Day: April 11, 2023

The General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association, Prosper Harrison Addo has urged teams in the Women’s Premier League in Ghana to set and maintain their own high standards of sporting behaviour and professionalism.

Mr Addo says he is disappointed by recent developments in the women’s game with increased tension and misconduct on match days.

“Let’s get back to our welcoming environment, which was very nice and accommodating,” he said.

Mr. Addo was speaking a leadership and development seminar for women’s football club executives under the auspices of Betway Ghana, the official development partner of the Ghana Women’s Premier League.

Mr. Addo expressed the GFA’s commitment to promoting women’s football, revealing that the GFA has appointed a woman to its board, following FIFA’s initiative to ensure that every country has a woman on the board of their football federation.

“Every position in the women’s game should be occupied by women. We are going to invest with our partners to train more women coaches and ensure full participation of women at all levels of football governance,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of fair play in football and the need to adhere to FIFA’s disciplinary codes and the core values of the GFA.

“Fair play is expected in football, so you can’t play a game and say you can’t practice fair play. You have to shake hands at the end of every game regardless of whether you won or lost,” he pointed out.

The seminar aimed to promote football governance and equip the executives with the necessary knowledge to develop the women’s league. It was held concurrently in Accra and Kumasi with participants in the two venues connected by video link.

Administrators from teams in the Ghana Women’s Premier League took part in the event, along with industry experts and facilitators who joined the seminar via video link from South Africa to share their expertise and experience. They included Warren Engelbrecht, a former operations manager at Orlando Pirate FC in South Africa, Meskerem Goshine, the Head of CAF Women’s Football, and Julius Ben Emunah, the club licensing manager at the Ghana Football Association.

Mr Engelbrecht spoke on strategic management. He emphasized the need for strategic steps in implementing the best ideas. “You can have the best idea in the world but if you do not take strategic steps to implement them, you can’t achieve your goals,” he said.

Madam Goshine instructed attendees on the dynamics of stakeholder management. She highlighted the importance of stakeholder management in football governance saying, “stakeholder management is crucial to the success of any club.”

Mr Emunah guided attendees through club licensing procedures and policies. He urged the participants to adhere to the standards and requirements of club licensing. “The purpose of club licensing is to uphold and protect the professionalism of teams,” he said.

Source: Ghana Web

A Tax audit conducted by officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on BGC International DMCC Ghana Limited, a precious mineral refiner and exporter, for the period 2016 to 2018 established a total tax liability of GH¢21,948,165.45.

The tax liability was made up of withholding tax, Directors PAYE, Corporate income tax, and accrued interest.

Read the full story originally published on April 11, 2022, by GNA

A Tax Court has granted a?GH¢1million bail each to Akoliya Vinodkumar Maganbhai and Akoliya Visarambhai Naranbhai, Director and Chairman respectively of BGC International DMCC Ghana Limited for evading tax.

The two accused persons have pleaded not guilty.

The bail term is accompanied by two sureties, one to be justified. They are to deposit their passport with the Registrar of the Court.

The Counsel for the accused persons earlier told the Court that they were opposed to the amount quoted in the charge sheet as being paid.

The Counsel said they would reconcile with the Prosecution on the figures.

The accused persons had been in the country for over 20 years and had established seven businesses during the period.

A Tax audit conducted by officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on BGC International DMCC Ghana Limited, a precious mineral refiner and exporter, for the period 2016 to 2018 established a total tax liability of GH¢21,948,165.45.

The tax liability was made up of withholding tax, Directors PAYE, Corporate income tax and accrued interest.

Madam Rebecca Edufo-Abraham, an Assistant Revenue Officer told the Court that the Company in a letter dated February 19, 2020, authorized the national security coordinator to pay to the GRA the sum of GH¢1,070,415.79 for the company’s outstanding corporate tax and PAYE.

She said the Company had so far paid an amount of GH¢64,000.00 leaving an outstanding balance of GH¢21,884,165.45.

A garnishee order served on the bankers of the Company yielded just over GH¢2,000.00.

The Assistant Revenue Officer said several demands were made on the accused persons to get the Company to pay the outstanding tax.

However, the accused persons have failed to honour their obligations to the State.

“The accused persons were consequently served with the criminal summons to appear before the court to answer the charge preferred against them,” she said.

Source: Ghana Web

Television show host Deloris Frimpong Manso (Delay) has named her top five active celebrity fathers in Ghana with Kwaw Kese, Sarkodie, Reggie Rockstone, Okyeame Kwame, and Abedi Pele making the list.

In the 8th April 2023 edition of The Delay Show, she mentioned that although some celebrities flood various social media platforms with pictures of their families that suggest they are caring and responsible, it may not be a true reflection.

According to her, the five aforementioned names are fathers she has observed for a while and knows they actually are supportive and responsible.

“It’s not just about posting photographs on social media. It entails a lot,” she emitted in her introduction before listing her top five celebrity fathers.

“5th is Kwaw Kese. Beyond his ‘madness’, he’s a family man. He takes his children to school together with his wife. He’s shown he is a very responsible father who makes fatherhood attractive.

“4th is Sarkodie. He is famous but still has time for his family. Despite his busy schedule, he travels with his kids, especially his daughter, and takes good care of her. We’re proud of him,” Delay said.

She continued: “Reggie Rockstone is next. The history of Hiplife cannot be told within his input. Regardless of his level of fame, he prepares and sells waakye with his wife, and takes them to school; indeed, he is very active.

“2nd is Okyeame Kwame. I know Okyeame Kwame personally. He would take his children to school and bring them back home when they close. He assists them with assignments, is concerned about what they wear. He’s a very present father.

“Top on the list is Abedi Pele. I’d say he’s the best father in Ghana; he is my number one father. He is very hardworking. He is always there for his children even at his age. He shows up when his children are signing deals abroad. He has taken care of his children and now, the Black Stars is on their shoulders,” said Delay who was proud of the exhibition of love.

Kwaw Kese is married to Doris Nana Pokuah Kyei Baffour. They tied the knot in 2016 after his first marriage with American national, Ann, ended in 2014. The rapper has three children: Van Ewurabena Botwe, Docilla Nana Hemaa Botchwey, and Sean Sahyoun.

Sarkodie and his wife Tracy have two children – Titi and MJ. Reggie Rockstone is married to Dr. Zilla Limann, the daughter of Dr. Hilla Limann. They have a son and two daughters – Ricci, Zuzu, and Renji-Zaida.

Married to Annica Nsiah-Apau, rapper Okyeame Kwame has two children. They are Sir Kwame Nsiah Bota and Shanti Antwiwaa Nsia Apau.

Abedi Ayew Pele has four children – three sons and a daughter. They are Ibrahim Ayew, Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, and Imani Ayew.

Source: Ghana Web

On April 11, 2021, Prophet Nigel Gaisie voiced his support for Gospel musician Sonnie Badu amidst recent criticism over his degrees.

According to the preacher, he believes Sonnie Badu’s music is putting Ghana on the map and shouldn’t be criticized.

Read the full story originally published on April 11, 2022, by mynewsgh.com.

Founder and leader of the Prophetic Hill Church, Prophet Nigel Gaisie has said that since Gospel Musician Sonnie Badu is putting Ghana’s name on the map, it’s imperative that he is not criticized.

Sonnie Badu became a subject of discussion after it emerged that he used four months to get three degrees including a B. Arts, MSc and a PhD.

The shock of this made social media in Ghana go agog with the debate on fake doctorates emerging for another time.

But adding his voice to the ongoing debate, Nigel Gaisie indicated that it’s imperative that the people of Ghana hold Sonnie Badu in high esteem because his music is putting Ghana on the map.

To Nigel Gaisie, there is no need to be critical of the Gospel Singer mentioning that in Ghana, the pull him down syndrome must leave our fabric.

Prophet Nigel Gaisie in a post on the issue said “I have monitored the media space within these few days and I can boldly say that, as I have always held…GHANAIANS don’t love their own. They hurt with passion to see their own flourish..Dr. Sonnie Badu, I have been observing to see if your *friends*who pride themselves with your reputable brand will come out to your defence or at least write a post of solidarity but I haven’t seen one yet. I don’t know much about all the circumstances surrounding your awards or degree and I don’t want to know but all that I can say is,…let’s love our own, let’s speak well of our own since nobody and its nobody is sacredly perfect. Let the Ghanaian be measured in killing or pulling down their own even and it’s even when one is at fault. The mindset and the infamous concept of OPEN HATRED TOWARDS OUR OWN MUST STOP AND THE CHURCH IN GHANA MUST LEARN TO PROTECT THEIR OWN*(Those without sin, should cast the first stone)*Dr. Sonnie Badu, you own nobody an explanation, keep winning and shining, you might not like Nigel Gaisie but he is a Ghanaian and for me Ghana FIRST. You might not like Sonnie but I travel lots and his songs have put Ghana music on TOP THERE….LET’S LOVE OUR OWN. If you keep fooling and living in misery, nobody allows people who have decided against all odds to do well, do well. Enough of the PURGATORY. See You Tomorrow at church, it will be EPIC.”

Source: Ghana Web

Former Black Stars skipper, Stephen Appiah, has said he sometimes questions himself for spending his money on uninteresting Black Stars in the past.

Appiah revealed in an interview with Sompa Sports that, at some point, he had to pay for the players’ plane tickets because they found the Black Stars unexciting.

The ex-Juventus player, who is eager to assist the Black Stars in regaining their competitive status but has been hesitant due to unknown reasons, stated that he once paid winning bonuses to players after games.

“One thing that is painful is that, some of us we are very humble. But when you know your value, you don’t want to do certain things or mingle with certain people. We all want to help because we have helped before even if it wasn’t enough,” he said

“There was a time everybody(players) had no interest in playing for Black Stars. There was a time I had to pay for players’ plane tickets to Ghana and there was a time I paid winning bonuses,” he added.

The 42-year-old, who is not impressed with how the team is run currently, implied that he regrets spending his money on the team, but hopes things will get better.

“So today if I see how things are been done, I ask myself why did I waste my money? But we hope that one day it will be well.”

Stephen Appiah led Ghana to their first World Cup in 2006. The Black Stars finished the tournament as the only African country to advance from their group.

After missing two Africa Cup of Nations, Appiah returned to the team for the 2010 World Cup and helped them make history by reaching the quarter-finals, becoming the third African team to do so.

He announced his retirement after the tournament.

Ghana is now ranked eleventh in Africa and fifty-third in the world, having previously been ranked second in Africa and twenty-third in the world before Stephen Appiah’s retirement.

The Black Stars have failed to advance from the group stage in both of their last two World Cup appearances, and their best finish in the last two AFCON tournaments was a round-16 finish in 2019.

Source: Ghana Web

During its celebration of the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023, the U.S. National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) spotlighted North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s tenured Associate Professor of Construction Science and Management, Dr. Andrea Nana Ofori-Boadu.

This recognition was for her dedication to inspiring the next generation of residential construction industry leaders.

In 2020, Andrea also received the NAHB Outstanding Educator award in recognition of high teaching standards in construction education.

Born in Accra, Andrea grew up under the guidance of her high-achieving parents, Mr Sam Poku and Mrs. Mary Poku.

Andrea attended the Belmar and New Hope Preparatory Schools in Accra, the Achimota School, and obtained a First Class in Building Technology at KNUST in 1997.

Andrea moved to North Carolina in 2000 with her husband, Victor Ofori-Boadu, and their eight-month-old baby. The couple now has two sons and one daughter. Victor and Andrea have also established a consulting firm, Penuel Consult, and a Christian worship ministry, Penuel Ministry.

Under the mentorship of Drs. Pyle and Shofoluwe, Andrea completed her Master’s degree in Industrial Technology and her Doctorate degree in Technology Management in the USA.

In her professorial role at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A and T), Andrea has contributed to the intellectual and career development of hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students.

Her research work has resulted in numerous citations, publications, presentations, grants, and her U.S. patent (No. 11,104,611; August 31, 2021) titled ‘Swine-waste Biochar As A Sustainable Cement Replacement Material’.

She has received funding from numerous agencies in support of her teaching and research enterprise. In 2019, she received the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER grant to develop theories that explain professional identity development processes in undergraduate Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) women.

Through this grant and with input from the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) – Piedmont Chapter, Andrea established the Emerging Built Environment Women Center at NC A and T (https://www.ncat.edu/research/centers/index.php).

Andrea has received several NC A and T teaching and research excellence awards to include the 2020 Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence award, the 2019 Outstanding Young Investigator Research Excellence award, and the 2017 Rookie of the Year Research Excellence award. Andrea’s mentees have also received NC A and T and national research excellence awards.

Reacting to the recognition, Dr Andrea Ofori-Boadu said, “This happy news is being shared because it is quite incredible for a humble “nobody”, an African young lady from Ghana, serving as an Associate Professor in a U.S. university, to receive this national recognition. It’s just amazing!”

“I am very grateful to God, my husband, my parents and siblings, my amazing cheerleader (Caroline Carpenter), NC A and T, collaborators, funding agencies, and my extended network of family and friends, for their prayers and support,” she expressed.

The USA is a highly developed and competitive country with an economy that accounts for about 25% of global GDP. The U.S. construction industry accounts for about 4% of its national GDP. Its impressive buildings and infrastructure have been developed through the commitment of talented construction professionals.

NCA and T is committed to developing professionals to contribute to the advancement of the global construction industry. America boasts of its impactful science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) intellectuals manning its transformational teaching and research institutions.

Therefore, for Andrea to be recognized by the NAHB for her professorial contributions, is noteworthy. It is also worthy to celebrate this Lifetime Honour with the entire African Continent, Ghana, family and friends.

Andrea hopes that her journey inspires more girls and women to seriously consider pursuing STEM careers.

Source: Ghana Web

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva has reiterated its plea on wealthier countries to support Ghana and other weaker economies from the ravages of debt.

According to her, the fund and wealthier countries must work together to ensure vulnerable countries like Ghana are able to restructure their debts to mitigate the effect on people and livelihoods.

Speaking ahead of the 2023 IMF?and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC-USA, the IMF boss on April 10 said, “developed economies must also commit more resources to the fund’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) – a concessionary lending window for low-income countries (LICs) – to help strengthen the global response to debt vulnerabilities”

The call by the IMF Managing Director comes after the Fund has witnessed a $1.6 billion shortfall in funding due the economic headwinds which has seen debt distressed countries like Ghana be at the highest in terms of funding.

Source: Ghana Web

Dr Kobby Mensah, a senior political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has praised NPP communicator Dennis Miracles Aboagye for apologising to the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, over a video he earlier shared about him.

Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the Director of Local Government Services at the Office of the President, in a tweet shared on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, explained that he had wrongly shared a video of the NDC Chairman purportedly calling on his people to lay down their lives towards the 2024 general elections.

“I sincerely apologise and have subsequently removed the Asiedu Nketia Video I shared earlier. My attention has been drawn to an original video which clearly shows the earlier one I viewed and shared was doctored.

“Obviously, this version I saw and shared had been tampered with, which isn’t right. I withdraw accordingly, with apologies,” he wrote in the tweet.

Reacting to this, also in a tweet shared on the same day, Dr Kobby Mensah said that Miracles Aboagye has proven that he is mature.

He added that Ghanaians should emulate the boldness of the presidential staffer.

“Well done for showing this level of maturity. This is an example to many. I salute you for such boldness,” the lecturer wrote.

Background:

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) member had shared the earlier video on the back of the comments of the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong, indicating that he and the NPP will never hand over political power to the NDC.

In the earlier video shared, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the NDC stalwart, was heard telling his people to “sacrifice everything, including lives,” whereas what he actually said was a call on them to “sacrifice everything including our lives” for their campaign.

In the aftermath of these comments by Bryan Acheampong, a number of members of the NPP have jumped to his defence, with many stating that his comments were only a response to equally violent ones from the camp of the NDC.

A number of NDC members have equally responded to Bryan Acheampong’s comments, stating that they are also ready to match any violence the NPP intends to bring in the lead-up to the general elections of 2024.

Source: Ghana Web