Day: February 17, 2022

Prolific highlife singer Nana Fynn has shared how he comes across his lyrics.

According to the ‘Odo Handkerchief’ hitmaker, he interestingly comes across his lyrics whenever he is naked and alone.

The songwriter who has been on a media tour over the last few days made this revelation during a recent interview on Accra-based television station TV XYZ.

He stated, “My lyrics come usually when I am alone or when I am naked which is when I am taking my shower because lately, I don’t know how my songs come to me.”

Born Nana Fynn Acquah Harrison, Nana hinted at how writing music has been always been a passion since childhood leading him to write a total of about 120 songs at the tender age of 10.

With a career that has spanned over a period of two decades, Nana Fynn has great songs like ‘Twe Woho, Dokodo, Magic, and several other smash hits.

Source: Modern Ghana

Controversial Dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah has sparked social media agitations after he is spotted kissing a gentleman believed to be his fan.

In the video, the self-acclaimed Dancehall King is seen kissing an unknown gentleman who appeared star-struck.

Shatta Wale is seen fastening what appeared to be a chain on the neck of the gentleman and plants a kiss afterward directly on his lips; the young man pulls Shatta closer again for a passionate hug.

This act has gotten several netizens bashing the Gringo hitmaker.

Whiles some accused him of being homosexual, others went just straight on to condemn his act as they believe it may be a bane on his career.

Shatta Wale has however on the other hand has rendered a rather savage to netizens.

Source: Modern Ghana

The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) said it has initiated a series of engagements with managements of companies developing structures along tributaries of the Chemu Lagoon to find proper ways to channel water inflow into it.

Officials of the Assembly led by Mr Yohane Amarh Ashitey, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive met with Sol Cement, Sentuo Oil, TDC Development Company Limited, and other industries located within the south-western part of Tema Manhean.

Mr Frank Asante, TMA Public Relations Officer disclosed to the Ghana News Agency that the development of structures by the companies around that part of the Metropolis had been identified as the contributory factor to the perennial flooding of the communities along the tributaries.

Mr Asante explained that there was the need to develop proper channels for rainwater to be carried through the tributaries to the Chemu and subsequently to the sea.

He said the TMA initiative was to bring together the companies and other stakeholders such as the Hydrological Services Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to come up with a solution ahead of the rainy season.

He added that apart from solving the flooding issue in the area, they also sought to restore the ecological life of the area.

Mr Asante also said residents of the area were also sensitized on the best environmental practices such as proper waste disposal and clearing of their drainages which sometimes also contributed to flooding in the area.

According to him, complaints of mosquito surge in the area due to the various construction works embarked on by the companies were also being addressed to ensure that residents do not contract malaria.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Rand Merchant Bank’s (RMB) International Debt Capital Markets (DCM) team assisted Bank of Industry (BOI), Nigeria’s largest, oldest, and most profitable Development Finance Institution (DFI) to issue a EUR700m Eurobond by way of 144A/RegS Senior Note Participation Notes, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

BOI, the first African National DFI to issue a public Eurobond, has a vision of transforming Nigeria’s industrial sector by providing financial and business advisory services for the establishment of large, medium, and small enterprises, as well as for the modernization of existing businesses.

BOI’s mandate is guided by Nigeria’s National Development Plan 2025 and Agenda 2050, which have the objective of lifting a hundred million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. The institution is tasked with providing financing for the development of micro, small and large enterprises.

This deal represents the institution’s first Eurobond, the provision of the sovereign’s first Eurobond guarantee, as well as the first Euro-denominated transaction from Nigeria, creating a benchmark for other prospective issuers from the region.

The five-year, Euro-denominated senior note instrument is guaranteed by the Federal Government of Nigeria and issued at a yield of 7.500%. BOI’s expectation was to raise up to EUR500m, but successfully raised EUR700m after 1.5 times oversubscribed order book comprising of high-quality buy-and-hold international investors.

The transaction was preceded by an extensive three-day global virtual roadshow, including a global investor call, primarily involving engagement with investors across the UK, Continental Europe, and the US.

The notes are to be listed on the London Stock Exchange and have ratings of B2 (Stable outlook) and B (Stable outlook) from rating agencies Moody’s and Fitch respectively.

RMB was appointed as global coordinator and active book-runner for the transaction alongside other banks, with RMB assisting the issuer to ensure that BOI’s unique credit story and the developmental impact were best articulated to a diverse global investor base.

Chidi Iwuchukwu, Head of Investment Banking, RMB West Africa said, “It is extremely satisfying to work closely with the Nigerian DFI to bring to fruition their developmental objectives to create jobs and enable growth and sustainability for businesses in different sectors of Nigeria’s economy. International issuance by West African clients has continued to grow and RMB is proud to have had the opportunity to assist an indigenous entity to access capital for growth, globally.”

The DCM Transactor at RMB, Suliyat Adeleke also stated, “As a DCM banker pursuing opportunities in Nigeria for a number of years, the success of the transaction is very fulfilling. Being Nigerian-British, I am ecstatic at the opportunity to be of service to one of my countries.

As a member of the Nigerian female youth in the diaspora, I am excited about this transaction and feel personally vested in BOI’s success, as empowerment of Nigerian Youths and Women is a core part of BOI’s developmental mandate. I am also proud of BOI’s efforts and wish the institution success in achieving its vision.”

As of November 2021, BOI has total assets of US$4.3bn and has a 60+ year developmental track record. The Institution supports projects with potential developmental impact and has supported circa three million enterprises and created seven million jobs since 2015. The Bank has also focused on emerging sectors that are typically underserved by other financial institutions such as the youth segment, female-owned businesses, renewable energy, and the entertainment industry.

Olukayode Pitan, Managing Director and Chief Executive at BOI, said the issuance is aligned with Agenda 2050 and Nigeria’s National Development Plan 2025: “BOI has been in operation for over 60 years with a significant understanding of the Nigerian banking sector. Our developmental mandate is guided by the National Development Plan 2025 and the primary drivers of our strategy are to provide lower interest rates, job/value creation, women & youth empowerment, and sustainability, to name a few.”

Commenting on the issue, Dominic Adu, CEO of First National Bank Ghana expressed his excitement about the issue. “The appointment of RMB to act as coordinators and book runners to run the first issue for Nigeria and arguably one of the biggest in Africa testifies to the confidence in the footprint of corporate business diversification and capabilities to meet the ongoing demand for quality corporate paper in the global capital market. It is evident that our consistent profitability and sound management are recognized”, he said.

Source: Ghana Web

Gomoa Obuasi (C/R),- The National Democratic Party (NDP) has urged government to establish a vocational skills training centre at the Gomoa Central Constituency in the Central Region to train the youth to be self-reliant.

Mr Frank Otchere Paintsil, the 2020 parliamentary candidate for the NDP in Gomoa West, said the youth were the future manpower and, therefore, needed to acquire vocational skills to help address youth unemployment.

Mr Paintsil made the call in an interview with Ghana News Agency at a durbar to commemorate the 2022 Akwambo Festival of the chiefs and people of Gomoa Obuasi at Gomoa Central.

He said the area was a farming community, which had about 70 farmers plying their trade with traditional tools to cater for their families, hence they were often not able to sponsor them to the tertiary level.

“This has contributed immensely to the high rate of youth unemployment, which is a bigger challenge in the constituency,” he said.

“If the youth have vocation, it means they will put their destiny in their own hands, rather than to be depending on others to survive. It will also deter them from migrating to the urban centres to chase non-existent white-collar jobs.”

Mr Painstil said government must, therefore, prioritise vocational training to develop the skills of the youth and lessen the burden on their parents and society.

He called for the implementation of mechanised farming to help farmers in gthe area expand their activities to contribute meaningfully towards development.

He commended the chiefs and people of Gomoa Obuasi for the successful celebration of the Akwambo Festival and prayed that they would continue to uphold the peace and cohesion to forge ahead in growth and development.

Source: Ghana News Agency

-The Winneba District Magistrate’s Court has sentenced one Ernest Ackom, a 33-year-old mason in Winneba to nine months imprisonment in hard labour for stealing an Infinix Hot 8, valued at GHc850.

00.

The convict pleaded guilty with explanation, but the court presided over by Mr John Kweku Josiah-Koffie sentenced him on his own plea.

Narrating the fact of the case to the Court, the Prosecutor, Detective Police Inspector Dorinda Azuma, said the complainant, Mr Godfred Sam, a taxi driver, resided at Dayawsaw and Ackom also lived at Flamengo, both suburbs of Winneba.

The prosecutor stated that on Thursday, November 18, 2021, at about 0830hrs, the convict together with his accomplices Comfort Eduafo aka Efua and Kofi aka “King-Size” hired the complaint’s taxi from Zoom-lion Junction to Low-Cost, both communities in Winneba.

On their arrival at Low-Cost, Ackom ordered the two accomplishes to alight and go behind an uncompleted building to bring out their working tools, the prosecutor said.

According to the prosecutor, after the two alighted, Ackom asked the complainant to give him his mobile phone to call their boss and the complainant gave his Infinix Hot 8 Phone valued at GHc850.00 to the convict, who took to his heels with the phone and entered a nearby bush.

A report was made at the Winneba Police Station and while the investigation was ongoing, Ackom was arrested at his hideout on Friday, January 7, for stealing a laptop and was sent to the Winneba police station, the Prosecutor stated.

Detective Police Inspector Azuma said on Tuesday, January 11, Mr Sam was invited to the police station where he identified the convict as the one who absconded with his Infinix phone last year.

The convict admitted the offence in his caution statement but mentioned ‘King-Size’ as the one who led him to sell the phone for GHc130.00 at Agona Swedru.

The prosecutor stated further that the convict led the police to ‘King-Size’s house but he could not be traced and to Agona Swedru, but the alleged buyer was also not found.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghanaian youngster, Felix Afena-Gyan has signed a deal with global sportswear giant, PUMA.

This was confirmed by his representative, Arthur Legacy. The deal was announced on Wednesday.

“Felix Afena Ohene-Gyan is the new member of the @PUMA family. Congratulations,” the agency tweeted.

The highly-rated teenager has made a massive impact in the Serie A since making his senior debut for Roma last October.

Afena-Gyan’s stock rose further after he netted a sensational double as Jose Mourinho’s team beat Genoa 2-0 in November.

His second goal came courtesy of his individual brilliance as he pounced on a loose ball before unleashing a curling effort from 35 yards that left the net bulging.

The goal was announced as the fans’ goal of the year at the Socios End of Year awards in December 2021.

Gyan was named in Ghana’s 2021 Afcon squad but rejected the call up to concentrate on his development at the club.

Source: Modern Ghana

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has applauded the hard work of world leaders, disability champions and caregivers, whose selfless efforts and compassion are helping to improve the welfare and well-being of persons with disabilities.

He noted that, however, despite recent gains, their work was far from done.

“We still have a lot more to do to achieve equality and social justice for persons with disabilities,” President Akufo-Addo stated in his address to the 2022 Global Disability Forum.

The virtual Forum on the theme: “Promoting Equality: Lasting Change for Persons With Disabilities Through Joint Action”, is being hosted by the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the Governments of Ghana and Norway.

The first Global Disability Summit, held in London in 2018, was truly a pacesetter, and succeeded in mobilising action and commitments to promote disability inclusive development and the rights of persons with disabilities.

President Akufo-Addo noted that the evidence was clear that much had been achieved since the 2018 Summit.

“Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed significant inequalities within nations. Persons with disabilities and other marginalised and vulnerable groups have, in many countries, been under-served in the provision of COVID-19 related health, social protection and financial services among others. This is not acceptable,” he said.

“We must, necessarily, be innovative and deliberate in our efforts to meet the diverse needs of the various population groups including persons with disabilities.”

He said marginalizing persons with disabilities comes at a great cost to economies and societies.

He noted that in 2009, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) cited the global annual GDP loss due to disability to be between 1.4 and 1.9 trillion US dollars.

“The economic cost, in today’s terms, will undeniably be several multiples of these figures.”

President Akufo-Addo said with some 82 per cent of persons with disabilities estimated to be living on less than a dollar a day, meaningfully including persons with disabilities in waged employment will, undoubtedly, help to break the cycle of poverty, bridge the inequality gap, and contribute to greater economic growth.

“But it cannot just be about economics. It has to be about inclusion, equality, and social justice. And, above all, it must be about our humanity. We must let our humanity manifest in our compassion and support for persons with disabilities,” he said.

The President said embracing disability inclusion would enhance access to a new talent pool for national development, and increase consumer markets for businesses and industry.

He said persons with disabilities must be given ample opportunities to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from development interventions; adding that it makes moral, ethical and economic sense to do so.

He said as the world strive to achieve the important Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mantra of Leaving No One Behind, they have an obligation to reach those furthest behind first; declaring that their needs must be prioritised and targeted, and they must be given the opportunity to engage actively in the process of defining and finding solutions to their needs.

“If we fail to do so, our quest to achieve the SDGs risks being compromised,” he said.

“We must tackle disability exclusion head-on, and do so with a sense of urgency, as we use this Summit to renew, with vigour, our commitment to a more inclusive, just and prosperous world for current and future generations.”

Source: Ghana News Agency