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Youth Development Minister Opare Addo provides key update on betting tax ahead 2025 budget reading

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The Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has assured Ghanaians that the betting tax will be scrapped when the national budget is presented in March 2025.

Speaking to Joy News, the minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promise to young people, aligning with President Mahama’s vision.

“Everybody is committed to meeting the target of His Excellency President Mahama. When the budget is read in March 2025, all the promises we made regarding tax cancellations will be implemented, and young people should look forward to the cancellation of the betting tax,” he stated.

The betting tax has been a source of concern among Ghana’s youth, especially those engaged in sports betting. Its planned removal is expected to relieve bettors.

The potential removal of the tax is also part of the New Democratic Party’s promise of scrapping nuisance taxes, including the betting tax, to alleviate the financial burden.

‘I would have beaten Nana Romeo if I had the chance’ – Kumchacha

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Prophet Kumchacha (L) and media personality Nana Romeo (R) Prophet Kumchacha (L) and media personality Nana Romeo (R)

Founder and leader of Heaven’s Gate Ministries, Nicholas Osei, popularly known as Prophet Kumchacha, has shed more light on his recent confrontation between himself and media personality Nana Romeo.

In a discussion with Zionfelix on February 18, 2025, Kumchacha stated that Nana Romeo lacks respect for elders and that he would have disciplined him if given the opportunity.

“Romeo is a stupid boy. It was only God who saved him on UTV that day. I would have beaten him. I am a humble and respectful person; however, I won’t let people take my respect for granted. Romeo is fond of talking about people but hates it when people criticise him. I would have slapped him on TV if given the chance,” he said.

Kumchacha added that he would not tolerate disrespect from anyone simply because he is a pastor.

“If I preach and you don’t listen, I don’t care because you are not my relative. I am not one of those pastors who would sit and allow people to hurl insults and disrespect them all in the name of God. I am not Jesus,” he added.

Prophet Kumchacha and Nana Romeo, on January 25, 2025, entered into a heated argument on United Showbiz after the latter dismissed Kumchacha’s claim that he was the first to hear about Kofi Adomah’s eye incident.

Watch the video below:

You can also watch as Minister of Climate Change pledges dedication to Mahama’s climate change agenda

JHM/EB

COP Tiwaa Addo-Danquah reassigned as Director-General of Research and Planning for GPS

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COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah (Mrs) is the immediate past Executive Director of EOCO COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah (Mrs) is the immediate past Executive Director of EOCO

COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah (Mrs.), the immediate past Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), has been reassigned as the Director-General of Research and Planning for the Ghana Police Service (GPS).

The Chartered Accountant was appointed as the Executive Director of EOCO in January 2022, replacing Stephen Raymond Dapaa-Addo, who had been appointed Director-General of EOCO on July 9, 2021.

However, in late January 2025, President John Dramani Mahama revoked her appointment and directed her to immediately hand over her duties and report to the Ghana Police Headquarters for reassignment.

A presidential communiqué explained that this directive was part of broader government efforts to strengthen EOCO’s operations and enhance its effectiveness in combating economic crimes and corruption.

The former CID Boss has since resumed her new position at the Police Headquarters.

Background

Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah joined the Ghana Police Service on July 27, 1990, and has risen through the ranks through hard work and a commitment to academic excellence.

After passing out from training, she was first posted to the Police Hospital Accounts Section as a constable.

Eighteen months into her probation, she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1992, having enlisted with a Diploma in Business Studies (Accounting Option) from Kumasi Polytechnic, which she obtained between 1988 and 1990.

As a Sergeant, she enrolled with the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana, in 1995 and successfully passed the Level Two examinations, earning a promotion to Chief Inspector. This achievement granted her direct entry into the Police College in October 1998.

Best Cadet

In May 1999, out of a class of 48 (46 men and two women), she was adjudged the All-Round Best Cadet and the Best Student in Humanities, making her only the second female to win the award at that time.

In recognition of this remarkable accomplishment, the then Inspector-General of Police (IGP) ordered a special staff of honor from the United Kingdom, which was presented to her by the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills, who was then the Vice President of Ghana.

Secondments

At one point, she was made the administrator at the Police Hospital when the officer in charge went on a peacekeeping mission. She later had the opportunity to serve on a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, where she acted as the Logistics and Finance Officer for the Missing Persons Unit.

Upon her return, she was posted to the Finance Section at the Police Headquarters.

She was subsequently granted a three-year study leave to pursue a program with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the United Kingdom.

COP Yaa Tiwaa excelled academically and completed all her papers ahead of schedule, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2006. Her ACCA certification allows her to practice as an accountant in multiple jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and Ghana.

Upon her return, she was attached to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to gain firsthand experience in public sector accounting. After 10 months, she was assigned to head the Commercial Crime Unit (CCRU) of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for three years.

She is also a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Recognized for her ability to revamp struggling departments, ACP Yaa Tiwaa was tasked with revitalizing the then-defunct CID Training School at the Police Training Depot. She successfully trained 550 detectives to strengthen financial investigations and combat fraud.

On November 6, 2013, when then IGP Mohammed Alhassan established the Ghana Police Staff Command College (GPCSC) in Winneba, she was appointed the first female Commandant of the college.

Early Life and Family Background

COP Yaa Tiwaa, the second of seven siblings, was born on August 19, 1969, in Konongo, in the Asante Akyem District of the Ashanti Region.

She was born to Kwame Adiya-Nimo and Nana Adwoa Agyekumwaa II, the Queen Mother of Banka.

She began her education at Roman Catholic Primary and Middle Schools and later attended Bompata Secondary School before enrolling at Kumasi Polytechnic.

She is married to Ofosu Addo-Danquah, a lecturer in the Department of French at the University of Cape Coast. They have a daughter and two sons.

DCOP Yaa Tiwaa, a devoted Catholic, worships at St. Peter’s Parish in Osu.

Dr. George Atta-Boateng appointed Acting Director-General of National Signals Bureau

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Dr. George Atta-Boateng is the Acting Director-General of the National Signals Bureau Dr. George Atta-Boateng is the Acting Director-General of the National Signals Bureau

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Dr. George Atta-Boateng as the Acting Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB).

In a statement issued on Monday, February 17, 2025, Dr. Atta-Boateng received the President’s approval to lead the NSB, an agency under the National Communications Authority.

Dr. Atta-Boateng, who served as the Deputy Director of Elections and Information Technology for the NDC during the 2024 elections, is a highly accomplished Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert with over 18 years of experience in the field.

From 2015 to 2017, he served as the Director-General of the National Information Technology Agency, where he was credited with numerous innovations.

Over the years, he has established himself as a leading figure in managing and delivering large-scale projects, including the Schools Computerization Project and the extension of the 123km National Eastern Corridor Fibre Network from Ho to Accra.

His extensive knowledge and experience cover various aspects of the ICT sector, including market structure, universal service and access, cybersecurity, telecommunications infrastructure, and the application of ICT in health, business, government, and education.

Dr. Atta-Boateng holds a PhD in Computer Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), a Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science from Fordham University, New York, USA, and an Advanced Certificate in Financial Economics & Data Analysis from Fordham University, New York, USA.

EK

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Meet the coach who talks to his dead mother before matches

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Nicky Hayen is the coach of Club Brugge Nicky Hayen is the coach of Club Brugge

Nicky Hayen, the coach of Belgian club Club Brugge, has shared a unique aspect of his pre-match routine, revealing that he seeks guidance and motivation from a deeply personal source, his late mother, whom he speaks to before every game.

Hayen took charge of Club Brugge on an interim basis in March 2024 and led the team to remarkable success, securing the Belgian championship title.

His impressive achievements earned him a permanent coaching contract in June, and this season, he has guided Brugge to the Champions League playoffs and second place in the Belgian league standings.

Speaking to the press ahead of Tuesday night’s game, Hayen opened up about the routine he believes has contributed to his success.

He credited this practice with helping him secure the Belgian championship and confirmed that he would continue it as his team travels to Bergamo to face Atalanta.

“Before the match, I always talk to my mother, who passed away four years ago—far too soon. Last year, before the [Belgian league] playoffs, I told her we wanted to do something crazy, and in the end, winning the title was the result,” he said.

When asked if he is deeply religious, Hayen responded: “Am I deeply religious? No, but I do feel that this means something to me. I have to believe there is something.”

However, he acknowledged the challenge ahead, expecting Atalanta to come out fighting after their first-leg defeat.

“Atalanta will definitely play more attacking football. At home, they will want to dominate, and they have the squad for that, so we expect a tough match. We have to stick to our game plan and, most importantly, maintain the tactical discipline we showed last week.

“My approach for the match hasn’t changed just because the first leg ended 2-1. We performed very well against a strong Atalanta side. I believe in my squad. We’ve played with a lot of courage in this Champions League campaign, but we must ensure that bravery doesn’t turn into recklessness,” he added.

FKA/MA

Meanwhile watch this explainer on the dismissal of the No. 12 corruption case after Anas refused to testify without mask

Displaced Sudanese girls who fled Zamzam camp look on as they gather near the town of Tawila

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Fighting broke out between the South Sudan People's Defense Forces and 'armed youth' in Nasir Fighting broke out between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and ‘armed youth’ in Nasir

The United Nations has called for calm as it reported deadly clashes in South Sudan have killed civilians and wounded a peacekeeper.

Fighting broke out between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPSF) and “armed youth” in Nasir in Upper Nile state – which borders Sudan – on February 14 and 15, the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a statement on Monday.

The oil-rich but impoverished nation, which achieved independence only in 2011, is plagued by instability with frequent clashes and political infighting.

The UN did not identify the armed groups that clashed with the SSPSF, a national military force led by President Salva Kiir, head of the country’s unity government.

The statement said some fighters used “heavy weaponry which has, reportedly, resulted in deaths and injuries to civilians as well as armed personnel”.

NPP’s disconnection from  public sentiment on ORAL is dangerous – Bright Simons

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NPP’s disconnection from public sentiment on ORAL is dangerous – Bright Simons

The Vice President of IMANI Africa has cau­tioned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over what he de­scribed as a persistent disconnect from public sentiment, particular­ly in its reaction to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s newly introduced anti-corruption initiative, Opera­tion Recover All Loot (ORAL).