Promasidor Ghana (PGH) has held a 2-day Extended Leadership and Commercial Conference in Accra to take on the second of five steps of its strategic objective, Triad 5:85.

The sessions, under the theme “Doing the right thing: Focusing on Controllable Factors as a Lever for Sustained Continued High Growth”, brought together the leadership team, managers and team leads nationwide to ideate.

Promasidor Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ECOWAS Excluding Nigeria, Festus Tettey said 2025 is a year of new beginnings, bringing fresh opportunities for growth and innovation to the business.

“For 2025 to be a different and positive one, we need to be different, taking learnings from 2024 to better our business”.

Mr Tettey called on the team to be focused, disciplined, and determined and apply consistent efforts to achieve Promasidor’s 2025 objectives.

“Let us focus on these controllable factors to grow our business to greater heights and to continue to enrich the lives of our consumers through the quality products we produce as well as the exceptional experiences we create for them.”

PGH’s CEO, Samir Sadaoui expressed his eagerness to start this year’s adventure with all PGH staff to build on the incredible accomplishments of 2024.

“I do not doubt that we can achieve much more if we stick together and remain committed to our vision and strategy to drive growth.”

Reiterating how each employee’s role is important in making PGH an enviable company.

Mr. Sadaoui used the platform to thank all employees for the support and unrivalled dedication that has enabled Promasidor Ghana’s story thus far. “I want to thank all employees for their support.

“I believe in the power of teamwork, and I am certain that with your support and commitment, we will turn challenges into opportunities and ambitions into achievements.”

On the Commercial Conference front, the Commercial Director of PGH, Abiodun Ayodeji expressed sincere gratitude to members of staff, distributors and consumers for their unwavering support, dedication and hard work throughout the past year.

“Your efforts have been instrumental in driving our success in Ghana, and we truly appreciate your commitment and partnership.”

The Commercial Director called on all partners to come together to make 2025 a year of growth, innovation, and success.

“I am excited to see what we will accomplish as a united team” he added.

Promasidor Ghana Limited (PGH) is a leading food manufacturing company providing quality food products for the past 25 years following the launch of its flagship brand, Cowbell in 1999.

Since then, the company has pioneered beverage extensions of the Cowbell brand such as Cowbell Coffee, Cowbell Strawberry, Cowbell Mocha and Cowbell Chocomalt amongst others.

Promasidor further exemplified its diverse manufacturing prowess following the launch of its Onga Powder and Tablets variants in 2003 and 2011 respectively.

Promasidor is also a major player in the Infant Cereal category with the Yum Vita brand which was launched in 2014.

The food manufacturing giant introduced its chocolate beverage, Twisco in 2023 to the market.

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Ghanaian fashion critic and social media personality, Charlie Dior

Ghanaian fashion critic and social media personality, Charlie Dior, has made a shocking revelation about his personal life.

In a recent interview on GHOne TV‘s “Toast,” Charlie Dior confidently disclosed that he has had a past encounter with a celebrity, although it was not a romantic relationship.

Charlie Dior, known for his blunt and unapologetic critiques of Ghanaian fashion, has built a reputation for speaking his mind.

His rise to fame began when he recorded a video sharing his opinions on red-carpet outfits at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards, which quickly went viral on social media.

As a US-based style critic, Charlie Dior has become a household name in Ghanaian entertainment, celebrated for his outspokenness and unwavering confidence in critiquing celebrities’ fashion choices.

During the interview, Charlie Dior expressed his openness to dating a celebrity in the future, revealing that he has already had a personal encounter with one.

Charlie Dior revealed, “I think I can definitely date a celebrity. I’ve slept with one before, but not in a relationship.”

His statement has sparked curiosity among fans and followers, who are eager to know more about his mysterious celebrity encounter.

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play videoThe offshore pigging will start on February 3, 2025

The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) has announced a revised schedule for its planned offshore pipeline cleaning and inspection exercise, commonly known as pigging.

Initially set to commence on January 20, 2025, the offshore pigging has been rescheduled to start on February 3, 2025, to better accommodate the interests of key stakeholders.

The four-week exercise will involve the temporary suspension of reverse gas flow from Ghana’s Western Region to Tema, also in Ghana, and the shutdown of key facilities in Tema, Ghana; Lomé, Togo; and Cotonou, Benin.

During this shutdown period, WAPCo will replace subsea valves located at these strategic locations to enhance operational safety.

In a press release dated Wednesday, January 15, 2025, it said, “The comprehensive cleaning and inspection exercise is a key regulatory requirement and aligns with industry best practices to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).”

“The project encompasses the entire pipeline infrastructure, from Itoki in Ogun State, Nigeria, to Takoradi in the Western Region, Ghana. The cleaning exercise is in two phases. The first phase, completed in December 2024, involved cleaning and inspecting the onshore section of the pipeline within Nigeria,” it added.

The second phase, scheduled to run from February 3 to March 2, 2025, will focus on the offshore section of the WAGP, stretching from Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria, to Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana.

WAPCo is required to conduct these inspections every five years, as part of efforts to maintain the integrity of the WAGP and ensure its continued safe and reliable operation across the West African region.

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President John Dramani Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has made four key National Security appointments to this government.

The appointees include former Chief of Staff, Prosper Douglas Bani; Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Abdul-Osman Razak; Commissioner of Police (COP) Nathan Kofi Boakye and a seasoned operative within the state’s internal investigations body, Charles Kipo.

Charles Kipo takes on the role of the Director General of the National Intelligence Bureau, while COP Kofi Boakye is appointed Director of Operations at the Presidency.

Former Chief of Staff Bani will be Mahama’s Advisor on National Security, while DCOP Razak takes on the role of National Security Coordinator.

“Former Chief of Staff Prosper Douglas Bani has been appointed National Security Advisor to the President. Mr Bani, a former Minister for the Interior, brings a wealth of experience and expertise.

“DCOP Abdul-Osman Razak will serve as the National Security Coordinator, ensuring a cohesive strategy across all security initiatives. COP Nathan Kofi Boakye (Rtd.) has been appointed Director of Operations at the Presidency to oversee operational effectiveness in security matters. Charles Kipo has been named Director General of the National Intelligence Bureau,” a statement issued by the Acting Spokesperson to the President, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, reads.

The statement indicated that the appointment shows “President Mahama’s commitment to enhancing national security and ensuring the safety of citizens.”

BAI/AE

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Colonel Festus B. Aboagye (Retired), a renowned security analyst, has expressed concern about former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to elevate a number of military officers to higher positions, including Ghana’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Thomas Oppong-Peprah to a 4-Star General, shortly before end of term in January 2025.

Discussions over the necessity of the promotions and their effects on Ghana’s military performance have been triggered by the policy brief “Counting Stars—The Paradox of Sporadic Military Rank Inflation In Ghana’s Democracy,” which was just released.

“When symbols outweigh substance, authority loses its foundation” was the subtitle of the brief in which Col. Aboagye criticized the promotions’ timing and rationale, claiming that they were out of step with Ghana’s contemporary defense reality.

With Ghana’s military strength at about 30,000 soldiers (ranked 113th in the world), a meager defense budget of US$300 million (down 5.4% from 2023), and unfunded plans for critical operational units, he said, “these high-level promotions appear disconnected from institutional needs and current security challenges.”

According to the research, despite the military’s comparatively moderate expansion in size and budget over the past 20 years, the number of generals in the Ghanaian Armed Forces has significantly increased. Between 2004 and 2024, the force strength increased just little, from slightly over 20,000 to less than 30,000 personnel, but the number of General Officer positions more than doubled, from 56 to 125.

Col. Aboagye called this tendency unhelpful, saying, “The number of generals over the past 20 years seems to be inversely proportional to military capability—more stars in command, less capacity to shine on the battlefield.”

Also criticized in the policy brief is the promotion process’s absence of parliamentary scrutiny. The Defense Minister, Col. Aboagye, reported this to the Defense and Interior Committee during a hearing on the budget, without obtaining the necessary parliamentary approval. He highlighted Ghana’s history of military political interventions and said, “This circumvention of democratic processes raises critical questions about civil-military relations and democratic oversight.”

Although the promotions might have been meant to improve Ghana’s military reputation abroad, Col. Aboagye cautioned that without matching expenditures on military equipment and capabilities, they run the risk of compromising operational efficacy and professionalism. Ghana’s intentions to expand its military by adding new infantry brigades, combat support formations, and special operations units between 2015 and 2024 are still mostly unfulfilled, he noted.

The policy brief urges immediate changes to match military promotions to the defense requirements of the country. The paper suggests that it is crucial to establish explicit standards for promotions that are based on operational requirements, force structure, and available resources. Additionally, it recommends putting money into real fighting capabilities rather than ceremonial rank inflation.

The revelations in Col. Aboagye’s analysis have reignited public discourse on the balance between symbolism and substance in Ghana’s military leadership. As the nation continues to grapple with evolving security challenges, many stakeholders are urging policymakers to reconsider the relationship between rank, resources, and readiness in the Ghana Armed Forces.

President John Dramani Mahama

Member of Parliament for Tano North constituency, Dr. Gideon Boako, has advised President John Dramani Mahama against the removal of betting tax, e-levy, and other taxes.

According to him, scrapping these taxes could threaten Ghana’s deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, as it would have a negative impact.

The MP indicated that removing these taxes would require introducing new ones, which he is against due to its economic implications.

“We don’t want a situation where you give with one hand and take with the other. They need to be explicit. If they cut taxes, they should not introduce new ones. You can’t cancel e-levy and betting tax and then create another tax to fill the gap.

“If they indeed want to scrap e-levy, betting tax, COVID-19 tax, and emission taxes, the only way to match the debt service to revenue ratio, as required by the IMF program, is to introduce another tax to make up for the shortfall. Otherwise, they don’t have room for maneuver,” he said in an interview with Citi News.

This warning comes after Minister-designate for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, promised to abolish the betting tax, citing its ineffectiveness in preventing youth involvement in betting.

Ato Forson clarified that removing the betting tax would not severely impact the Ghanaian economy, considering the revenue it generates.

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SB/EK

By Iddi Yire

Accra, Jan 15, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the recall of Diplomatic and Service Passports issued by the previous Akufo-Addo’s administration.

Dr Callistus Mahama, the Executive Secretary to the President, in a letter addressed to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, made available to the Ghana News Agency, said the exercise aligned with the Government’s commitment to ensuring the proper use and administration of official travel documents by national and international standards.

“The recall aims to prevent misuse, safeguard the country’s reputation and maintain the integrity of our diplomatic engagement.”

It directed the Ministry to take a number of steps to facilitate the process.

These include issuing a public notice – notifying all holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports issued by the previous administration to return these documents to the Ministry for ‘and re-issuance, where applicable.

Set a Deadline for Compliance: Specify a reasonable timeline for all concerned individuals to comply with the recall latest by 24th January, 2025.

Conduct Verification:

Undertake a thorough review of all returned passports to ensure that they align with the current eligibility criteria for Issuance.

“Your cooperation and expedient action in this regard will contribute significantly to maintaining the credibility and efficiency of our country’s passport system,” the statement said.

“Do not hesitate to contact my office for any further clarification or assistance you may need in executing this important exercise.”
GNA

Arsenal’s Brazilian forward, Gabriel Jesus, is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering what is suspected to be an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, according to British media reports on yesterday.

Jesus, 27, left the pitch on a stretcher before the end of the first half in Arsenal’s FA Cup tie with Manchester United on Sunday, which Mikel Arteta’s side lost on penalties.

“We know more now. It is not looking good at all. We need to review with one more specialist and will have better information this afternoon,” Arteta told a press conference ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League game with Tottenham Hotspur today.

“I don’t want to confirm anything until we have the final report this afternoon. We were very worried after the game and we are very worried today.”

Jesus had just recently hit goalscoring form, netting his first league goals of the season when scoring a double against Crystal Palace in December, and scored another in a win over Brentford on New Year’s Day.

He also scored a hat-trick against Palace in a League Cup quarter-final game last month. Jesus joined Arsenal in 2022, having won four league titles with Manchester City.

Arsenal may now look to bring in a new striker during the January transfer window, but according to the manager, it is not the only area in which they may need to invest.

“We have other issues as well. A player can bring things to a team in different ways. That is what we are trying to do,” Arteta said.

“We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad. We would be naive not to do that. There is an opportunity to improve the squad.”- Reuters

President John Dramani Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the security agencies to tighten security around major markets nationwide in the face of recent market fires.

Revealing that he had asked his security heads to draw a plan to enhance security in the markets, President Mahama underscored the urgency of the situation and tasked his security chiefs to act fast.

“We held a meeting with the security heads [on Monday] to discuss how we can tighten security around all major markets to prevent such occurrences,” he stated.

Mahama stated that, “Just this morning, we heard about a fire at the Techiman Market, which indicates that this trend may continue unless we take immediate steps.”

“I’ve asked the security to arrange with the various security services to tighten security around major markets. We are also asking them to explore installing CCTV cameras at all vantage points of every market,” he added.

President Mahama made the disclosure in Accra on Monday when a delegation from the Katamanto market called on him.

The market in days past was razed to the ground by an inferno, rendering thousands who trade in the market facing a life without a source of livelihood. As part of the security measures, the President noted that the Fire Service had been directed to deploy fire tenders to major markets across the country, especially at night.

Market fires, the President emphasized, might not only be a result of faulty electrical installations but also suspected acts of arson.

“These fires take place at night, and that is what gives us room for suspicion that there are people who are deliberately doing this. In the daytime, you don’t hear that there is a fire [outbreak] anywhere. How the fire can decide that it is only at night that it ignites and burns is beyond anybody’s imagination,” he stated.

This suspicion, the President said, was found in a 2013 investigation his then government commissioned into market fires, which established arson.

“I remember it has happened before, in 2013 when I was newly sworn in as president. There were fires in almost every market, which was quite unusual, and in many cases, the investigations showed that people deliberately set the markets on fire in order to cause chaos and confusion,” he said.

He gave assurance of his government’s resolve to assist the affected traders back into business but said the market should be built into a strong facility.

“[The] Government is determined that nobody should be displaced because of this fire…but we must design it better and make sure that we build it in a better way,” the President indicated.

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London, Jan 15, (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – Tyson Fury has claimed he has retired from boxing in a video post on social media.

The 36-year-old former world heavyweight champion, lost his second fight with current title holder Oleksandr Usyk last month in Saudi Arabia.

Fury said in a cryptic video message posted on Instagram: “Hi everybody, I’m going to make this short and sweet.

“I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It’s been a blast. I’ve loved every single minute of it and I’m going to end with this: ‘Dick Turpin wore a mask’.

“God bless everybody, see you on the other side.”

Fury had said he had no intention of retiring after a unanimous points defeat to Usyk in December, his second loss to the Ukrainian, who beat the Briton by split decision at the same Riyadh venue the previous May.

Boxing fans had been hoping Fury would finally fight fellow Briton, Anthony Joshua, this year.

Fury, previously announced his intention to quit the sport after he had retained his WBC belt, by stopping Dillian Whyte at Wembley in 2022.

The ‘Gypsy King’ said at the time: “I’ve been in this game 20 years, I’m 34 in a few months.

“I said the third (Deontay) Wilder fight would be my last, but I felt I owed the fans one last homecoming. This is definitely the end of the Gypsy King and I went out with a bang.”

Fury returned to fight Derek Chisora the following December and in October 2023 defeated French MMA fighter Francis Ngannou, the latter bout his last win before facing Usyk.
GNA