John Dramani Mahama is the President of Ghana

Dr Emmanuel Alex Nti, a political analyst, has opined that President John Dramani Mahama must avoid any political pressure or manoeuvring to accept the ‘dangerous call’ for him to pursue a third term.

Although he argued that the government’s performance, if satisfactory to Ghanaians, may influence them to support a third-term bid, it is an agenda that would undermine his legacy.

He stated that every great leader is one who trains others to take over and that the most appropriate course of action would be for him to have someone with the competence and skills who has gone through the mill seek the presidential seat instead of him going for a third term.

Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has the men to govern even without Mahama leading the party.

He added that the President has a team he is working with, and out of that team, which extends beyond those in government, there would always be someone to lead the party.

Dr Emmanuel Alex Nti stressed that President Mahama must preserve his legacy and walk away when his term ends.

Using the analogy of a celebrity or a musician with wild applause while performing on stage, he said such a performer must know when to bring the performance to an end in order not to destroy the beautiful performance which gave him or her the wild applause.

“As a musician or a celebrity who has gained popularity or prominence, you should know when to exit on stage. If you fail to do that, you risk undermining the reputation you’ve built over the years. I think President Mahama is aware of that, and because of the legacy he wants to leave behind, he would not risk it by allowing pressure to force him into accepting the third-term agenda.

“But one thing we should also understand is that every good leader builds a team and raises leaders so that even in his absence, they would be able to take over. I wouldn’t be surprised if he seeks a third term, but from how I know Mahama as someone who builds leaders around him, he will likely be backstage to coach whoever he thinks can also project his agenda for the better Ghana we all yearn for, because he knows when to exit the stage.”

England starlet frozen out under Amorim

After 15 Premier League games this season, Mainoo has not started a single one and has accumulated just 183 minutes of action. The contrast to his breakout 2024 campaign, in which he impressed for both club and country, could not be sharper. His lack of involvement has left him increasingly disillusioned, with insiders revealing he is “deeply frustrated” by Amorim’s reluctance to play him.

Amorim insists Mainoo “deserves to be playing”, but his selections continue to favour Casemiro’s experience and Bruno Fernandes’ influence, leaving the England midfielder sidelined. Reports indicate the United manager has been pushing Mainoo to improve out of possession, which has been the primary reason behind his omission. The tension reached a tipping point when Mainoo remained an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with West Ham. Paul Scholes questioned the decision publicly.

Ince advises Mainoo to leave Man Utd in January

Speaking to Covers.com, Ince insisted Mainoo must now consider a move where he can play regular football.

“If I were in Mainoo’s position, I’d be looking for a change of club in January,” he said. “The World Cup would be my ultimate priority, and leaving Manchester United – permanently or on loan – appears to be the best option to secure a place in the England squad. When Mainoo first burst on the scene, everyone was raving about him; he was playing well for Manchester United and was getting minutes for England. But since then, something has happened, and I don’t know whether it’s the player or the manager, Ruben Amorim. Perhaps his rise happened too quickly, but whatever the reason is, the journey hasn’t been easy for him.”

The former midfielder believes this was the year Mainoo should have overtaken an ageing Casemiro.

He said: “Given that last year Casemiro was coming under some pressure from the fans and he was clearly aging on the pitch, I thought this would be the season for Mainoo to take his shirt and cement himself into that starting line-up as one of Amorim’s key players. He’ll also be conscious that Thomas Tuchel will be picking his England squad based on domestic playing time – which Mainoo isn’t getting much of.”

Napoli move gains momentum amid growing interest

Mainoo has attracted interest from clubs across Europe, with Napoli among the most serious contenders. The Italian champions already have former United midfielder Scott McTominay and forward Rasmus Hojlund in their ranks, and are dealing with an injury crisis that has intensified their search for midfield reinforcements.

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna addressed the rumours and told Sky Sport Italia: “He is a player who has been linked to Napoli since August, also for his age, his potential, and the transfer opportunity. This team is doing well, it is consolidated. We have some important absences right now, but sooner or later the lads will return, strong and determined. We have to make the right evaluations, so we’ll see how things progress along the way.”

Speaking on the Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano echoed the growing demand for Mainoo and said: “It’s normal that some of the clubs interested in Kobbie Mainoo. For example, Napoli hope for the possibility to get the player as soon as possible. They need players. Not only Napoli, but more than 10 clubs are interested in Kobbie. So let’s see what’s going to happen there. At the moment, there is still no green light from United, and unless the situation changes in the next days, everything depends on United or Ruben Amorim and on the timing of this story.”

Is Napoli the ideal solution for Mainoo?

A temporary spell in Naples could offer Mainoo regular starts and the chance to rebuild his confidence under the guidance of a demanding manager in Antonio Conte. Serie A has long been a proving ground for Manchester United players seeking redemption; from Romelu Lukaku to Chris Smalling and, more recently, McTominay. Now, Mainoo will be looking to follow in their footsteps.

Crouched between mountains of discarded plastic, Lanh strips the labels off bottles of Coke, Evian and local Vietnamese tea drinks so they can be melted into tiny pellets for reuse.

More waste arrives daily, piling up like technicolour snowdrifts along the roads and rivers of Xa Cau, one of hundreds of “craft” recycling villages encircling Vietnam’s capital Hanoi where waste is sorted, shredded and melted.

The villages present a paradox: they enable reuse of some of the 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste Vietnam produces each year, and allow employees to earn much-needed wages.

But recycling is done with few regulations, pollutes the environment and threatens the health of those involved, both workers and experts told AFP.

“This job is extremely dirty. The environmental pollution is really severe,” said Lanh, 64, who asked to be identified only by her first name for fear of losing her job.

It is a conundrum facing many fast-growing economies, where plastic use and disposal has outpaced the government’s ability to collect, sort and recycle.

Even in wealthy countries, recycling rates are often abysmal because plastic products can be expensive to repurpose and sorting rates are low.

But the rudimentary methods used in Vietnam’s craft villages produce dangerous emissions and expose workers to toxic chemicals, experts say.

“Air pollution control is zero in such facilities,” said Hoang Thanh Vinh, an analyst at the United Nations Development Programme focused on waste recycling.

Untreated wastewater is often dumped directly into waterways, he added.

The true scale of the problem is hard to judge, with few comprehensive studies.

In one village, Minh Khai, Vinh said a sediment analysis found “very high contamination of lead and the presence of dioxins”, as well as furan — all of which have been linked to cancer.

And in 2008, the life expectancy for residents of the villages was found to be a full decade shorter than the national average, according to the environment ministry.

Local authorities and the environment ministry did not reply to AFP’s requests for comment.

Lanh believes the toxic waste in Xa Cau gave her husband blood cancer, but she still spends her days sorting rubbish to pay his medical bills.

“This village is full of cancer cases, people just waiting to die,” she said.

– Sickness and wealth –

No data exists on cancer rates in the villages, but AFP spoke to more than half a dozen workers in Xa Cau and Minh Khai who reported colleagues or family members with cancer.

Xuan Quach, coordinator of the Vietnam Zero Waste Alliance, said sustained exposure to the “toxic environment” made it inevitable that residents face “health risks that are of course higher”.

Dat, 60, has been sorting plastic in Xa Cau for a decade and said the job “definitely affects your health”.

“There’s no shortage of cancer cases in this village.”

But there is also no shortage of workers, keen for the economic lifeline recycling provides.

In Xa Cau, plastic piles up around multi-storey homes, some with ornate facades noting the years they were built.

“We get richer thanks to this business,” said 58-year-old Nguyen Thi Tuyen, who lives in a two-storey home.

“Now all the houses are brick houses… In the past, we were just a farming village.”

Most of the waste the villagers recycle is home-grown, researchers and residents say.

But even though Vietnam only recycles about a third of its own plastic waste, it also imports thousands of tons annually from Europe, the United States and Asia.

Imports soared after China stopped accepting plastic waste in 2018, though recently Vietnam has tightened regulations and announced plans to phase out imports too.

For now, US and EU trade statistics show shipments to Vietnam from the two economies reached over 200,000 tonnes last year.

In Minh Khai, the owner of a plant producing plastic pellets said domestic supply “is not enough”.

“I have to import from overseas,” 23-year-old Dinh, who only gave one name, explained over the whir of heavy machinery.

Most domestic waste doesn’t get sorted, so it cannot easily be reused.

There have been efforts to improve the industry, including a ban on burning unrecyclable waste and building modern facilities.

But burning continues and unusable waste is often dumped in empty lots, according to Vinh.

He said the government should help recyclers move to industrial parks with better environmental safeguards, formalising a sector that handles a quarter of the country’s recycling.

“The current way of recycling in recycling villages… is not good to the environment at all.”

bur-tym/sah/sco/rsc/abs

Lands and Natural Resources Minister with CSOs

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has held a crunch meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs)to discuss Ghana’s lithium agreement, which has now been withdrawn from Parliament.

In a fruitful deliberation on Monday, December 13, 2025, the minister explained government’s position on the deal and the new vision for lithium exploration, following the recall of the agreement last week.

In his remarks, Armah-Kofi Buah stressed that government is focused on crafting a deal that benefits the local Ewoyaa community and the country at large.

He therefore urged participants to offer honest and constructive feedback to strengthen the documentation of a new agreement between the Government of Ghana and Barari DV, local subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium.

Responding to the Minister’s invitation, participants from the invited CSOs made cogent inputs which cut across Ghana’s royalty stakes, equity allocation, as well as salient environmental and community development concerns.

The views from the participants, which ranged from financials, sustainability, gender and health and safety concerns, were duly acknowledged by the minister, who pledged government’s commitment to incorporate all the criticisms and suggestions into the revised agreement.

One of the participants, Dr Steve Manteaw, thanked the minister for creating an enabling environment to deepen stakeholder engagement in the management of Ghana’s resources.

Policy analyst and researcher at the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE), Benjamin Nsiah, also thanked the minister for inviting the opinions of CSOs and urged government to continue to deepen stakeholder engagement.

On his part, the Country Manager of Atlantic Lithium, Ahmed Salim, who also joined the discussion, welcomed the views and criticisms from the various participants and called for more cooperation in the drafting of a new agreement.

Speaking at the end of the engagement, the lands minister reassured that the Ministry would continue to engage more stakeholders towards the conclusion of a new deal, adding that his doors remain open to further interactions on the subject matter.

Meanwhile, a series of other engagements are also in the pipeline as part of government’s commitment to harvest more inputs in making Ghana’s lithium discovery a blessing to all, the minister revealed.

Ghanaian forward Albert Adomah chalked a new milestone in his career after making his 700th English Football League appearance.

The winger celebrated the new achievement on his 38th birthday after appearing for Walsall in their game against Shrewsbury in the English League Two.

In his long career in England’s lower leagues, Adomah has made 526 appearances in the Championship and 174 in League Two.

The former Black Stars forward has scored 95 goals and delivered 101 assists across those games.

Although, he reached 700 career appearances in September 2024, he marked that feat in only EFL matches on Saturday in the 1-1 draw against Shrewsbury.

“That’s another milestone. 700 EFL games, I am assuming that’s just league games. That is amazing and it happens to be on my birthday, that’s a nice touch and that’s another milestone to celebrate,” he said after the game.

A certified @EFL legend.

An unbelievable milestone reached by Albert Adomah this weekend. 👏 pic.twitter.com/i0rlqEFSnv

— PFA (@PFA) December 15, 2025

The 38-year-old has represented several clubs across the two divisions of English football, including Middlesborough and Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, his manager at Walsall, Mat Sadler hailed the veteran forward for his role at the club.

“Happy birthday to him, he’s the youngest 38-year-old I know,” he said.

“He’s an amazing person and he had that chance where he flashed it across to Courtney. That’s the moments that were in the game, we just didn’t quite have that cutting edge at the final moment and sometimes that is understandable with the amount of games we’ve had recently. For now, we have to rest up, look after the lads for a few days and then go again in what has the makings of a very good game this Saturday now.”

Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, Joana Gyan Cudjoe

The Joana Gyan Cudjoe Teacher Initiative, led by the Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, Joana Gyan Cudjoe, has made a significant impact in the district, supporting 39 schools with a total enrollment of 8,829 pupils and 137 teachers.

The initiative has provided financial support to these schools, with a total amount of GH¢84,240 per month, translating to GH¢589,680 for 7 months.

The supported schools include Agyedum D/A, Obing Methodist Primary, Chichiso No.2 and many others, with each school receiving between GH¢8,400 and GH¢22,400 for 7 months, depending on the number of teachers and enrollment.

The initiative aims to promote education and support teachers in the district, recognizing the crucial role they play in shaping the next generation of leaders.

Joana Gyan Cudjoe’s efforts have been commendable and her commitment to education is expected to have a lasting impact on the community.

The name Kwaw Ansah is inseparable from the evolution of filmmaking in Ghana. For decades, he has stood as a towering reference point—not only within Ghana but across the African continent—helping to elevate African cinema to global recognition.

Few Ghanaians have shaped the film, advertising, and mass communication industries with such depth, consistency, and cultural conviction.

Known formally as Kwaw Panyintsir Ansah, he is Ghana’s ultimate benchmark in filmmaking and one of Africa’s most influential creative minds. Straddling film, culture, advertising, and mass communication, Ansah’s career represents a rare fusion of artistic excellence and cultural advocacy.

After returning to Ghana from his studies at London’s Regent Street Polytechnic (1961–1963) and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (1963–1965), Ansah embarked on a creative journey that would earn him the industry’s highest accolade—Living Legend. Everything he touched carried the mark of originality and excellence.

His early creative imprints include iconic textile designs such as “Abankaba” and landmark television commercials like “Signal”, which dominated Ghana’s advertising landscape from the 1960s through the 1970s while he worked with UAC (now Unilever).

Later, through his own agency, Target Saatchi & Saatchi, Ansah produced award-winning commercials including GOIL, Chocolate Spread, and The Lotto Agent.

His globally acclaimed “ABC” television commercial won the prestigious CLIO Award in 1989, making it the first African TV commercial to receive such recognition. In 2003, the Advertising Association of Ghana honoured him with its highest distinction, the Outstanding Personality Award.

It is, however, in filmmaking that Kwaw Ansah’s legacy is most firmly cemented. His masterpieces—Love Brewed in the African Pot, Heritage Africa and the documentary Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade defined Ghana’s film industry in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. These works remain the standard against which Ghanaian cinema is measured.

Love Brewed in the African Pot earned multiple international accolades, including:

Jury Prize for Best Director, FESPACO (1981)

Jury’s Special Silver Peacock Award, 8th International Film Festival of India (1981)

OAU Film Prize, the African Union’s first film award

Order of the Nation of Burkina Faso for Arts and Culture (1995)

His subsequent film, Heritage Africa, achieved a historic milestone by winning the Yenenga Grand Prix at FESPACO (1989)—the first film from Anglophone Africa to do so. That same year, it was named Outstanding Film of the Year at the London Film Festival.

Recognizing its cultural significance, the Government of Ghana adopted the film as an official cultural screening for visiting Pan-African delegations.

In 1994, Ansah’s documentary Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade, produced for the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board and sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, won the UNESCO Film Award in France.

Over the years, he expanded his filmography with works such as Harvest at 17, The Golden Stool: Soul of the Asantes, and notable video-format classics including For the Love of AA, Papa Lasisi Bicycle, Suffering to Lose, and Praising the Lord Plus One.

Ansah’s contributions have attracted numerous honours, including the ACRAG Living Legend Award (1998), the Osagyefo Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts (2011), and the Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah African Genius Award (2014).

At the continental level, his election as Chairman of the Federation of African Film Makers (FEPACI) in 1995 affirmed Africa’s collective confidence in his vision to tell Africa’s story through cinema.

In 2017, as part of Ghana’s 60th Independence Anniversary, ACRAG again recognized him as a Living Legend.

His venture into broadcasting led to the establishment of TV Africa, widely regarded as the most culturally authentic Ghanaian television station, dedicated to African-centered content.

Perhaps his most enduring gift to the continent is the Bisa Aberwa Museum—a globally acclaimed cultural and tourism monument.

Celebrated for its architecture, collections, and immersive storytelling, it stands as Africa’s leading privately owned museum and won the 2024 Best Visitor Attraction of the Year at both regional and national levels during the National Tourism Awards.

Beyond creative production, Ansah served the nation in public institutions, including as a founding and longest-serving board member of the Ghana Media Commission, the National Commission on Culture, and the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana.

At 85, Kwaw Ansah takes his greatest pride not in the roomful of trophies amassed over six decades, but in laying them symbolically at the feet of Mother Africa, from whom he draws his inspiration and to whom he dedicates his life’s work.

In recognition of this extraordinary legacy, La Foundation for the Arts (LAFA) proudly presents the LAFA Heritage Honours 2025, celebrating Kwaw Ansah’s pioneering contributions to Ghana’s arts and film industry.

The event, held in partnership with UNESCO, underscores Ghana’s growing prominence in global conversations on heritage, creativity, and cultural memory.

The celebration will feature a Heritage Red Carpet Experience and a curated Kwaw Ansah Exhibition, showcasing film posters, scripts, personal artifacts and rare behind-the-scenes photographs that chronicle his creative journey.

The event takes place on Friday, 19th December 2025, at 6:00 pm prompt, at LAFA Exhibition Space, 144 La Road, Accra.

The Vice President called on all Ministries to champion the implementation of decentralisation

The Government of Ghana, through the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) Secretariat, on December 10, 2025, convened the maiden meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on Decentralisation at Adu Lodge, Castle Drive, Accra, under the chairmanship of the Vice President, Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.

The meeting brought together Ministers, Institutional Heads and key stakeholders mandated under the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) to steer the country’s decentralisation reforms.

In her keynote address, the Vice President stressed the Government’s unrelenting commitment to placing decentralisation at the heart of national development and accountable governance.

She highlighted the urgent need to complete administrative and functional devolution in critical sectors such as Health, Education and Roads, noting that the credibility of Ghana’s decentralisation programme depends on progress in these areas.

The meeting deliberated on three key objectives: 1. Reactivation and operationalisation of the IMCC as the highest national platform for inter-ministerial coordination of decentralisation.

2. Consideration and endorsement of the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategy (2026–2030), which outlines reforms across thematic areas: Political, Administrative, Fiscal Planning; Local Economic Development; and Popular Participation and Accountability.

3. Policy direction on critical coordination matters, including predictable financing for the IMCC Secretariat, sectoral alignment, and legislative reforms.

The Vice President called on all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, especially the Ministry of Finance, to champion the implementation of decentralisation reforms within their mandates, stressing that a coherent and purposeful Government stance is vital for attracting Development Partner support and to ensure that funds follow functions.

The meeting featured presentations on the NDPS, Fiscal Decentralisation, Local Economic Development and ongoing legislative reforms, as well as discussions on ministerial realignment for effective local governance.

The IMCC agreed to focus on the Decentralisation of the Education, Health and Road Sectors and to ensure that they are achieved within the first year of the NDPS plan period. In the view of the IMCC, decentralisation must benefit the people of Ghana; therefore, the committee remains committed to ensuring that decentralisation becomes a catalyst for improved service delivery, local democracy and inclusive national development.

Members of the IMCC present at the meeting were the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Head of the Local Government Service, Prof Lord Mensah, the Head of the Civil Service, Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh and the Chairperson of the National Development Planning Commission, Dr Nii Moi Thompson.

Also in attendance were Technical Committee members made up of all Chief Directors of the member institutions, while the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, were represented by their Chief Directors.

Present as well were the Chief of Staff at the Office of the Vice-President, Alex Segbefia, the Oversight Consultant on the Policy, Prof Kwamena Ahwoi and the Lead Consultant, Dr Esther Ofei Aboagye.

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A remarkable, chaotic, mesmerising Premier League thriller at Old Trafford captured the imagination even of the clinical operators in the dugout.

“Really difficult to explain,” said Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. “But I prefer 4-4 to 0-0.”

“Fun,” was Manchester United counterpart Ruben Amorim’s initial observation.

Analysing for Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher went further.

“The best game of the Premier League season so far,” said the former England and Liverpool defender. “It was almost a throwback to Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United with attacking football.

“It is the best I have seen Man Utd. For the majority of the game, they were absolutely fantastic.

“For the first time under Amorim – and first time in a long time – I felt like I was watching what Man Utd are supposed to be. Wave after wave attack, but the inability to defend has hurt them.”

For the record, Ferguson took charge of two games when United scored four and didn’t win.

The first was a significant factor in his side’s failure to win the 2012 title as United threw away a 4-2 lead and drew 4-4 with Everton at Old Trafford.

The other was Ferguson’s very last match, an extraordinary 5-5 draw at West Brom in 2013.

Amorim has a very long road ahead before he can be compared to Ferguson.

But at least, on a night when his side led twice in the first half, then fought back to get their noses in front again after conceding two in a matter of minutes at the start of the second, and finally had to settle for a point as Bournemouth finished the stronger, he understood what everyone had witnessed.

In a vibrant first half, the hosts’ had the highest non-penalty xG value (2.49), most shots (17) and joint-most touches in the opposition’s box (30) of any side in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League match this season.

“If you understand a little bit,” Amorim said. “If you follow the club like I follow the Premier League for so long, you [know you] have not just the duty to try to win the games. The way you try to win the games is so important for the fans.

“Of course they are desperate to win, but also, I feel that they are desperate to be inspired when they come to Old Trafford.

“Today was inspiring, I think, also because of Bournemouth. But in the end that’s the feeling of frustration of not winning the game.”

Manchester United and Bournemouth produced a Premier League classic at Old Trafford as both sides led and had to come from behind before settling for a point from an eight-goal thriller.

United’s 2-1 half-time lead evaporated within seven minutes of the restart as Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier struck.

But Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick and Matheus Cunha’s effort within two minutes of each other turned the contest on its head a second time, only for 19-year-old Eli Junior Kroupi to drive home an equaliser six minutes from time to earn Bournemouth a point from a breathless game.

Amid the chaos, it was almost forgotten that Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim had tweaked his favoured five-man defence and been rewarded for pushing Amad Diallo into a more advanced position with the Ivorian heading home from close range after 13 minutes.

The goal came after United had hit the visitors with a blistering start – six shots in the opening 10 minutes being their most so quickly in a Premier League game since October 2022.

As it turned out, it was the prelude to a remarkable contest.

Between them, the two sides had 38 shots. Casemiro picked up a booking that rules him out of Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa. The last significant threats on goal were two stoppage-time efforts from David Brooks that needed reaction saves from Senne Lammens to prevent Bournemouth from clinching victory.

The result cost United a top-five spot, while 13th-placed Bournemouth have now gone seven games without a win.

Man Utd analysis: Formation change from Amorim

Rarely can any formation have been debated quite as much as Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.

The former Sporting manager has continually defended the system that brought him such success in Portugal. At one point, he even declared the Pope could not persuade him to change it.

Lately, though, Amorim’s words have softened to a claim he would change if he felt it was the right thing to do.

This was the night.

It was not ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’ stuff until the final 20 minutes, when Lisandro Martinez came on, and Diogo Dalot went to right-back.

But initially, Amad did not track back as often, and when he did, the Ivory Coast man, who, like Bryan Mbeumo, but not Noussair Mazraoui, was allowed to play so soon before the Africa Cup of Nations, tucked inside Leny Yoro rather than out.

He marked the occasion with a headed goal from close range, and when Casemiro’s tame effort was pushed into his own net by Djordje Petrovic, the home fans responded with a reception at the end of the half as enthusiastic as any at this ground this season.

Little did they know what was to follow.

Bournemouth analysis: Cherries have last word

Bournemouth won 3-0 on their past two visits to Old Trafford.

In all probability, if Cherries’ boss Andoni Iraola had been offered another three goals, he would have taken them, assuming it would be the pathway to another victory and the end of his side’s winless streak.

There was something too easy about how they seized the initiative.

Dalot was lying on the ground clutching his mouth after a collision when Tavernier played a superb pass through to Evanilson for the Brazilian to equalise.

Tavernier then exploited some weak goalkeeping from Lammens to put Bournemouth in front.

United had already profited from some poor keeping by Petrovic when the former Chelsea man palmed Casemiro’s tame first-half header into his goal. Petrovic could do nothing to prevent Bruno Fernandes following Tavernier’s lead by curling his own free-kick home for the equaliser.

With the home fans baying for more, Cunha provided it with a calm finish.

It seemed certain to be the winner – but Bournemouth were not done.

Kroupi’s final flourish ensured they exceeded their previous scoring efforts here, but without gaining the same reward.

It led to a mixture of relief and frustration for both sides at the final whistle as players fell to their knees in exhaustion.

What’s next for these teams?

Manchester United’s next Premier League game is at Aston Villa on Sunday, 21 December (16:30 GMT).

Bournemouth are next in action at home to Burnley on Saturday, 20 December (15:00).

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

There were plenty of thrills and spills as Manchester United and Bournemouth played out an entertaining 4-4 draw at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Monday.

United dominated early and it was Amad Diallo who opened the scoring in his final match before the Africa Cup of Nations.

Antoine Semenyo levelled for the visitors in the 40th minute but Casemiro had Old Trafford rocking as his downward header restored United’s lead in first-half stoppage time.

Manchester United reaction:

Ruben Amorim explains where Manchester United fell short in ‘fun’ Bournemouth draw

Watch: Bruno Fernandes fumes as Man United lose lead twice in Bournemouth draw

Kobbie Mainoo’s brother wears ‘Free Mainoo’ T-shirt in dig at Ruben Amorim

Bournemouth capitalised on a wild opening seven minutes in the second period with goals from Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier turning the match on its head.

Bruno Fernandes then levelled the match at 3-3 in the 77th minute with a beautiful free-kick that found the top right-hand corner. Two minutes later, United were celebrating again as Matheus Cunha pounced on a Bournemouth deflection to score in front of the Stretford End.

But there was still time for Andoni Iraola’s Cherries to spoil the party as substitute Junior Kroupi struck a superb equaliser in the 84th minute to cap one of Old Trafford’s most chaotic matches ever.

You can read full match reports below.

Monday’s Match Report:

Sunday’s Match Reports:

Saturday’s Match Reports:

Player of Matchweek 15: Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has been voted Player of the Matchweek for a second time this season.

The United talisman had picked up the honour in Matchweek 13 and he followed that up with the award again following his Matchweek 15 display.

Fernandes scored two goals and assisted another as United stormed to a 4-1 win at Wolves to move back in contention for the European places.

The United captain picked up 50 per cent of the fan vote in Matchweek 15, while his closest challenger was Manchester City midfielder Rayan Cherki, who received 14 per cent.

The other six nominees were Anton Stach (10 per cent), Phil Foden (nine per cent), Xavi Simons (seven per cent), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (six per cent) Boubacar Kamara (three per cent) and Adam Wharton (one per cent).

What happened in Matchweek 15?

Player of Matchweek 14: Gabriel Gudmundsson

Leeds United defender Gabriel Gudmundsson has been recognised for his sterling contribution to the club’s impressive 3-1 win over Chelsea in Matchweek 14.

The Swedish international was named Premier League Player of the Matchweek for his efforts in an official fan poll.

Gudmundsson (20 per cent) edged Arsenal’s Mikel Merino (19 per cent) for the top honour while Man City’s Phil Foden (18 per cent) finished third in a tight vote.

The other nominees were Spurs’ Cristian Romero (12 per cent), Sunderland’s Reinildo Mandava (11 per cent), Fulham’s Samuel Chukwueze (10 per cent), Man City’s Erling Haaland (seven per cent) and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (three per cent).

What happened in Matchweek 14?

Player of Matchweek 13: Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was named Premier League Player of the Matchweek for round 13, late on Tuesday (2 Dec).

The United talisman secured 32 per cent of the vote in the official fan poll, pipping Chelsea defender Reece James (30 per cent) for the honour in Matchweek 13.

Fernandes played an instrumental role in United’s 2-1 comeback win at Crystal Palace, providing assists for both goals. The Portuguese now has 56 Premier League assists – only Ryan Giggs (162), Wayne Rooney (93) and David Beckham (80) have more in the league for the Old Trafford outfit.

The other six nominees in Matchweek 13 fan poll were Phil Foden (16 per cent), Malick Thiaw (seven per cent), Enzo Le Fee (six per cent), Igor Thiago (five per cent), Emiliano Martinez (three per cent) and Kenny Tete (one per cent).

What happened in Matchweek 13?

December: Key Premier League fixtures

Player of Matchweek 12: Eberechi Eze

Eberechi Eze was the standout performer in Premier League Matchweek 12, according to an official fan poll.

The midfielder produced a masterful display as he netted his first hat-trick in his north London debut to fire Arsenal to a convincing 4-1 win over Spurs.

The 27-year-old’s stunning performance saw him pick up an overwhelming 61 per cent of the Premier League fan vote for Matchweek 12 while Eze’s closest competitor was Nottingham Forest defender Murillo who had only 11 per cent in comparison.

The other six nominees were Jordan Pickford (nine per cent), Andrey Santos (six per cent), Harvey Barnes, Alphonse Areola and Morgan Rogers (all four per cent), and Yeremy Pino (one per cent).

Arsenal’s north London derby win puts them six points clear of Chelsea at the top of the table with the final round of November fixtures set for this weekend before the busy December period begins.

What happened in Matchweek 12?

Player of Matchweek 11: Jeremy Doku

Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku was the best player in Matchweek 11. Just ask Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley who suffered a torrid time against the Belgium international during City’s 3-0 win over the Reds at the Etihad.

Doku’s dazzling dribbling and fine solo goal saw him voted Player of the Matchweek in the latest official Premier League poll.

The 23-year-old picked up 40 per cent of the vote while his closest challengers were some way back with Sunderland’s Dan Ballard securing 21 per cent, and Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho getting 20 per cent.

The other five nominees were Emiliano Buendia and Igor Thiago (both five per cent), Tomas Soucek (four per cent), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (three per cent) and Omari Hutchinson (two per cent).

What happened in Matchweek 11?

Player of Matchweek 10: Moises Caicedo

Chelsea’s influential midfielder Moises Caicedo has been named Player of the Matchweek for Premier League round 10.

The Ecuadorian topped the official Premier League fan poll for his dominant display in Chelsea’s 1-0 win at London rivals Tottenham last weekend.

“Caicedo delivered a trademark powerhouse performance,” wrote the Premier League. “He made two tackles and four interceptions, along with seven ball recoveries, with two of those interventions coming in one amazing sequence as he dispossessed both Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven and set up Joao Pedro to score the winning goal.”

The Chelsea star picked up 30 per cent of the vote but was closely followed behind by prolific Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who garnered 23 per cent of the vote following his brace against Bournemouth.

The six other nominees for Matchweek 10 included Declan Rice (16 per cent), Freddie Potts (14 per cent), Dominik Szoboszlai (12 per cent), Diego Gomez and Ryan Sessegnon (both two per cent), as well as Jefferson Lerma (one per cent).

Caicedo also won this award earlier in the season in Matchweek 7.

What happened in Matchweek 10?

Player of Matchweek 9: Bryan Mbeumo

Manchester United’s summer signing Bryan Mbeumo was finally recognised by fans for his strong start to life at Old Trafford.

Mbeumo found the back of the net twice to inspire United to a 4-2 win over bogey team Brighton last weekend.

For his heroics, the former Brentford star was named Player of Matchweek 9 in the official Premier League fan poll. He is the second straight Man United player to win the award following Harry Maguire’s efforts against Liverpool in Matchweek 8.

Mbeumo’s electric play was crucial to United picking up a third consecutive victory, and this was reflected in the poll where he took 45 per cent of the vote. His closest challenger was Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven (27 per cent).

The other six nominees were Eberechi Eze (10 per cent), Brenden Aaronson (six per cent), Amadou Onana and Granit Xhaka (both four per cent), as well as Zian Flemming and Michael Kayode (both two per cent).

What happened in Matchweek 9?

Player of Matchweek 8: Harry Maguire

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been recognised by fans for his heroics against Premier League rivals Liverpool.

The England defender was a towering presence at the back as he kept the partnership of Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak in check while also popping up with the decisive goal for United’s 2-1 win at Anfield last weekend.

Maguire was named the best player in the Premier League for Matchweek 8 following an official fan poll this week.

Maguire easily took the award with 42 per cent of the vote after his 84th-minute header secured a first Man United victory at Anfield since January 2016.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who scored twice in a 2-0 win over Everton at the Etihad, was second in the poll with 14 per cent.

Crystal Palace’s hat-trick hero against Bournemouth, Jean-Philippe Mateta was third on the list with 12 per cent while Bukayo Saka received 11 per cent of the vote for inspiring Premier League leaders Arsenal to a 1-0 win at Fulham.

The rest of the nominations were Reece James (10 per cent), Nordi Mukiele (seven per cent), Pedro Neto (three per cent) and Junior Kroupi (one per cent).

What happened in Matchweek 8?

Player of Matchweek 7: Moises Caicedo

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo beat Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo to be named the best player in the Premier League for Matchweek 7.

The Ecuadorian topped the fan poll with 31 per cent of the vote following his long range rocket to open the scoring in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Semenyo finished second in the official polling after garnering 22 per cent of the votes for his brace in Bournemouth’s 3-1 win at home against Fulham.

The other nominations were Declan Rice (15 per cent), Benjamin Sesko (14 per cent), Mohammed Kudus (eight per cent), Jack Grealish (four per cent), Bruno Guimaraes and Donyell Malen (both three per cent).

What happened in Matchweek 7?

Player of Matchweek 6: Erling Haaland

Manchester City goal-machine Erling Haaland was voted the best player from Premier League matchweek 6.

The Norwegian struck a late brace to cap a 5-1 win for Pep Guardiola’s side at home against Burnley. Haaland’s goals also made him the most prolific Norwegian in Premier League history, with 93 goals which is two ahead of Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Haaland – with 30 per cent of the fan vote – beat Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice (21 per cent) for the top honour in the official Premier League fan poll.

The other nominees were Sean Longstaff (17 per cent), Robin Roefs (10 per cent), Igor Thiago (eight per cent), Daichi Kamada and Danny Welbeck (both five per cent), and Emiliano Buendia (four per cent).

What happened in Matchweek 6?

Player of Matchweek 5: Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool star Ryan Gravenberch has been named the best player from Matchweek 5 following an official poll by the Premier League.

The Dutch midfielder scored Liverpool’s opener in the Merseyside derby before setting up Hugo Ekitike to secure a hard-fought 2-1 win over Everton at Anfield.

Gravenberch’s efforts landed him 31 per cent of the vote in the Premier League fan poll while his closest challenger was Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes who got 20 per cent of the vote for his role in the Old Trafford victory against Chelsea.

The other nominees were Anton Stach (16 per cent), Jeremy Doku and Nordi Mukiele (both 11 per cent), Alex Iwobi (six per cent), Martin Dubravka (four per cent) and Tyrick Mitchell (one per cent).

Gravenberch is the second Liverpool player to get the nod in this award after Dominik Szoboszlai topped the poll for Matchweek 3.

What happened in Matchweek 5?

Player of Matchweek 4: Lucas Bergvall

Tottenham made it a hat-trick of players named Player of the Matchweek this season after Lucas Bergvall joined team-mates Richarlison and Joao Palhinha in topping the official Premier League poll.

The 19-year-old midfielder was voted Premier League Player of Matchweek 4 following his goal for Spurs in the comfortable 3-0 win at West Ham United.

Bergvall picked up 27 per cent of the vote which put him just ahead of Arsenal’s two-goal hero Martin Zubimendi. Manchester City star Erling Haaland, fresh from his exploits in the Manchester derby, was third with 23 per cent of the vote.

The other nominees were Moises Caicedo (eight per cent), Robin Roefs and Antoine Semenyo (both six per cent), Nick Woltemade (four per cent) and Emiliano Martinez (one per cent).

What happened in Matchweek 4?

Who are the biggest transfers between EPL clubs?

With the international break upon us, the Premier League has decided to pay homage to Alexander Isak’s record move from Newcastle United to Liverpool by compiling a list of the biggest transfers between EPL clubs.

We’ve picked five of the more juicier and older mentions from the Premier League’s list, and included a one-line description to help jog your memory.

• Fernando Torres (Liverpool to Chelsea, Jan 2011): Scored THAT Champions League goal.

• Ashley Cole (Arsenal to Chelsea, Aug 2006): Simply England’s greatest ever left-back.

• Robin van Persie (Arsenal to Man Utd, Aug 2012): The little boy who made his title dream come true.

• Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal to Man City, July 2009): Who can forget that knee slide?

• Sol Campbell (Spurs to Arsenal, July 2001): Still the most controversial ever?

You can read the full list as well as details of the transfers in the Premier League’s article, here.

Player of Matchweek 3: Dominik Szoboszlai

Premier League fans have acknowledged the brilliance of Dominik Szoboszlai in Liverpool’s vital 1-0 win against Arsenal in Matchweek 3. The Hungarian topped the Premier League’s official fan poll to be named the best player from round three action.

Szoboszlai, who scored Liverpool’s winner from a delightful free-kick, received 37 per cent of the vote while his closest challenger was Chelsea’s Joao Pedro with 18 per cent.

The other nominees included Everton’s new star Jack Grealish (16 per cent), Manchester United summer signing Bryan Mbeumo (13 per cent), Crystal Palace defensive rock Marc Guehi (6 per cent), Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fee (6 per cent), West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen (3 per cent) and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi (1 per cent).

What happened in Matchweek 3?

Player of Matchweek 2: Joao Palhinha

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Joao Palhinha has been voted the Premier League Player of the Matchweek for Matchweek 2. The summer loan signing from Bayern Munich follows in the footsteps of his new Spurs team-mate Richarlison who won the honour for Matchweek 1.

Palhinha secured 33 per cent of the vote in the official Premier League poll which put him ahead of Liverpool’s 16-year-old sensation Rio Ngumoha, who received 22 per cent.

Palhinha won more duels and made more tackles than any Spurs player in their impressive 2-0 win at Manchester City last weekend. He also capped the fine performance with the second goal in the victory over the Premier League title contenders.

The other six nominees in the Premier League poll for Matchweek 2 were Jurrien Timber (17 per cent), Joao Pedro (12 per cent), Viktor Gyokeres (eight per cent), Jack Grealish (six per cent), Jaidon Anthony and Dango Ouattara (both 1 per cent).

Premier League: What happened in Matchweek 2?

Player of Matchweek 1: Richarlison

Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison was voted the best player from the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League season, according to an official fan poll.

The Brazilian’s two goals – including a spectacular scissor-kick – helped Spurs to a 3-0 win over Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Results from the Premier League’s fan poll for Matchweek 1 had Richarlison top with 27 per cent of the votes, followed by Sunderland’s Dan Ballard (20%), Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders (18%), Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike (12%), Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo (9%), Arsenal’s David Raya (6%), Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (5%) and Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood (3%).

Premier League: What happened in Matchweek 1?

Mohamed Salah wins PFA Players’ Player of the Year for 2024-25

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah was voted the 2024-25 Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year. The 33-year-old Egyptian is the first player to win the prestigious award, which is voted by his peers, three times.

Salah was a worthy winner, after scoring 29 goals and creating 18 assists to lead Liverpool to the 2024-25 Premier League title.

“I look at myself now, a guy coming from Egypt and making it to the top level, making history today, it’s something that makes me so proud,” Salah said as he was presented with the award.

He previously won the award for the 2017-18 and 2021-22 Premier League campaigns.

What happened in the FA Community Shield?

Dean Henderson was the hero as he saved multiple Liverpool penalties to lift Crystal Palace to a shootout win in the 2025 FA Community Shield at Wembley on 10 August.

Palace fought back twice against Liverpool to force a 2-2 draw and send the match to penalties where Henderson kept out spot-kicks from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott.

Justin Devenny then wrapped up a 3-2 victory for the Eagles in the penalty shootout.

Before kick-off, tributes were paid to former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, following their deaths in a tragic car crash in Spain last month.

However, the minute’s silence was cut short after a small number of Palace fans were heard shouting during the ceremony.

Who won the Premier League last season?

The 2024-25 Premier League season was one to savour for the red half of Merseyside as Liverpool were crowned champions. The Reds clinched a record-equalling 20th top flight title – but only their second in the Premier League era – with a convincing 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield back in April.

Liverpool’s success was a dream debut campaign for coach Arne Slot who replaced the legendary German Jurgen Klopp at the helm. Liverpool’s only other Premier League title win came in 2019-20 under Klopp during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Which Premier League teams are playing in Europe this season?

A record nine top-flight clubs qualified for UEFA competitions for the 2025-26 campaign.

Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham will be playing in the Champions League next season.

Aston Villa and Crystal Palace qualified for the Europa League, while Nottingham Forest will be playing in the Conference League.

However, Palace were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League on 11 July due to club ownership issues raised by UEFA.

Separately, fans have been warned by the Premier League that this season fixtures could be moved at “relatively short notice” because of the number of English teams playing in Europe.

Who are the new teams in the Premier League?

• Leeds United: Secured automatic promotion as winners of the 2024-25 Championship season.

• Burnley: Secured automatic promotion as runners up of the 2024-25 Championship season.

• Sunderland: Promoted to Premier League after winning the 2024-25 Championship play-off final.

Are there any new Premier League rules this season?

Yes. There’s a number of a key law changes for the Premier League this season. You can read the full list and explanations outlined by the English Football Association (FA), here.

Below are some of the key changes fans will likely pay more attention to:

Law 3 – The Players

• Only captains will be allowed to talk to referees about key decisions.

Law 5 – The Referee

• Goalkeepers will now concede a corner if they hold onto the ball for more than eight seconds.

Video assistant referee (VAR) protocol

• Competitions have the option for the referee to make an announcement after a VAR ‘review’ or lengthy VAR ‘check’.

The VAR explanation is sure to generate lots of media headlines and social media debates. Buckle up.

What happened in pre-season?

Fans in Singapore were able to witness Premier League teams live in action during pre-season with both Arsenal and Newcastle United participating in this year’s Singapore Festival of Football – a five-year partnership between promoters TEG Sport and the Singapore Tourism Board.

Manchester City and Chelsea, who both participated in the Club World Cup, have just begun their pre-season after a short break.

Here’s a look at latest pre-season results from selected Premier League clubs:

Arsenal

Chelsea

Liverpool

Manchester City

Manchester United

Newcastle United

Tottenham Hotspur

The Germany national team are kicking off preparations for the 2026 World Cup next summer, and another opponent along that path has been revealed. Germany will be playing Ghana in their second friendly of the March international break.

“We are really looking forward to the match against Otto Addo’s team,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann. “Their strong counter-attacking game can give us a taste of what to expect in the World Cup group stage match against Ivory Coast.”

Ghana have qualified for a second consecutive World Cup. They finished bottom of their group in 2022 behind Portugal, South Korea, and Uruguay. However, they are not a side to be trifled with, as they gave all three of their opponents some major problems, even beating the Koreans. This time, Ghana have been drawn with England, Croatia, and Panama.

Germany played Ghana in two successive World Cups in 2010 and 2014. Curiously, they were the only side that Germany did not defeat on the road to the title in 2014. Goals from Mario Götze and Miroslav Klose earned the eventual world champions a 2-2 draw.

As Nagelsmann mentioned, this match is most likely a warm-up for Germany’s group game against Ivory Coast, whom they play in the second match. The friendly will be played in Stuttgart on the 30th of March.

Patrick Agyemang scored twice to drive Derby County to a clear 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Monday night.

The American-Ghanaian striker struck in the 32nd and 62nd minutes, setting the tone for a confident Championship display and giving the travelling fans plenty to cheer.

Derby started with intent and Agyemang led the line with energy and strength. He opened the scoring with a calm left foot finish after Bobby Clark picked him out inside the box. The forward stayed lively, drawing three fouls and battling through heavy pressure even while losing several duels.

After the break, Liam Thompson doubled the lead from close range following a set piece. Agyemang then sealed the result with a sharp right foot strike from the centre of the area, finishing a move that showed Derby’s control.

Sheffield Wednesday enjoyed more of the ball but created little threat. Derby were clinical, posting higher threat and more shots. Agyemang left the pitch late on to applause. Derby now prepare for Portsmouth on December 20.

Canadian language experts are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to ditch British spelling in official documents and utilise Canadian spelling instead.

Canadian English has been the standard in government communications for decades. But eagle-eyed linguists and editors have spotted British spellings — like “globalisation” and “catalyse” — in documents from the Carney government, including the budget.

In an open letter, they asked Carney to stick to Canadian English, writing that it is “a matter of our national history, identity and pride”.

They note that Canadian English is unique because it borrows influence from both the US and the UK due to geography and history.

It also includes “Canadianisms” that are unique to the country’s lexicon, like the use of the word “toque” to describe a winter hat, or “washroom” instead of the American bathroom or the British loo.

A big distinction between Canadian and British spelling is the use of the letter ‘z’ versus ‘s’ in words like analyse. But Canadian English takes from British English in other ways, like using ‘ou’ in colour, rather than the American ‘color’.

Other British terms, however, are never used, like tyre for ‘tire’.

In the letter, dated 11 December and shared with BBC News, the linguists wrote that Canadian English is recognised and widely used in Canada, arguing that “if governments start to use other systems for spelling, this could lead to confusion about which spelling is Canadian.”

They add that using Canadian English is “the simplest way to take an ‘elbows up’ stance”, referencing an ice hockey term that Carney has used to describe Canada’s defiance in the face of US tariffs and 51st state jabs from President Donald Trump.

The letter was sent by Editors Canada and signed by four professors of linguistics at various Canadian universities, along with the editor-in-chief of the Canadian English Dictionary.

The BBC has reached out to Carney’s office for comment.

One of the signatories, Professor Stefan Dollinger at the University of British Columbia, said he and others feel strongly about the issue “because language expresses identity”.

“It seems kind of counter-productive that the Prime Minister’s Office would now walk the clock back by half-a-century or more,” Prof Dollinger told the BBC, noting how Canada’s language has evolved from its past as a British colony.

There were at least two notable uses of British English by Carney’s office, said Kaitlin Littlechild, president of Editors Canada.

The first was the Carney government’s budget, released in November. The second is an October news release from the prime minister’s office after a working visit to Washington, DC, where Carney met Trump.

Ms Littlechild said it is difficult to decipher whether it is a “misunderstanding” or a “targeted directive”.

JK Chambers, a prominent Canadian linguist at the University of Toronto and another signatory, noted that Carney spent many years of his adult life in the UK, including seven years as governor of the Bank of England.

“He obviously picked up some pretensions while he was there,” Prof Chambers said via email, but added: “So far, bless him, he has not resorted to ‘gaol’ for ‘jail.'”

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.

It is the latest in a wave of kidnappings blamed on armed gangs (file photo)

Armed men have kidnapped at least 13 people from a church in Nigeria’s central Kogi state – the second such attack in as many weeks.

The attackers stormed into Evangelical Church Winning All in the mainly rural farming district of Aaaaz-Kiri during Sunday morning service, opening fire and then abducting some of the congregants.

Five of the gunmen were killed, according to Kogi state’s information commissioner, Kingley Fanwo, but he said others managed to escape despite being wounded.

Officials describe the assailants as “bandits” – a term used locally for criminal gangs who typically kidnap people for ransom.

Only two weeks ago, gunmen raided a church in the nearby town of Ejiba, kidnapping a pastor, his wife and several church members.

They are still being held, despite efforts by security agencies to secure their release, local residents say.

“The security onslaught in neighbouring Niger and Kwara states is pushing the bandits more towards Kogi state,” Fanwo told the BBC.

These latest incidents underline Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, particularly in parts of the north-western and central regions, where armed criminal gangs have carried out a wave of mass abductions, attacks on villages, and assaults on places of worship in recent weeks.

The biggest of these saw more than 250 children and 12 members of staff reportedly kidnapped from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger state, at the end of November.

The Nigerian government had claimed that jihadist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) were to blame in most cases, but this has been disputed by analysts who tell the BBC they were committed by criminal gangs.

In recent weeks, President Bola Tinubu has ordered security chiefs to step up intelligence-led operations to curb kidnappings and approved the deployment of extra troops and police to known hotspots.

Authorities also say joint military and police task forces have recorded successes in dismantling some armed groups. Yet the attacks continue largely unabated, especially in rural communities where security presence is thin and response times are slow.

A legal activist, Frank Quaye, has filed a formal petition with the Ministry of the Interior, demanding urgent action after the reported death of a detainee from starvation and assault in police custody, and calling for a permanent budgetary solution to feed all detainees nationwide.

The petition, dated December 12 and addressed to the Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, follows the death of 28-year-old Mr. Kweku at the Techimantia police station in the Ahafo Region.

Citing reports from Crime Check TV GH, the petition alleges Mr. Kweku died after being assaulted and denied food for at least a day, a case the document describes as a “stark symptom of a grave and systemic failure.”

Quaye’s petition makes two core demands: an independent investigation into the death and, more fundamentally, the immediate creation of a “specific, non-discretionary, and ring-fenced budgetary allocation” within the Ghana Police Service estimates to provide food for every person held in police cells.

He argues that the state’s current practice of relying on detainees’ families for food is unlawful and violates constitutional guarantees of human dignity under Article 15.

“The recurring excuse of ‘lack of resources’ is constitutionally indefensible when the fundamental right to life and dignity is violated,” Quaye states in the document.

He further warns that the absence of a dedicated budget line makes the state’s duty of care subject to the discretion of officers, a practice that “has now proven fatal.”

The activist calls on the Interior Minister to champion the budgetary change in the upcoming national budget and to engage the Police Council, whose mandate includes advising on police budgeting.

“The death of Mr. Kweku must be the final catalyst for systemic change,” the petition concludes.

Copies of the petition have been sent to the Presidency, the Finance Ministry, Parliament, the Police Council, CHRAJ, the IGP, and the Ghana Bar Association, seeking broad institutional pressure for reform.

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.

Mohamed Salah, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo highlight a number of Premier League stars hoping to lead their nations to continental glory as the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off this month in Morocco.

AFCON is a tournament that always catches the eye and ire of fans as it’s traditionally been held smack dab in the middle of the club season, and the 2025 tournament is no exception.

MORE — AFCON 2025: How to watch, schedule

There hasn’t been a repeat winner since Egypt completed a three-peat in 2010, as only Senegal have appeared in back-to-back finals (2019, 2021) during that time span.

There are also some juicy group match-ups, with Tunisia set to meet Nigeria in Group C, Senegal tangling with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group D,

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 groups, standings

The two top teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, as will four of the six third-placed teams.

Group A

1. Morocco
2. Mali
3. Zambia
4. Comoros

Group B

1. Egypt
2. South Africa
3. Angola
4. Zimbabwe

Group C

1. Nigeria
2. Tunisia
3. Uganda
4. Tanzania

Group D

1. Senegal
2. Democratic Republic of Congo
3. Benin
4. Botswana

Group E

1. Algeria
2. Burkina Faso
3. Equatorial Guinea
4. Sudan

Group F

1. Ivory Coast
2. Cameroon
3. Gabon
4. Mozambique