Day: June 12, 2023

Deputy Black Stars skipper and Arsenal star Thomas Teye Partey is the only player among the 24-man squad named by coach Chris Hughton who has yet to report at the Black Stars camp as they begin preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.

All players invited have duly reported to the team’s camp at the Alisa Hotel in Accra on Monday, June 12, with the exception of Partey, who is expected to arrive on Tuesday, June 13, after a wonderful campaign with the Gunners, according to 3Sports’ Owuraku Ampofo.

The former Tema Youth player played an integral role for Mikel Arteta’s side in the just-ended 2022–23 English Premier League. He made a total of 39 appearances in all competitions and scored three goals.

The team led by skipper Andre Ayew will open their first training sessions at the Accra Sports Stadium later on Monday, June 11, and will continue for the next four days before they jet off to Madagascar.

The match will take place on Sunday, June 18, at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital city.

Source: Ghana Web

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the hardships of the fuel subsidy removal on the lives of Nigerians on Monday.

Tinubu disclosed this in his Democracy Day speech on Monday, commemorating 30 years since the events of June 12, 1993, involving MKO Abiola and the Military Government.

Tinubu noted that he feels the pains of Nigerians, but the removal of fuel subsidies is a decision Nigerians must bear.

Right Dividends

President Tinubu urged that democracy that will yield the right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom of choice and the right to get people into elective offices, adding:

“It means social and economic justice for our people. To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty.

“Thirty years ago, he christened his campaign manifesto, ‘Farewell to Poverty’ because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty.

“It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies.”

Subsidy removal and Burdens

He noted that the approach towards eliminating poverty necessitated his inauguration address on May 29, to the decision taken by his predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich, adding:

“I admit that the decision will impose an extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.”

Sacrifice

He urged that Nigerians must sacrifice a little more for the survival of the nation, as they endure economic pains and burdens, adding:

“ Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain.

“The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare, and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives.

“On my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our commitment to diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with the people – the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.

He added his administration will remain faithful to truth, Faithful to equity, and faithful to justice.

“We shall exercise our authority and mandate to govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people.”

What you should know

President Tinubu on May 29 while delivering his inaugural speech, said the Federal Government could no longer sustain fuel subsidies.

With the removal of fuel subsidy, the petroleum pump price is now fixed at N540 per litre as against N195, a development the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it was opposing and is currently in negotiations with the government over increased minimum wages to handle the costs of the subsidy removal.

Source: Ghana Web

Stories making headlines on the front pages in the major newspapers/b>

DAILY GRAPHIC :

Time to nurture Green Ghana tress -Jinapor

NEIP votes GHC 40m for innovation hubs

Malaria boosted COVID-19 resistance …Research establishes

THE GHANAIAN TIMES/b>

Police gun down 5 robbers …seize vehicle, motor bikes, weapons , ammunition at Bortianor

NPA granted powers to prosecute oil supply chain crimes

Ghana ready for your investment – Dr Akoto tells global investors at agriculture forum in Turkey

THE GHANAIAN PUBLISHER/b>

Respond to climate change -Nana’s Green Ghana appeal

Dr Afriyie Akoto woos investors

I’m focused on my job, not NDC -Bawumia

REPUBLIC PRESS/b>

Mahama fires gov’t …over IMF programme

Kissi Agyabeng tells his story

Crossfire at Bortianor …5 Land Guards gunned down

Source: Ghana Web

Ghanaian actor Nana Tornado has slammed Zionfelix while tackling some personalities who has incurred his wrath, lately.

Speaking on Adinkra TV, based in New York, Nana Tornado expressed his discontent with the blogger, attributing his rise to fame to individuals like himself and others.

He went on to criticize Zionfelix’s perception of success, emphasizing that he (Tonardo) is partially responsible for the blogger’s popularity

“Don’t mind that stupid Zionfelix. When we are talking about important issues, don’t mention his name. He is an individual of questionable intelligence. It’s important to acknowledge that his popularity stems from people like us.

“He lacks sophistication and refinement. While he boasts about building a house in Kasoa as a significant achievement in life, it’s crucial to recognize that many of us played a role in his success. We were instrumental in shaping the path that has led him to his current position,” Nana Tornado expressed.

He also described the blogger as a sycophant.

“I am not the type of person that cares only about my stomach. I don’t like people who ‘kiss the ass’ of people who have once offended me all because of money. I respect myself a lot,” he added.

This isn’t the first time Zionfelix has faced criticism from various entertainers.

Personalities such as Mzbel, Sally Mann, Pascaline Edwards, and others have also voiced their disapproval of the blogger for different reasons.

Earlier on March 11, 2023, Mzbel who has similar concerns, addressed the issue of Zionfelix repeatedly belittling her brand in his interviews.

During a Facebook live session, she issued a final warning to the blogger, urging him to refrain from mentioning her name in interviews with individuals who hold grievances against her, such as Afia Schwarzenegger.

Source: Ghana Web

Variably cloudy conditions expected across sectors with slim chances of slight to moderate rain over few places.

Sunny intervals are anticipated across the country in the course of the day with cases of thunderstorms or rain especially over the Northern sector from later in the afternoon into the night.

Early morning mist or fog patches are predicted over parts of coastal,

mountainous and forest areas.

The maximum expected temperature in Accra is tropical 32°C, while the minimum temperature will be 25°C.

Source: Ghana Web

In a recent announcement during the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Hohoe Evangelical Presbyterian Senior High School, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia revealed the government’s intention to introduce laptops as a substitute for textbooks in all Senior High Schools (SHS) across Ghana.

The initiative according to him, aims to equip students with digital resources and prepare them to thrive in the global village.

However, the proposal has sparked controversy, with Member of Parliament for Kintampo North Constituency in the Bono East region, Joseph Kwame Kuma questioning its feasibility.

Joseph Kwame Kuma, who is also a member of the Education Committee in Parliament, dismissed the policy as an impossibility. He pointed out that the government has struggled to replace textbooks in basic schools following the change in curriculum.

Speaking in an interview with Kwabena Mensah Abrompah on Radio Univers on June 8, 2023, Joesph Kuma claimed that many schools are yet to receive the new textbooks, citing his own constituency, Kintampo North, where only a fraction of the required books has been distributed.

He urged the media to investigate the actual number of schools that have received the promised textbooks, emphasizing the need for transparency and honesty in the government’s educational initiatives.

“My brother, we are joking about educational issues, so we will continue to discuss them. Even the textbooks that they claimed to have changed with the new curriculum and supplied to schools, I urge the media to follow up and find out the number of schools that have received these textbooks for basic education.

“In my constituency, Kintampo North, only five books have been supplied for a class of 30 students – five for Mathematics, eight for Science, and eight for English. Let’s be genuine and not deceive ourselves. If the resources are not available, we shouldn’t claim they are.

“Where are the laptops for teachers? Have we been able to supply laptops to the teachers? And now we are talking about e-books. How many students are supposed to hold those tablets? The number of Senior High Schools we have is relatively small. Please, please, please,” he said.

He further highlighted the lack of WiFi systems and internet connectivity in many communities, making it near impossible to implement the proposed laptop initiative.

“I urge the media to assist us in investigating the current state of basic education textbooks. The textbooks are not available, and it is disheartening. We should be truthful. I don’t understand why politicians in Africa say things that are not true and still retain their positions while white politicians resign in such situations.

“We are taken for granted too often. Why? My brother, it is impossible. How many Senior High Schools have access to WiFi and internet connectivity? How many communities have network connectivity? How many?”

In addition, he questioned how the government could expect to provide laptops and E-books to students when it has been unable to supply teachers with laptops, arguing that even basic schools with smaller student populations have not received adequate resources, making it even more challenging to implement such a program on a larger scale in Senior High Schools.

Source: Ghana Web

The Ministry of Roads and Highways, in collaboration with the Department of Urban Roads, has released a statement informing the general public and road users about upcoming road closures and traffic disruptions due to the ongoing construction activities on the Tema Motorway.

According to the ministry, the affected areas will experience changes in traffic flow from June 13th, 2023, until October 31st, 2023.

“The Ministry of Roads and Highways acting through the Department of Urban Roads wishes to inform the general public and all Road users that, owing to intense construction activities at the southern approach of the Flyover over the Motorway project, the Flowerpot Roundabout Bound traffic will experience some disruptions to traffic flow from 13th June 2023 to 31st October 2023.”

The ministry listed the affected areas below;

“1) Traffic from Galaxy Oil/Shell Filling Station to Motorway shall go straight along the Bank of Ghana wall.

“2) Traffic from Accra Mall to Motorway shall go round the roundabout by turning left onto the bank of Ghana road and head towards the motorway

“3) Traffic from Spintex old road/ Melcom to Motorway shall make a right turn on reaching the roundabout onto the Bank of Ghana road,” the ministry said in a statement on their Twitter handle on June 12, 2023.

The statement added, “4) Traffic from Spintex old road/ Melcom to Accra Mall shall make a right turn on reaching the roundabout unto the bank of Ghana road and make a left turn between P3 and P4 to join traffic from Motorway onto Oak Plaza toward Accra Mall.

“5) Traffic from Spintex old road/ Melcom to Palace Mall shall join traffic from Melcom to Accra Mall and go straight without making a right turn on reaching the Palace roundabout towards Burma Camp Road.”

Read the full statement below:/b>

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: Interruption to Flow of Vehicular Traffic At the Flowerpot Roundabout For The Construction Of The Flyover Over The Motorway Project

Source: Ghana Web

The controversy surrounding the alleged illegal mining activities at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s private residence in Kyebi in the Eastern Region, continues as former Environment Minister, Prof Frimpong-Boateng, has re-affirmed his claims despite a denial by the presidency and chiefs of Kyebi.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s leaked report to the presidency detailed the destruction of portions of the President’s garden by illegal miners.

However, the government’s spokesperson for administration and security, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, refuted Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s claims that the president’s private home in Kyebi’s was affected by illegal mining.

Palgrave Boakye-Danquah claimed that there has never been any illegal mining at the compound.

“The claim that people are illegally mining in the backyard of the President’s residence in Kyebi is false and untrue, the media should go there and verify for themselves.”I’ve often wondered how people in high positions could degrade themselves to the point of lying,” Palgrave Boakye-Danquah told GTV.

In response to the presidency’s dismissal of his allegations, Prof Frimpong-Boateng has come forward with further revelations, maintaining that the illegal activities did occur.

Speaking in an interview with Joy News on June 7, 2023, he stated that a team was dispatched, including excavators, to restore the vegetation after learning about the invasion of the president’s garden by illegal miners.

“I am saying that it happened, we were called by the caretaker that somebody was doing something illegal on a field close to the garden, the president was not in town so we should come there and rectify things. This was just about three-four years ago.

“So, we took an excavator and a bulldozer to level the place, and vegetated the place… I wasn’t there myself but there was a team, a team went there and they verified, the person who called us is there ; he is alive you know, go find out from him whether what we are saying is true or not. I mentioned the name in that report so I don’t want to go to that report.

“What I am saying is that it happened. Listen, if we vegetated there, that field if we had planted cocoa, it would have been yielding fruits by now after three-four years, so, it is not that you go there and you will find pits…it happened four years ago, the place was cleared and vegetated. What I am saying is that it happened, so that is what I am saying for now,” he said.

TWI NEWS

The former chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) asserted that the person involved in the illicit mining activities was arrested and urged anyone interested in the truth to verify the records at the police station.

“…I don’t want to argue with them if they are saying it wasn’t affected, I am saying that we went there and did what we were supposed to do, and I don’t know why we should even argue about this, it is not that we did it to slander anybody but we were concerned that a field near the president house, and somebody was doing something illegal.

“You see, what I am trying to say is that we did not do it because we wanted to slander somebody but we wanted to solve a situation, you know there was a big problem we had to solve and the person was arrested by the police and taken to the police station. You can go and check, go to all the police records, whether what I am saying is …”

Prof Frimpong-Boateng clarified that his intention was not to tarnish anyone’s name but rather to document the factual events. He emphasized that he stood by his report and insisted that the incident had taken place.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng further expressed frustration at being portrayed negatively, stating that his actions were motivated by a desire to address a serious matter and not to discredit or harm anyone.

He highlighted the importance of solving the problem at hand and reiterated that the incident had occurred several years ago.

“I am very upset now, I thought I was doing something good, for the president and for Kyebi but now I’m portrayed as somebody, an evil person, whose activities were designed to slander somebody or to ridicule people, no, it was a very serious matter.”

Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng had claimed that a party youth organizer had a concession closer to the president’s home in his 37-page report to the chief of staff on the fight against illegal mining.

Source: Ghana Web