing Director, Jean-Medard Madama, and Deputy Managing Director, Cynthia Lumor, were part of the Tullow delegation that met the President.

Minister for Energy and Green Transition (MoE), John Abdulai Jinapor,  Acting CEO of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Kwame Ntow Amoah, Presidential Advisor and Special Aide, Joyce Bawa Mogtari and Energy Ministry Technical  Advisor, Ishmael Ackah, also participated in the meeting.

Beyond its economic contributions, Tullow continues to invest in local communities. The company has committed $10 million to improving educational infrastructure in 15 senior secondary schools over five years. Together with its partners, the company also supports coastal livelihoods through initiatives such as the Fisherman’s Anchor Project, which creates job opportunities for fisherfolk in the Western Region.

The company recently commenced a 4D seismic survey across the Jubilee and TEN fields—a significant step in enhancing drilling activities in 2025 and beyond.

The survey, which began in January 2025, will run for approximately 45 days, concluding in March 2025. Interpretation of the acquired data will help the company to identify the best areas for future drilling, ensuring sustainable and efficient resource development.

Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh

Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh believes that it will be most unfair for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to jettison Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

He premises his stance on the fact that no flagbearer of the NPP has won at the first instance of contesting for the flagbearership in the fourth republic.

Therefore, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will also have to be given the benefit of the doubt to try a second time.

Annoh-Dompreh was speaking to Bola Ray when he made this known.

“I will support Dr Bawumia. I respect Kennedy; he is a good man, and I think he is a true blue-party person but I think it is most unfair for us to jettison Dr Bawumia. Because in our tradition, nobody has won the presidency at a go. President Akufo-Addo was three times, President Kufour was two times. So I think it will be most unfair but I respect Kennedy,” he told Bola Ray on Starr Chat.

The New Patriotic Party lost the 2024 elections woefully under the leadership of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Some sections of the political party are of the view that per the former Vice president’s abysmal performance in the election, he should be dropped for a new face to contest for the 2028 elections.

They are of the view that a new face is what will save the NPP rather than someone who has ties with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Meanwhile, you can also watch the latest compilation of Twi news below:

Agya Koo Nimo and Kwabena Kwabena

Highlife legend Agya Koo Nimo has shared valuable health advice with celebrated highlife musician Kwabena Kwabena during a recent visit.

The 94-year-old music icon urged Kwabena Kwabena to prioritize his health, particularly by avoiding hard liquor and staying hydrated to protect his kidneys and voice.

The meeting took place when Kwabena Kwabena and his team paid a courtesy call to Agya Koo Nimo at his residence in Kumasi.

In a video shared by BTM Africa on YouTube, the veteran musician called on Kwabena Kwabena to practice moderation in drinking to protect his voice and vital organs.

“Listen to whatever I say. Why am I 94? The first thing, Kwabena, respect your kidneys. Drink a lot of water to cleanse your system. As for alcohol, you may take a little, but avoid hard liquor. It will spoil your voice, and your voice is your gift. I beg you, take good care of yourself,” Agya Koo Nimo advised.

Using himself as an example, the highlife doyen revealed that while he occasionally enjoys a bottle of beer, he avoids hard liquor to maintain his health and longevity.

“Me, I would just take a bottle of beer, the bitter one. But I do not take hard liquor. Hard liquor will spoil your voice. Your only gift is your voice. I beg you, Kwabena, take good care of yourself,” he told Kwabena Kwabena.

Kwabena Kwabena, known for hits like ‘Aso,’ has previously spoken about his commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

In an interview on UTV’s United Showbiz, he disclosed that he had stopped consuming substances that could harm his health.

As 2025 marks his 20th anniversary in the music industry, Kwabena Kwabena has announced plans to celebrate the milestone with a series of activities.

See the video below:

ID/KA

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You can also watch the latest episode of Moans and Cuddles on GhanaWeb TV below:

A commission in military junta-led Niger has recommended a minimum five-year transition to democratic rule following national discussions, officials said.

After a coup in 2023 when the army seized power and ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s junta proposed a three-year timeline for a transition back to civilian rule.

However, West Africa’s main regional bloc, ECOWAS, rejected the proposal. Following political disagreements, Niger and its neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso decided to leave the bloc and form the Alliance of Sahel States.

“The duration of the transition is set at 60 months, which may change depending on the security situation” and other factors, Abdoulaye Seydou, one of the commission’s vice presidents, said on state TV.

The commission also decided to elevate Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani, the junta leader who ran Niger’s presidential guard before the coup, to the rank of army general, Seydou said.

Commission President Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey gave the same five-year timeline and said political parties would be dissolved, with a new charter allowing for two to five political parties.

He also said junta officials would be able to participate in future elections.

The commission’s work involved consultations with more than 700 delegates including lawyers, architects and teachers. Political parties did not participate.

The commission’s report will be delivered to the junta which will make the final decision on the transition timeline.

The Niger junta, like the military rulers in Mali and Burkina Faso, have kicked out French and other European forces and turned to Russia for support as they battle militant groups.

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Malian film director Souleymane Cissé, one of the pioneers of African cinema, has died aged 84.

His daughter, Mariam Cissé, confirmed his death at a clinic in the capital Bamako, expressing shock and mourning “the loss of a man who dedicated his life to film and art”.

The cause of his death has not been announced.

Cissé gained international recognition in 1987 when his film Yeelen (The Light) won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, making him the first film-maker from sub-Saharan Africa to win an award at the prestigious festival.

His trailblazing career spanned more than 50 years, winning many accolades along the way.

In 2023, Cissé was honoured by Cannes with a Carrosse d’Or award, usually given to directors who have “marked the history of cinema with their boldness, their exacting standards and their intransigence in staging”.

Cissé was also a double winner of the grand prize at the biennial Pan-African Film Festival, Fespaco.

At the time of his death he had been due to travel to Burkina Faso to preside over the jury at the festival, which opens on Saturday.

Tributes have been pouring in for Cissé for his dedication to African storytelling.

Mali’s Culture Minister Mamou Daffé lamented the loss “of this monument of African cinema”, while fellow Malian director Boubacar Sidibé said the country’s film industry was in “mourning”.

Compassionate firebrand

Film lovers have praised Cissé’s works for their complexity, political engagement and deep humanity.

His first feature film, Den Muso (The Young Girl) shot in 1975, was in the local Bambara language, and is considered an African classic.

The film is about a young girl who is raped, becomes pregnant and is rejected by her family.

The film was banned by the Malian authorities, and Cissé was jailed for having accepted French funding. He wrote the screenplay for his second film, Baara (Work), while in prison.

He made other films including Finyè (The Wind) in 1981, and Yeelen (The Light), which won the Jury Prize in Cannes in 1987. His last film in 1995 was Waati (Time).

Cissé was born in Bamako, and spent part of his childhood in neighbouring Senegal.

Later, he studied film in Russia’s capital Moscow, becoming one of the first generation of African film-makers.

Cissé went on to champion government support for and investment in the film industry.

He was the founding president of the union representing West Africa’s entrepreneurs in cinema and audiovisual arts.

Cissé was often outspoken about other barriers to the spread of African cinema – criticising “censorship” and “contempt”, and urging young film-makers not to act like “beggars who must plead every time for financing from Europe” but instead seek greater independence.

Hours before his death, he reportedly urged Mali’s military government to help the country’s industry catch up with its continental rivals.

“It is not enough to make cinema, the works must also be visible,” the AFP news agency quoted Cissé as saying.

“May the authorities help us with the construction of cinemas.”

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An Indian pharmaceutical company is manufacturing unlicensed, highly addictive opioids and exporting them illegally to West Africa where they are driving a major public health crisis in countries including Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D’Ivoire, a BBC Eye investigation has revealed.

Aveo Pharmaceuticals, based in Mumbai, makes a range of pills that go under different brand names and are packaged to look like legitimate medicines.

But all contain the same harmful mix of ingredients: tapentadol, a powerful opioid, and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant so addictive it’s banned in Europe.

This combination of drugs is not licensed for use anywhere in the world and can cause breathing difficulties and seizures. An overdose can kill.

Despite the risks, these opioids are popular as street drugs in many West African countries, because they are so cheap and widely available.

The BBC World Service found packets of them, branded with the Aveo logo, for sale on the streets of Ghanaian, Nigerian, and Ivoirian towns and cities.

Having traced the drugs back to Aveo’s factory in India, the BBC sent an undercover operative inside the factory, posing as an African businessman looking to supply opioids to Nigeria.

Using a hidden camera, the BBC filmed one of Aveo’s directors, Vinod Sharma, showing off the same dangerous products the BBC found for sale across West Africa.

In the secretly recorded footage, the operative tells Sharma that he plans to sell the pills to teenagers in Nigeria “who all love this product”. Sharma doesn’t flinch. “OK,” he replies, before explaining that if users take two or three pills at once, they can “relax” and agrees they can get “high”.

Towards the end of the meeting, Sharma says: “This is very harmful to the health,” adding “Nowadays, this is business.”

It is a business that is damaging the health and destroying the potential of millions of young people across West Africa.

In the city of Tamale, in northern Ghana, so many young people are taking illegal opioids that one of the city’s chiefs, Alhassan Maham, has created a voluntary task force of about 100 local citizens whose mission is to raid drug dealers and take these pills off the streets.

“The drugs consume the sanity of those who abuse them,” says Maham, “like a fire burns when kerosene is poured on it.” One addict in Tamale put it even more simply. The drugs, he said, have “wasted our lives”.

The BBC team followed the task force as they jumped onto motorbikes and, following a tip-off about a drug deal, launched a raid in one of Tamale’s poorest neighbourhoods.

On the way they passed a young man slumped in a stupor who, according to locals, had taken these drugs.

When the dealer was caught, he was carrying a plastic bag filled with green pills labelled Tafrodol. The packets were stamped with the distinctive logo of Aveo Pharmaceuticals.

It’s not just in Tamale that Aveo’s pills are causing misery. The BBC found similar products, made by Aveo, have been seized by police elsewhere in Ghana.

We also found evidence that Aveo’s pills are for sale on the streets of Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire, where teenagers dissolve them in an alcoholic energy drink to increase the high.

Publicly available export data show that Aveo Pharmaceuticals, along with a sister company called Westfin International, is shipping millions of these tablets to Ghana and other West African countries.

Nigeria, with a population of 225 million people, provides the biggest market for these pills. It has been estimated that about four million Nigerians abuse some form of opioid, according to Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics.

The Chairman of Nigeria’s Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa, told the BBC, that opioids are “devastating our youths, our families, it’s in every community in Nigeria”.

In 2018, following a BBC Africa Eye investigation into the sale of opioids as street drugs, Nigerian authorities tried to get a grip on a widely abused opioid painkiller called tramadol.

The government banned the sale of tramadol without a prescription, imposed strict limits on the maximum dose, and cracked down on imports of illegal pills. At the same time, Indian authorities tightened export regulations on tramadol.

Not long after this crackdown, Aveo Pharmaceuticals began to export a new pill based on tapentadol, an even stronger opioid, mixed with the muscle-relaxant carisoprodol.

West African officials are warning that opioid exporters appear to be using these new combination pills as a substitute for tramadol and to evade the crackdown.

In the Aveo factory, there were cartons of the combination drugs stacked on top of each other, almost ceiling-high. On his desk, Vinod Sharma laid out packet after packet of the tapentadol-carisoprodol cocktail pills that the company markets under a range of names including Tafrodol, the most popular, as well as TimaKing and Super Royal-225.

He told the BBC’s undercover team that “scientists” working in his factory could combine different drugs to “make a new product”.

Aveo’s new product is even more dangerous than the tramadol it has replaced. According to Dr Lekhansh Shukla, assistant professor at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bengaluru, India, tapentadol “gives the effects of an opioid” including very deep sleep.

“It could be deep enough that people don’t breathe, and that leads to drug overdose,” he explained. “And along with that, you are giving another agent, carisoprodol, which also gives very deep sleep, and relaxation. It sounds like a very dangerous combination.”

Carisoprodol has been banned in Europe because it is addictive. It is approved for use in the US but only for short periods of up to three weeks. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, and hallucinations.

When mixed with tapentadol the withdrawal is even “more severe” compared to regular opioids, said Dr Shukla. “It’s a fairly painful experience.”

He said he knew of no clinical trials on the efficacy of this combination. Unlike tramadol, which is legal for use in limited doses, the tapentadol-carisoprodol cocktail “does not sound like a rational combination”, he said. “This is not something that is licensed to be used in our country.”

In India, pharmaceutical companies cannot legally manufacture and export unlicensed drugs unless these drugs meet the standards of the importing country. Aveo ships Tafrodol and similar products to Ghana, where this combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol is, according to Ghana’s national Drug Enforcement Agency, unlicensed and illegal. By shipping Tafrodol to Ghana, Aveo is breaking Indian law.

We put these allegations to Vinod Sharma and Aveo Pharmaceuticals. They did not respond.

The Indian drugs regulator, the CDSCO, told us the Indian government recognises its responsibility towards global public health and is committed to ensuring India has a responsible and strong pharmaceutical regulatory system.

It added that exports from India to other countries are closely monitored and that recently tightened regulation is strictly enforced. It also called importing countries to support India’s efforts by ensuring they had similarly strong regulatory systems.

The CDSCO stated it has taken up the matter with other countries, including those in West Africa, and is committed to working with them to prevent wrongdoing. The regulator said it will take immediate action against any pharmaceutical firm involved in malpractice.

Aveo is not the only Indian company making and exporting unlicensed opioids. Publicly available export data suggest other pharma companies manufacture similar products, and drugs with different branding are widely available across West Africa.

These manufacturers are damaging the reputation of India’s fast-growing pharmaceutical industry, which makes high-quality generic medicines upon which millions of people worldwide depend and manufactures vaccines which have saved millions of lives. The industry’s exports are worth at least $28bn (£22bn) a year.

Speaking about his meeting with Sharma, the BBC’s undercover operative, whose identity must remain concealed for his safety, says: “Nigerian journalists have been reporting on this opioid crisis for more than 20 years but finally, I was face to face… with one of the men at the root of Africa’s opioid crisis, one of the men who actually makes this product and ships it into our countries by the container load. He knew the harm it was doing but he didn’t seem to care… describing it simply as business.”

Back in Tamale, Ghana, the BBC team followed the local task force on one final raid that turned up even more of Aveo’s Tafrodol. That evening they gathered in a local park to burn the drugs they had seized.

“We are burning it in an open glare for everybody to see,” said Zickay, one of the leaders, as the packets were doused in petrol and set ablaze, “so it sends a signal to the sellers and the suppliers: if they get you, they’ll burn your drugs”.

But even as the flames destroyed a few hundred packets of Tafrodol, the “sellers and suppliers” at the top of this chain, thousands of miles away in India, were churning out millions more – and getting rich on the profits of misery.

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 Forum for Development and Accountable Governance (FDAG) has refuted allegations against the Volta River Authority (VRA) and its Acting CEO, Ing. Edward Obeng-Kenzo.

According to FDAG, their independent investigation has found no evidence to support claims of corruption, financial mismanagement, or discrimination at the organization.

FDAG asserts that the allegations are baseless, providing a thorough rebuttal and highlighting the VRA’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and efficiency under the leadership of Ing. Obeng-Kenzo.

In a statement issued on Thursday February 20, 2025, and signed by its Senior Research Fellow, Nana Kojo Abbam, FDAG noted that “the independent examination of the facts does not support the narrative put out by the group.”

Addressing the allegations of financial mismanagement, FDAG emphasized that VRA operates within the strictest frameworks of financial governance, complying fully with the Public Procurement Act and international best practices.

“VRA operates under strict financial regulations, consistent with the Public Procurement Act and international procurement standards, ensuring value for money, transparency, and operational efficiency,” the statement clarified.

It continued, “Every transaction undergoes rigorous scrutiny and auditing.”

FDAG also pointed to the significant achievements made under Ing. Obeng-Kenzo’s leadership.

According to FDAG, the Acting CEO has been instrumental in improving the financial standing of VRA, particularly in navigating the challenges brought on by the power sector’s volatility and ensuring the continued operation of key power generation plants.

In particular, the Forum highlighted the completion of the Kaleo Solar Power Plant, a major renewable energy initiative under the leadership of Ing. Obeng-Kenzo.

The group asserted that, Ing. Obeng-Kenzo’s leadership has enabled VRA to make considerable strides in diversifying its energy sources.

The statement emphasized that, as a “staunch advocate for sustainable energy solutions, Ing. Obeng-Kenzo has spearheaded significant projects in the renewable energy space, including the Kaleo Solar Power Plant and the Anwomaso Thermal Power Station.”

It continued, “These initiatives have played a pivotal role in diversifying Ghana’s energy mix, making it more resilient and environmentally responsible. Under his distinguished leadership, the operational efficiency of the Volta River Authority (VRA) has seen visible improvements.

“Ing. Obeng-Kenzo’s focus on optimizing VRA’s thermal generation capacity and streamlining operational processes has translated into enhanced productivity and a more robust energy sector.”

One of the most contentious issues raised by NVF was the 2023 controlled spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams, which NVF claimed was mishandled and caused unnecessary suffering for downstream communities.

FDAG was quick to reject these allegations, providing a clear explanation of the events surrounding the spillage.

“The controlled spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams was a necessary safety measure taken to protect lives and prevent catastrophic damage to infrastructure,” FDAG affirmed.

“The decision to spill was based on rising water levels that threatened the structural integrity of the dams.”

FDAG further clarified that the decision was made after careful analysis of weather patterns and flood forecasts.

According to the statement, the Ghana Meteorological Agency had issued warnings about a potential rise in water levels, which prompted VRA to prepare for the controlled release.

“The controlled spillage was a calculated measure taken to avoid an uncontrolled release that could have resulted in far worse consequences, including the potential destruction of vital infrastructure like the Sogakope Bridge and the loss of lives downstream,” FDAG explained.

The group also highlighted that the spillage was not only necessary for safety reasons but was executed in a manner that prioritized the protection of local communities.

In collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), VRA ensured that affected areas were adequately supported, with a GHS 20 million fund established to assist displaced communities.

“VRA worked closely with NADMO and local authorities to coordinate evacuation efforts, ensuring timely warnings and assistance for affected communities. Additionally, GHS 20 million was provided for immediate relief efforts, including food, shelter, and medical support,” FDAG emphasized.

FDAG also addressed the unsubstantiated allegations about Ing. Obeng-Kenzo’s emotional stability, questioning the credibility of those making such claims.

“Since when did the group (NVF) become certified psychologists capable of diagnosing emotional instability? Are they now running a psychiatric evaluation unit alongside their anti-corruption campaign?” the statement quizzed.

It continued, “Or perhaps they are simply projecting their own erratic tendencies onto a man who has spent decades in leadership, making tough decisions with precision and professionalism.”

AM/KA

You can also watch Godfred Dame’s full speech on legal case withdrawals below:

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has told G20 foreign ministers that a commitment to multilateralism and international law is vital to solving global crises.

His comments follow growing concern about the Trump administration’s “America First” policy, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotting the meeting and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying he will not attend next week’s gathering of G20 finance ministers.

Rubio said he would not “coddle anti-Americanism”, while Bessent said he had other commitments in Washington.

South Africa is the first African state to lead the G20, hoping to advance the interests of developing nations in talks with the world’s richest states.

The G20 consists of 19 countries, along with the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU), and makes up more than 80% of the global economy and two-thirds of the world population.

The foreign ministers of China, Russia, France and the UK are among those attending the meeting in Johannesburg, while the US is represented by the deputy chief of mission at its South African embassy.

In his opening address, Ramaphosa said that an “already fragile global coexistence” was threatened by rising intolerance, conflicts and climate change.

“Yet there is a lack of consensus among major powers, including in the G20, on how to respond to these issues of global significance,” the South African president said.

“It is critical that the principles of the UN Charter, multilateralism and international law should remain at the centre of all our endeavour,” he added.

South Africa holds the G20 presidency until November 2025, when it is expected to hand it over to the US.

Relations between the two countries have become increasingly strained since President Donald Trump took office in January, raising questions about how much South Africa can achieve during its presidency.

Trump has cut aid to the country, accusing it of “unjust and immoral practices” against the white minority Afrikaner community and by filing a genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023.

His decision was followed by Rubio saying he would not attend the meeting of foreign ministers because South Africa was “doing very bad things”, using the G20 “to promote ‘solidarity, equality, & sustainability.’ In other words: DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] and climate change”.

In a post on X, he added: “My job is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism.”

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.

Governor Kathy Hochul has decided not to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office, but instead announced a plan to limit his authority following a string of scandals.

The New York governor said she would propose legislation and measures aimed at exerting more oversight over the mayor’s office. Adams responded there would have been no legal basis to remove him.

The US Justice Department is currently pushing to drop a corruption case against Adams, which a former top prosecutor alleged was a deal in exchange for the mayor’s cooperation on immigration enforcement.

Adams was indicted on corruption and bribery charges last year, and his trial is scheduled for April. The mayor pleaded not guilty and has denied wrongdoing.

Announcing her proposed “guardrails” against Adams on Thursday, the governor said she decided not to use her power to remove the mayor as she could not defy the “will of the voters”.

In her new plan, she has proposed a new inspector general position for New York City, providing more resources for officials to take legal action against the Trump administration, and expanding funding for the state comptroller’s office to conduct more oversight of the city.

Hochul said these steps would “make sure our leaders are operating only with the city’s best interest in mind”.

The plan would still require approval from the New York City Council and state legislature.

The mayor said in a statement later: “While there is no legal basis for limiting New Yorkers’ power by limiting the authority of my office, I have told the governor, as we have done in the past, that I am willing to work with her to ensure faith in our government is strong.”

Hochul’s attempt to rein in the mayor comes as he awaits the decision of a New York judge regarding his corruption case.

Adams was indicted last year for allegedly accepting gifts totalling more than $100,000 (£75,000) from Turkish citizens in exchange for favours.

The Trump administration ordered its Manhattan prosecutors to drop the case against Adams, arguing it impedes his official duties for national security.

Shortly after the directive, the top Manhattan federal prosecutor in the case, Danielle Sassoon, resigned in protest. Several other federal prosecutors followed.

In a letter to the US attorney general, Sassoon alleged that the justice department and Adams’ lawyers had engaged in a quid-pro-quo for the mayor to enforce Trump’s immigration policies in exchange for dropping the case.

Amid the uproar, Hochul announced that she was weighing whether to use her powers to remove Adams.

Adams denied he had propositioned the justice department to drop the case in exchange for immigration enforcement.

His attorney, Alex Spiro, argued in court that because Adams lost his security clearance due to his criminal charges, the case should be dismissed so that he can again participate in high-level public safety conversations.

The case has sent the city’s government into upheaval and infuriated New Yorkers, dozens of whom appeared for Adams’ hearing this week to boo him as he arrived at court. A handful of supporters held signs on the courthouse steps.

As the Trump administration seeks to dismiss the charges against Adams, the president has sought to flex his influence over New York City, announcing he intends to revoke approval for the city’s congestion pricing programme that started in January.

In her remarks, Hochul took aim directly at the Trump administration, referring to him at one point as a “king”.

“We know they’ll stop at nothing to try to exercise control over New York,” she said of the Trump administration.

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Illegal mining has destroyed water bodies and farm lands

The debate over illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has once again surfaced as the Member of Parliament for Bongo, Charles Bawaduah, acknowledged both its economic benefits and its devastating consequences.

Speaking on GHOne TV with Serwaa Amihere, the MP noted that while galamsey has provided employment opportunities for many young people, its impact on the environment remains a serious concern.

“Yes, galamsey has helped young people. The problem is how it destroys the land and water bodies. We must protect our land and water while also making sure young people have jobs,” he stated.

His remarks come at a time when the government is under pressure to find a sustainable solution to illegal mining.

Over the years, successive administrations have launched various campaigns to curb the menace, yet illegal miners continue to operate, often with sophisticated machinery that further devastates forests and pollutes major rivers.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has raised a serious alarm over the ongoing destruction of Ghana’s forests due to galamsey.

Speaking in Parliament, he warned that the country’s forests and water bodies are facing an unprecedented threat, largely caused by illegal mining activities, which continue to escalate despite efforts to curb them.

“Ghana’s forests continue to be under serious threats of deforestation and forest degradation due to factors known to all of us.

Ghana is currently faced with an unprecedented threat to our forest resources and water bodies due largely to illegal small-scale mining activities,” he stated.

He described the situation as a national crisis with severe consequences for public health and security, stressing that urgent intervention is needed.

“This situation has assumed crisis proportion of dire national security and public health consequences that require immediate attention.”

According to him, a shocking 44 out of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves are under direct attack by illegal miners who are heavily armed and violent, making it nearly impossible for forestry officials to stop their operations.

Meanwhile, you can also watch the latest compilation of Twi news below:

An ex-girlfriend of Hollywood star Nicolas Cage is suing him and their 34-year-old son for “life-threatening injuries” she says she sustained in an alleged fight last year.

Christina Fulton alleges their 34-year-old son, Weston Cage, whom she described as a “300-pound professional fighter”, attacked her without provocation.

According to the lawsuit, Fulton, 57, is suing her son for assault and battery and Cage, 61, for negligence, claiming he failed to prevent their son’s alleged behaviour.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the “catastrophic physical, emotional, and economic harm she has endured due to an unprovoked attack by their son, Weston”. Nicolas Cage’s lawyers called the lawsuit “frivolous”.

Weston Cage was arrested in June last year and charged with two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon following accusations that he attacked his mother and another individual.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Ms Fulton claims she visited her son on 28 April 2024 after receiving “urgent messages” from his friends, according to the civil complaint submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Upon arriving, she alleges he attacked her in a “manic rage”, assaulting her in the car park, lift and lobby of his residence. The lawsuit says she was left with a concussion, multiple contusions, neck and throat injuries, dental trauma, tinnitus, abdominal trauma and PTSD.

Ms Fulton alleges that Nicolas Cage was aware of their son’s “long history of mental and psychological disorder” and previous alleged acts of “violent assault and battery”, but continued to enable such behaviour by providing financial support.

The lawsuit adds that Mr Cage bought an apartment for their son next door to his own residence, bailed him out of jail multiple times, and drank alcohol with him despite knowing about his alleged struggles with substance abuse.

In a statement to the BBC, Nicolas Cage’s lawyer, Brian Wolf, said the lawsuit was “absurd”.

“Weston Coppola is a 34 year old man,” Mr Wolf said. “Mr Cage does not control Weston’s behavior in any manner and is not responsible for Weston’s alleged assault of his mother.”

The BBC has contacted Weston Cage’s representatives for comment.

In an interview with the BBC, Joseph Farzam, the attorney representing Ms Fulton, agreed that most people are not responsible for their adult children’s actions.

But he said the law was very clear that a parent can be responsible for an adult child with a mental disability who cannot support themselves.

“This is a unique situation,” he told the BBC. “Weston has a history of violence and his father has not stopped him, but enabled him, bailed him and made the situation much worse.”

Ms Fulton, who was in a relationship with Nicolas Cage from 1988-91, previously sued the actor in 2009 over a financial dispute.

She alleged he owed her $13m (£10m) and had reneged on a promise to buy her a home in Hancock Park, a wealthy LA enclave. That case was settled in 2011 under undisclosed terms.

This is not the first bout of legal trouble for Weston Cage.

In 2011, he and his then-wife, Nikki Williams, were arrested on felony domestic violence charges.

In 2017, he was detained on suspicion of driving under the influence and hit-and-run. He pleaded no contest, was given three years of probation and had to go to a recovery programme and complete community service.

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• Veteran actor Mawuli Semevo has been reported dead as confirmed by Myjoyonline on February 20, 2025
• His sudden death comes at the back of severe burns he sustained during a fire accident at his residence on February 8, 2025
• Celebrated Ghanaian actors Ken Fiati and Edinam Atatsi confirmed the unfortunate news

Tragic news struck on Thursday, February 20, 2025, as veteran actor Mawuli Semevo passed away at Ridge Hospital, where he was receiving treatment for severe burns sustained in a fire accident a week prior. He was 63.

Veteran actor Mawuli Semevo dies

According to a report by Myjoyonline.com, a renowned Ghanaian media network, veteran actor Mawuli Semevo has unfortunately passed on. Celebrated Ghanaian actors Ken Fiati and Edinam Atatsi confirmed the report.

On February 8, 2025, Judith Addison of Beyond Burns International, a non-profit dedicated to supporting burn survivors, reported in a viral video that Mr Semevo had been critically injured in a fire.

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“Beyond Burns International received an SOS about a tragic incident. When we arrived, we found veteran actor Mawuli Semevo in critical condition after suffering severe burns. His life was hanging in the balance,” Judith stated in a video report shared on social media.

According to her, Mawuli was asleep at home when the fire broke out, resulting in burns covering 44 per cent of his body, along with respiratory injuries that left him struggling to breathe.

“This is very serious. From his head to his legs, his body was severely burned, and he lost all his hair,” she added.

During his treatment at the Ridge Hospital, his colleagues in the movie industry visited and appealed to Ghanaians in a video for financial support.

Mawuli Semevo was widely respected for his exceptional performances on stage and in film. His impressive body of work includes Ghanaian movies such as Harvest at 17, A Stab in the Dark, Escape of Love, Like Cotton Twines, and The Good Old Days: The Love of AA.

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Photo of the late Mawuli Semevo

Kumasi nurse and children perish in Asokwa fire

YEN.com.gh reported that a devastating fire in the Asokwa Municipality of the Ashanti Region claimed the lives of a nurse and her three children.

The tragic incident occurred on January 8, 2025, trapping the victims inside their three-bedroom home as the flames spread.

Fire service personnel managed to rescue other occupants of the house, who were rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.

Source: YEN.com.gh

By Iddi Yire

Accra, Feb 20, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday in conformity with Article 76 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, constituted his 19-Member cabinet. 

The 1992 Constitution enjoins the President to have a Cabinet of no fewer than 10 and not more than 19 ministers. 

Article 76 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana defines the Cabinet as a group of people that includes the President, Vice-President, and not more than 19 Ministers of State. 

The list of Cabinet Members was announced after their first meeting with the President at the seat of Government in Accra, by Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesman and Minister of State in-charge of Government Communications. 

They include Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Finance Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, Minister for the Interior, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Defence Minister, and Dr Dominic Akurutinga Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, and Mr kwabena Minta Akandoh, Minister of Health. 

Others are Mr John Abu Jinapor, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, Madam Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Eric Opoku, Minister of Food and Agriculture, and Mr Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations. 

The rest are Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Minister for Roads, and Highways, Mr  

Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology,  

Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, Minister of Transport and Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Minister of Labour, Jobs, and Employment. 

Mr Ofosu said these were the 19 ministers who formed Cabinet together with the President and the Vice President. 

He said apart from these 19 ministers; other ministers were made to attend the Cabinet meeting. 

The Ministers who were in attendance at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting include Mr Iddie Kofi Adams, Minister of Sports and Recreation, Mr George Opare Addo, Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, Madam Emelia Arthur, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Madam Dzifa Abla Gomashie. 

Others are Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Minister of State in-charge of Special Initiatives, Mr Baba Issifu Seidu, the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Madam Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Minister of State Public Sector Reforms and Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister for State Responsible for Government Communications,  

Mr Ofosu said the maiden cabinet meeting objective was primarily to introduce cabinet and ensure that people had a handle on what exactly the expectation was of them in cabinet. 

He said the ground rules were set out and important briefings on matters relating to governance took place.  

He said there were a number of briefings; such as the state of security in the country and the  

He said the Minister for the Interior and the Minister of Defence and Mr Prosper Douglas Bani, the National Security Coordinator took turns to brief cabinet on the security situation in the country; adding that the general view emanating from the briefing was that Ghana’s security was strong. 

“We are a safe country and people are free to go about their normal activities without fear…” 

He said Mr Goosie Tanoh, the Presidential Advisor on the 24-hour Economy and Accelerated Export Developments, briefed cabinet on preparations so far towards a full rollout of the 24-hour Economy. 

Mr Ofosu said they were left with the impression that tremendous work had gone into what was arguably President Mahama’s foremost transformation plan, which aims to convert the Ghanaian economy from its present state into one that never sleeps and works around the clock.  

GNA 

A bystander was struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident at the Sogakope Customs checkpoint on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

The individual was a few meters from the checkpoint when officers of the Customs Division fired warning shots while attempting to apprehend suspected smugglers.

The injured person was immediately transported to the Sogakope Comboni Hospital, where they are currently receiving medical attention and responding to treatment.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The incident occurred during an operation to intercept a suspected uncustomed Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan being smuggled from Togo into Ghana.

Officers received intelligence on the vehicle and attempted to stop its occupants, who abandoned the car and fled. In response, warning shots were fired, resulting in the unfortunate injury.

The GRA has assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway. Additionally, the authority has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all stakeholders while fulfilling its duty of protecting national revenue.

“We sympathize with persons affected by the unfortunate incident which occurred in the course of protection of revenue at the country’s borders and remain committed to our mission of ensuring the safety and security of all stakeholders,” the GRA stated.

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