Day: November 30, 2022

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TV3 mentor XI week 5: Tiah wins Best Performer second time in a row to book spot in semi-final

In a performance celebrating TV3’s silver jubilee, Tiah joined forces with AJ from last season’s Mentor X to present a duet of Donnie McClurkin’s gospel hit, “The prayer”.

The night also saw Brenda, donning a white two-piece Jasmine inspired gown with matching accessories, pairing with last season’s Mentor X’s Ely to perform “A whole new world” from Disney’s animated feature film Aladdin, win best costume.

Unfortunately, week five of Mentor XI was the last time Rao and Wilsin will hit the Mentor XI stage to thrill their fans as they were both caught up in eviction.

Six contestants remain – Tiah, Too Spyce, Herby, Marckel, Kweku Wina and Brenda – but only 4 will make it to the finals of Mentor XI. The final knock-out stage, the semi-finals comes off with a preliminary show on Saturday December 3rd depicting the journey so far and a live show on Sunday 4th.

Unlike week 5 where contestants were joined by past Mentor prodigies for duets, the semi-finals will see contestants battle it out head-to-head for a spot in the finals with 2 rounds of performances for the live show.

To keep your favourite contestant in the show, vote via the short code *713*13# or download the TV3 Reality app.

Catch TV3 Mentor XI every Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm.

Source: Modern Ghana

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Fella Makafui reacts to her alleged plan to use ‘charm’ on Kudus

Just like former Black Stars captain and 2010 World Cup goal kingpin for Ghana, Asamoah Gyan won the hearts of many ladies, so has Kudus’ incredible two-game performance earned him.

It appeared that Fella Makafui, the wife of Ghanaian rapper Medikal, has been downloading Kudus’ pictures to cast a spell on him.

According to some gossip mongers and whistleblowers, the actress intends to get the Ajax player to fall in love with her.

The rumours stressed that she has records of using juju on men, indicating that she used some on Medikal before snatching him from Sister Derby, the rapper’s former girlfriend.

In a series of Snapchat stories, the Yolo star didn’t state whether the news was fake or true; she only rubbished it in a satirical manner, saying “wahala for who no do juju.”

Source: Modern Ghana

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Gold Fields invest US$12 million in catchment communities

Enimilkrom (W/R), November 30, GNA – Goldfields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) has invested over US$12 million in the development of projects in its host communities since the inception of the foundation in 2002.

The projects and programmes fall under infrastructure, education, health, training and agriculture.

Education alone constituted about 44 per cent of the total investment made and this reflect the Foundations commitment towards the development of the human resource in the scheme of things.

Mr Abdel-Razak Yakubu, the Community Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement (CASE) Manager, Abosso Goldfields Limited (AGL), announced this when he commissioned, a three-unit and five-unit classroom blocks with offices and conference rooms for Saint Peter & Paul Anglican Primary School at Enimilkrom and T.I Ahmaddiyya Basic school at Subri.

He said “in 2021, over US$1.7 million was invested in various projects and programmes to benefit community members. I must say that the joy is not in the amount spent but the benefits achieved and expected in the foreseeable future”.

Mr Yakubu recalled that about a year ago, the beneficiary schools made a request to the GFGF for assistance as their existing classroom blocks were congested.

He said “this compelled teacher to combine pupils of different year levels in one class just to manage the situation. This resulted in lack of concentration in class leading to poor teaching and learning in these schools”. 

The Manager said the provision of school buildings does not complete the creation of a conducive environment for teaching and learning, hence why, the Foundation provided furniture for the two schools and all public schools within their host communities

These include;1,600 mono-desks, 44 pentagonal tables with 220 chairs, eight long computer tables with 40 chairs, headmasters table with chairs, cupboard for safe storage of books and other teaching materials, added that, US$156,977.73 was invested in these projects, all in 2022, he said.

Mr Yakubu said thesese achievements would not have been possible without the unflinching support and guidance from the Municipal Education Directorate and Works Department, and hoped the facility would translate into good results.

The Municipal Director of Education in Prestea Huni-Valley, Mr Sebastian Diaw, commended GFGF for the project and said it would go a long way to ensure effective teaching and learning, and advised parents to ensure children of school going age were not left at home.

He appealed to management of both schools to exhibit proper maintenance culture to increase the life span of the buildings.

Nana Kwabena Amponsah IV, Divisional Chief of Bosomtwe called on the Municipal Director of Education to post more teachers to SS Peter & Paul Anglican primary school to help train the pupils.

He again appealed to AGL through the GFGF to construct a Junior High School block and teachers’ quarters for the school to enable pupils continue their education after completing primary and also retain teachers who would be posted to the area.

The GFGF was established to promote and facilitate sustainable socio-economic development in order to improve upon the quality of life in its host communities and Ghana.

To drive this development agenda, the Foundation consults key stakeholder institutions to implement projects in its catchment communities every year. 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Education, technological advancement are major drivers of successful societies – Dr Nyarko

Nyankyerenease (Ash), Nov. 30, GNA – Education and technological advancement remain the major drivers of every successful society, which must be invested in to improve the human resource base of the country, Dr Kingsley Nyarko, the Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, said on Wednesday.

He said it was incumbent on the relevant stakeholders to provide those necessary infrastructure support to facilitate teaching and learning.

Dr Nyarko was addressing residents of Atwima Techiman and Nyankyerenease during a sod-cutting ceremony to commence the construction of a six-unit classroom block for each of the communities in the Kwadaso Municipality.

The projects, expected to be completed within six months, are being funded through the GETFUND and awarded to Clean Vision Construction Limited.

The classroom blocks come with ancillary facilities such as a six-seater toilet and a mechanised borehole each for the Atwima Techiman Presbyterian Basic School and Nyankyerenease Methodist Primary School.

The MP said the infrastructure drive was targeted at expanding the base to contain all children in a congenial atmosphere for effective teaching and learning.

He said the government was doing everything possible to ensure all children of school-going age accessed quality education and advised parents to keep firm eyes on their children to ensure they became responsible citizens.

Dr Nyarko called on the contractor to do a good work to ensure durability.

Mrs Grace Ofosu Boateng, the Kwadaso Municipal Director of Education, commended the MP for his continuous assistance towards improving education in the area and assured that her outfit would cooperate with the contractor to complete the job on schedule.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Ya-Na named NHIA Brand Ambassador

Yendi (N/R), Nov 30, GNA – Ya-Na Abukari (II) has been named Brand Ambassador for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to help champion the activities of the NHIA in the country.

Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, made the announcement when he led a delegation of officials of the NHIA to call on the Ya-Na at the Gbewaa Palace at Yendi.

The courtesy call was to pay homage to the Ya-Na and inform him of the strategic initiatives of the government to make NHIA more accessible and affordable to the people.

Dr Boye said, “As part of his ambassadorial role, Ya-Na Abukari (II) will be involved in championing NHIA policies and programmes to achieve 100 per cent enrollment of NHIS beneficiaries.”

He said Ya-Na was chosen for the role in recognition of his contribution towards promoting education and effective health care services in the country and indicated that an effective cooperation with various relevant stakeholders were necessary in ensuring that all Ghanaians were enrolled onto the scheme.

He said the government would launch the National Health Insurance Month in December in the Northern Region, to help maximise the contribution of technology in modern health care delivery.

Dr Boye emphasised that the NHIS Benefit Package had been expanded to include the four commonest childhood cancers and some family planning services and reminded all NHIS subscribers to use the mobile renewal service for their membership renewal.

Ya-Na Abukari (lI) said “The NHIS is an important national policy initiative, which touched the lives of millions of Ghanaians, and its success required the support and collaboration of all stakeholders.

He commended the NHIA for setting up the Co-payment Committee to address illegal charges at health care facilities, adding it was a major concern for many citizens.

He appealed to the NHIA to provide the NHIS at Yendi with mobile kits to enable officers to operate outside their office and “To consider the applications of the pharmacies within the Yendi Municipality to help in the supply of medicines and related services of NHIS to patients to solve the challenge of shortage of medicine in our hospitals.”

He pledged to work with the NHIA to ensure that more citizens were enrolled in the scheme.

The NHIA delegation called on the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu and other traditional leaders in the region.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Gomoa East DCE Accounts to Community Members

The Gomoa East District Assembly, has embarked on a five-day community engagement to give account to community members on completed and ongoing ones the Assembly had undertaken.

The engagement is also to listen to other pressing issues confronting the communities for redress.

On the first day of the engagement, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Area, Mr Solomon Darko Quarm and his team visited two communities; Nkwantanan and Dominase where he outlined numerous projects including the construction of education, road and health facilities.

The team as well assessed community support and services.

The Assembly, he noted had provided community Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, constructed an assembly block, teachers, and nurses’ quarters, provided computer labs with computers, awarded scholarships to brilliant, but needy students and presented sewing machines to vocational trainees, among others.

At Nkwantanan, he highlighted projects done by the Assembly which included a newly constructed 3-unit classroom block with ancillary facility, culverts and electricity extension.

According to Chief of Nkwantanan, Nana Obirikafo Gyebu II, Nkwantanan continue to face education infrastructural challenges as some 180 pupils study in one classroom due to inadequate classrooms.

Also, the road network came out as a major challenge with residents calling for its rehabilitation.

Nana Gyebu appealed to the Assembly to facilitate the construction of classroom blocks to decongest the few ones to improve teaching and learning in the area.

Also, he touched on the bad road network there and drew attention to the fact that a proposed factory in the community will soon attract bigger vehicles to the area and so the need for the access road to be reconstructed.

On security issues, he said the community would continue to cooperate with the security agencies to help combat crime.

At Dominase, the Chief, Nana Okogyedom Safo Kantanka Atta IX, bemoaned the portions of the community which had been dug in a bid to construct drains but were abandoned and called for immediate action to avoid any disaster.

He mentioned lack of educational materials like furniture, teaching aids and books as some of the challenges of education in the Area.

On health, Nana Kantanka Atta said the community had only one CHPS compound in a deplorable state making quality healthcare delivery difficult.

Reacting, Mr Quarm assured that the Assembly was working to address the challenges affecting education, health, security, sanitation, and road network in the district.

Projects are being carried out at Potsin, Nyanyano, Nyanyano Kakraba, Akotsi Benkyere, Adawukwa, Fetteh, Fetteh Kakraba, Limousine, Buduburam, Takyiman, Aprah Dominase, Dr. Jesus, Nkwantanan, Kojo Oku and Fiifi Pratt, he noted.

Specific projects in specific communities include; construction of girls dormitory and a 12-unit classroom block at Fettehman SHS, construction of 3-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities each at Takyiman, Nkwantanan and Amoanda.

Setting up of Rikpatt Company, a 1D1F facility at Akotsi, construction of 20-seater institutional toilet at Eduafokwa, boys dormitory for P Amass and construction of 3-unit classroom block at Potsin, are some of the achievements.

Others include construction of Potsin to Ahombrew road, Buduatta road, reshaping of Potsin to Adzintem road, construction of Bambam bridge and Nyanyano main road.

Also the construction of 6-unit classroom block at Anapansu, 3-unit calssroom at Akotsi, 6-unit classroom at Kojo Oku, culverts at Dominase, Fetteh and Nkwantanan, construction of biogas toilet facility at P Amass, Potsin Junction, Fettehman SHS, Akotsi Junction and Odumasi and electricity extension to Akramang, Fetteh Kakraba, Akotsi, Ojobi, Nkwatanan and Kojo Oku.

The remaining are CHPS compound at Dabanyin, Panfokrom, Kweikrom, Limousin, Buduburam and Anapansu, renovation of ambulance center at Dominase, construction of office complex at Potsin, provision of four skip container and pads, construction of DCE and DCDs bungalow at Potsin, teachers and nurses’ quarters at potsin Mr Quarm said.

There are also solar powered mechanised borehole at Kofi Ahor, Dominase, Toboasi and Adabra, erection of telecom masts at Dominase, Buduatta, Odumase and Amoanda to improve telecommunication and construction of market stalls and water extention to nyanyano community and its surroundings.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Cosmetic business on the downturn as patronage drops?

Tema, Nov. 30, GNA-The gradual increase in prices of goods across the country has left dealers in the cosmetics business within the Tema Metropolis worried about the resultant low level of patronage and sales of beauty essentials.

Madam Vida Acquah, a cosmetics dealer in Tema Community One, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the general increment in the prices of goods and services had affected the sale of body creams and other skin products.

“We buy from wholesalers at high prices and therefore we also add little amounts as profit.

“A Nivea body spray at the wholesale end is pegged at GHc20.00 and sold at the retail end at GHc25.00 after factoring in other costs involved to get the product to the customer,” Madam Acquah stated. 

She debunked a growing feeling within the public sphere that retailers were the cause of the frequent price increment, stressing that retailers depend on what wholesalers offer which also depend on taxes and foreign exchanges.

Madam Kate Hayford also a dealer in beauty essentials noted that skincare products had an expiring date and due to the low patronage, most of the products get expired.

“There are some facial products that have expired because the demand for them is low, and people complain about the price. These products go waste, and no profit is made, we are in hot times,” she said.

Madam Hayford noted that even though some products expired in the long run and people do not buy body essentials like they used to, “we are losing our investment.” 

Ms Benedicta Lumour another dealer also said that Rexona roll-on which used to be sold at GHC25 just about two weeks ago now sells at GHc28 and Ever Sheen body cream which was sold at GHC20 is now sold at GHC25.

Other dealers in cosmetic products also noted that the profit margins on their product at the retail stage is small but unfortunately, they are at the receiving end losing their capital dwindles day by day. 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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‘What can be done in 4 years?’ – Kufuor suggests extension of tenure of presidency

Ghana’s oldest former president, John Agyekum Kufuor, has suggested that the tenure of office for a president or an elected government should be relooked at.

According to him, the current four-year tenure is quite problematic, leaving very little room for any leader to effectively cause a major developmental change in the country.

He added that it takes a while for any elected leader to even settle into the system before he can efficiently cause the changes needed in a country.

John Agyekum Kufuor made this known while speaking at a seminar on reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), at his residence in Peduase, in the Eastern Region.

The former president explained that he came to the realization after he was invited to Malaysia and got to see how much developmental growth the country had made, even though at the time of independence, it was on par with Ghana.

“Malaysia, by history – ’56, ’57, Ghana was at par with Malaysia, and we were both colonies of Britain but Malaysia has gone far ahead. 4 years? The man asked, what can we do in four years? And when I considered, I thought that we should do something about the tenure as the stage of development, we need to really develop but you vote in a new president or leader,” he said.

John Kufuor also explained the breakdown of how things turn out for politicians in a new government and why his suggestion for a review of the tenure should be looked at again.

“First year, very likely, he will come in with smart, naturally bright people, well-educated and all, but just good education is not enough to, say, enable you to sense how to attract investments so it would be win-win for your country and whoever the partner is.

“First year, all the bright youngsters you recruit as ministers will be learning to get the civil service, work with it, and what I discovered with our system is that the civil servants are so bright, like the politicians – they went to the same school, perhaps even the civil servants were brighter than the politicians , but the civil servant will be sitting there, getting this meagre pay… and will also hate the politician who just dropped in and instantly became like his boss and minister, when the civil servant knows that this minister does not know his left from right,” he added.

President John Agyekum Kufuor also used the opportunity to explain another major difficulty that is faced by new ministers in a government.

He said that in most cases, the civil servants, who mostly know the job far better than the appointed politicians, are not willing to offer the best advice to them, and for some specific reasons.

He added that by the time the civil servants come to accept and appreciate the politician who has been brought as their head, time might have elapsed, leaving close to no time for the politician to effectively work and bring the needed change to the country.

“And not until the civil servant gets the impression that the minister knows what he is doing, the civil servant will not volunteer to give the best advice. And it would take the good minister averagely at least one year to get to know the civil service to, in a way, harness it to use it to do the politics that must be done and then to help him go to parliament to get the law passed and then to bring back the policy to implement, by which time two to three years is gone. Fourth year, elections, all politicians go crazy,” he said.

Source: Ghana Web