Day: May 12, 2022

Aston Villa have turned playmaker Philippe Coutinho’s loan move from Barcelona into a permanent deal for €20 million, the LaLiga club said on Thursday.

Barcelona said they had inserted a 50% sell-on clause for any future sale of Coutinho, who bagged four goals and three assists since initially signing for Villa on loan in January.

At Villa, Coutinho was reunited with former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, with the pair playing together at Anfield from 2013-15 and Gerrard now managing the Premier League team.

“This is a brilliant signing for Aston Villa. Phil is a model professional and his impact on the group has been very clear since he joined in January,” Gerrard said in a statement by Villa.

“With the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch, he’s also a valuable role model for our younger players who can only benefit from his experience.”

Brazil international Coutinho joined Barcelona in January 2018 for approximately £142 million but had not been able to establish himself in the first team at Camp Nou and he spent the 2019-20 season on loan at Bayern Munich.

Villa are 12th in the league and host Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Source: Modern Ghana

Harry Kane struck a double as Tottenham reignited the battle to finish in the top four with a convincing 3-0 victory at home to 10-man Arsenal.

The England striker coolly converted a spot kick awarded for Cédric Soares’ foul on Son Heung-Min to put the hosts in front on 22 minutes.

The Gunners’ evening then took a further turn for the worse when Rob Holding was given his marching orders for a second yellow card following another foul on Son just past the half hour.

Kane took full advantage of Arsenal’s disarray when he boosted his tally in North London derbies to 13 goals overall, tucking in a flick-on from a right-wing corner on 37 minutes.

Spurs were in complete control and they made sure it would be a long second period for their rivals when Son netted within a minute of the restart to claim his 21st league goal of the campaign.

The result means fifth-placed Spurs move to within a point of Arsenal in fourth spot, with just two matches to play.

Next up, Spurs host Burnley on Sunday while Arsenal visit Newcastle on Monday.

Source: Modern Ghana

Accra, May 12, GNA- The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has asked farmers to consider mechanisation as a way of addressing issues of food security.

The Ministry said challenges such as erratic rainfall, over-aged farming population, high demand for quality produce, would require the adoption of engineering technologies.

“Presently, there is recognition from stakeholders for the need to increase mechanisation right across the agriculture value chain, thus from land preparation, planting, crop maintenance through to harvesting and handling of produce,” Mr Patrick Ohene Aboagye, Deputy Director of Agric Engineering Services Directorate, said.

He was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, at the launch of the Massey Ferguson (MF) range of agricultural machinery product in Accra, held under the theme, “Born to Farm.”

The Minister said the need to increase agricultural productivity to feed increasing population led the government to embark on planting for food and jobs in 2017 to revive agriculture and make it a catalyst for economic development.

Despite the interventions, he said approximately 70 per cent of farmers in Ghana still operated at small scale level with basic traditional tools of farming, which contributed to about 65 per cent of agricultural output.

“It is estimated that about 8 million hectares of Ghana’s land are considered suitable for mechanised farming. However, due to limited availability and poor access to suitable farm power, less than 30 per cent of productive area is cultivated,” he said.

The Minister noted that factors such as poor after sale service, selection of wrong machinery for local terrain, limited skilled labour as well as poor management skill had in the past led to low output from mechanisation intervention, which had caused a dip in enthusiasm of international partners to champion mechanisation.

“Additionally, some articles gave an erroneous impression that mechanisation was not an economically viable venture” he added.

Dr Akoto said that the adoption of mechanisation approach would lead to the increase of more commercially viable farms and increased productivity of food crops, adding that, “it is our hope that people will embrace the concept of the need to farm, given the appropriate set of mechanisation input to contribute to food security and emergency preparedness.”

Mrs Kalysta Darko-O’kell, the Managing Director of Mechanical Lloyd PLC, which is the sole distributor of MF products in the country, said agriculture directly and indirectly impacted the lives of Ghanaians and was, “the reason the Company remains committed to providing world class products and services.”

On display at the launch were Massey Ferguson MF 2168 Rice Combine Harvester capable of harvesting rice under extreme conditions and MF 5700 Global series ideally suited for wide range of field work and transport.

The rest were other MF range of tractors that include MF 375 as well as harrows, ploughs, planters, sprayers, balers trailers, among others.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, May 12, GNA – The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the AFROCHELLA Team to strengthen the already existing conversation on promoting Ghana’s tourism potentials.

The MoU, under the directive of the Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, is also to allow the two institutions to collaborate and support each other to attract more tourists into the country annually, and work towards making Ghana the preferred destination in the world.

Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, the Tourism Minister, said through the MoU, the GTA and the AFROCHELLA Team would have a stronger conversation now and not limit tourism to fun and leisure but as an opportunity for trade and investment.

He said Ghana’s environment was safe for both local and international tourists to do business and invest, adding that they could take the opportunity to promote Ghana’s attractions from forts to castles, to beaches, parks among others.

He said the Ministry’s target was to bring in two million people into the country annually, and as such charged the team through their AFROCHELLA Festival to bring in more than 20,000 people into the country this year.

Dr Awal said, “Since the inception of the AFROCHELLA Festival six years ago, you have demonstrated a lot and we know that you can achieve this target. Our current image alone makes people want to come into the country, so support us with your network to bring in these people to have fun, leisure, do business and invest.”

“We must move as a country from our current state to the desired destination, and tourism is the key to getting Ghana to that destination.”

He pledged the Ministry and the GTA’s support to the team to achieving its target and making Ghana the preferred tourism destination.

The Minister later decorated and unveiled the team as tourism goodwill ambassadors to help promote Ghana’s tourism globally.

Mr Abdul Karim Mohammed Awal Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer, AFROCHELLA, said the festival was one that celebrated African culture as a whole and the signing of the MoU with the GTA was a further step to improving on its mandate.

He said the aim was to make Ghana one of the biggest gateways to Africa through their festival which had already drawn a lot of attention to the country, saying with the official support from government and the Ministry now, they hope to strengthen that bond and bring in more people and development to the country.

“This year our target is to have over 20,000 people come to the festival, so with this partnership and the Minister outdooring us as tourism ambassadors we are hopeful of achieving this target and even more by bringing more attention to the festival and Ghana as a whole.”

Mr Abdullah said in the diaspora people were looking forward for opportunities to come back home to invest and stay, adding the festival provided the right opportunity to get them into the country to trade and invest and improve the local economy.

He expressed appreciation to the GTA for the continuous support over the years and assured that this year’s festival which would be held for two days would drive into the country the right people to invest in the country’s economy.

Other members of the AFROCHELLA team include, Mr Ken Agyapong Jr, Mr Edward Asafu Adjaye Kobina, Vernell Akyeampong and Alvin Bekoe.

AFROCHELLA is a Ghana-based festival designed to highlight and elevate thrilling and thriving millennial talent from and within Africa. The festival features a festive celebration of Ghanaian culture in the form of art and fashion installations, live painting, the best of African cuisine, live performances, among others.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, May 12, GNA- The sixth meeting of the UK-Ghana Business Council (UKGBC) was held in London, UK, on Wednesday, 11 May, with delegations of both countries agreeing to work to sustain strategic partnerships.

This is geared towards enhancing economic development through the fostering of bilateral relationship that will create jobs, improve trade as well as investment opportunities.

The Council reaffirmed its commitment to give priority to six sectors, including agro-processing, extractives, garments/textiles, digitalisation, pharmaceuticals, and financial services.

It also intends to ensure that progress of bilateral partnership was framed around three key themes: infrastructure, domestic revenue mobilisation and ease of doing business.

This was in a communique issued at the end of the meeting co-chaired by the Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen, on behalf of Dr Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice President of Ghana, and the Minister of State for Trade Policy, Mr Penny Mordaunt, UK, and Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Vicky Ford of UK.

“Both countries welcomed the opportunity to hold the UKGBC in person after holding Council meetings virtually for two years. Honourable members recognised and marked the significant progress that the Council has made since the last meeting in June 2021” the statement noted.

They also welcomed the continued progress of the UK-Ghana Trade Partnership Agreement (TPA) and committed to working together to maximise the benefits of the Agreement for both countries.

The Council also acknowledged UK’s continuing support to Ghana’s infrastructure agenda with significant investment over the last two years in transportation, energy, water and healthcare.

It also noted the progress made by UK-Ghana partnerships in domestic revenue mobilisation and welcomed the UK’s support for Ghana’s pharmaceutical, garments and textiles and auto industries.

“Honourable members also celebrated the appointment of Mr Kwabena Asante-Poku as the first Ghana Country Director of British International Investment (Bll, formerly CDC), and happy with the investment opportunities the new role would bring to the table.

“It was also agreed that the next meeting of the UK-GBC would be held in Ghana in 2022” The communique stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, May 12, GNA -Mr Samuel Atuah, a defence lawyer for the second accused person in the case involving two teenagers standing trial over the alleged murder of a 10-year-old boy in Kasoa, has withdrawn his services to the accused.

Mr Atuah raised a concern and opted against representing Nicholas Kani, the second accused person, when the case was called on Wednesday.

He told the court that, he had conference with the accused persons and during the process , the first accused (a minor accused), 15 years, “seems to admit the offence while Kani, 18 years, denied same.”

The counsel said in view of that, and for the interest of the accused persons, “I will not be able to represent both of them but rather I have decided to represent only the first accussed whilst second accussed looks for another lawyer to represent him,” he said.

He, therefore, prayed the court to give directives in respect of his concerns.

Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, presiding over the court, agreed to the request.

The judge said before the concerns were raised by the lawyer, all was set for the jury to be empanelled.

“However, this case being a jury trial, I will have to adjourn and order legal aid to appoint a lawyer either externally or within to represent Kani,” Justice Osei Marfo said.

Just when the case was about to be adjourned, the court indicated that, a lawyer had been found for Kani.

The case has been adjourned to Thursday, May, 12, 2022 for the jury to be empanelled.

The teenager is standing trial with another minor for causing the death of Ishmael.

The two accused persons were committed by a Kaneshie District Court to stand trial at the High Court over the death of the 10-year-old boy who they allegedly lured into an uncompleted building and killed.

The two allegedly hit Ishmael’s head with a cement block several times and dropped his body in a shallow hole.

The two are facing charges of conspiracy and murder.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) says it incurred a net loss of 860 million dollars due to foreign exchange losses caused by the depreciation of the cedi.

The General Manager for Regulatory Management at ECG, Sylvia Noshie made this known on Citi TV’s Point of View.

“These IPPS send us invoices which we have to pay in dollars and the PURC dollar rate still remains at 5.3 since the last tariff approval and you can imagine what the exchange rate is today. Last year, ECG incurred 860 million dollars as forex loss so you can imagine if we are getting to pay IPPs at the current market exchange rate,” she said.

Her claim comes in the wake of concerns over the ECG’S proposal for a 148% increment in tariff for 2022.

Mrs. Noshie said given the huge foreign exchange losses, it will be expedient for ECG to adjust its tariffs to keep its operations afloat.

She assured that if the proposed 148% increment in tariff is approved, the company will adjust tariffs at very minimal rates for five years.

“If the 148 is approved then what it means is that year-on-year we will not need that much increment.”

On the same show, the Financial Planning & Analysis Manager at Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Samuel Kow Acquah, made a strong case for their demand for an upward review of their tariffs.

“It is not as if the investment requirements have dwindled since we have not been financially stable to make these investments. The Investment requirements are growing and we need to match up these investments” he explained.

Source: Modern Ghana

Rotary Club of Accra La East in partnership with Living Streams International have donated items worth over GH¢10,000 to the Junior Girls Correctional Centre in Accra.

The items which include cooking oil, bags of rice, flour, beans, gari, liquid soap, washing powder, and toiletries, among others, were donated to the Centre to support their wellbeing.

President of the Club, Patience Kwapong explained the donation formed part of this year’s Rotary service day project and that it was necessary for the club to have identified a facility and contribute its quota. Rotary has six areas of focus Peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, Water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development and so this donation falls right within its scope.

Ms Kwapong added that the provision of the food and other items was a knock on the door of the Centre to present other opportunities to them in terms of education and shelter. ’’We are here today and have identified other focus areas and I can assure you that the Rotary Club of Accra La East will be back to support other areas of this facility. Over the last few years the Club has supported various schools, orphanages and other social and community interventions and currently working with the Ministry of health on a nationwide eye screening project,” she added.

“We are excited as a club to have Living Stream as partners in this donation and I hope other corporate institutions will jump on to support these kids because there are other major pressing needs of the facility”.

The General Overseer for Living Streams Church Dr Ebenezer Markwei indicated there was a need for the children at the Centre to be given special attention, stating that they can contribute to the growth of society and the country at large.

Dr Markwei indicated that the collaboration between the two groups forms part of their social responsibilities, emphasizing that Living Streams has been supporting the society for over sixteen years without giving up and will continue with such an act.

“Living Streams is a people-oriented church and we are always looking out for how we can be of help to society, of course, we have many fingers, and when these fingers are brought together we can do great things.

For us to collaborate with any other people interested in the welfare of people then it is okay for us. It doesn’t matter the denomination, once you are interested in helping other people, we are also interested in it, so to collaborate is not an issue,” he said.
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The Head of the Centre, Mrs Gifty Tekpor, and her colleagues were excited about this donation and they expressed their appreciation to both institutions and encourage other corporate bodies to come to their aid.

The centre, which is under the Department of Social Welfare, is where females between the ages of 12 to 17 years who have committed crimes such as stealing, robbery, assault, drugs, abetment of crime and other forms of crime are sent by the courts to serve their terms of detention which normally range from six months to three years.

Source: Ghana Web