Author: hammad

In what can only be considered as the coming together of two kings, the smartphone for everyone brand, itel Mobile has unveiled Afro-pop star, Kuami Eugene for the third time as its official brand ambassador.

The Smartphone brand noted that the signing of the famous Afro-pop star was informed by the brand’s desire to enhance consumer engagement and endear more fans to its community.

According to itel Mobile, the choice to maintain Kuami Eugene as the face of the brand brings to bear connecting similarities between their target audience and acceptance, with both brands serving mass markets.

No doubt, itel Mobile is a leader in the affordable and durable smartphone mass market in Ghana offering reliable smartphones for everyone, while Kuami Eugene makes popular music for the streets, rolling out frequent hits they can relate with.

Kuami Eugene and itel complement each other, hence the collaboration. Both brands are Real Kings, blessed with a community of hardworking and aspirational individuals. We should expect an admirable partnership which will birth greatness.” said Michael Tuekpe, Digital Marketing and Communications Manager for itel Ghana, on the partnership.

Kuami also expressed his profound joy to still continue the journey with itel. He stated that this is more than a mere partnership; it is a relationship that would bring satisfaction and happiness to our audiences. I look forward to the great things we will do together in the days ahead.”

Source: Ghana Web

Accra,- Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, ECOWAS Commissioner for Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, has hailed the ECOWAS Vision 2050 draft document.

He noted that the document, which is a successor to the ECOWAS Vision 2020, outlined a very clear vision, hope and aspirations for the people of the West Africa sub region.

He reiterated that the ECOWAS Vision 2050 document provided a very good beginning for the Community to move on to become what the people wished for themselves.

Dr Apraku gave the commendation at the closing session of a three-day meeting of the National Experts to validate the Draft ECOWAS Vision 2050.

The ECOWAS Vision 2020, which has the ambition of transforming ECOWAS from an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of peoples, expired last year (2020).

In view of this, the ECOWAS Vision 2050 is needed to provide the Region, for the coming years, with a new and a medium-term strategic plan that takes into account the new development dynamics of the moment.

The ECOWAS Vision 2050 will be adopted by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in December 2021; however, its implementation will begin in January 2023.

The vision statement of the ECOWAS Vision 2050 states: “A fully integrated Community of peoples, living in a peaceful and prosperous region, with strong institutions and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, striving for inclusive and sustainable development”.

Dr Apraku said destiny was not a matter of chance but it was a matter of choice, saying “It is when you have made the decisions and implemented them that you will get your ultimate reward”.

“So, we have done a good job by giving a vision to ourselves, vision that will help us rise out of our poverty, the challenges of development and become a prosperous community.

“It is our responsibility to actualize the vision in our actions programmes and our activities.”

He urged the participants to ensure that in their own small way the ECOWAS Vision 2050 document came to fruition, declaring that, “all of you here, particularly those coming from the planning divisions of our respective ministries, we have to be able to look back some day and say that, not only did we dream but we took the actions that were necessary to realize the dream”.

Dr Alhassan Iddrissu of the ECOWAS National Office in Accra, commended the ECOWAS Commission for leading the process in coming out with the ECOWAS Vision 2050 document.

He also urged the participants to support the ECOWAS Commission in ensuring that the relevant stakeholders at the political and technical level of ECOWAS Member States took ownership of the Vision and drove its popularisation in mainstreaming it into their respective national agenda.

Source: Ghana News Agency

JACCD Design Institute of Africa, formerly Joyce Ababio College of Creative Design, Africa’s foremost creative educational college, has had its 27th graduation ceremony held at Cantonments, Accra, Ghana to showcase what graduates have to offer the industry.

JACCD—affiliated to highly-rated international and local universities; the Instituto Marangoni, University of East London and the University of Cape Coast—offers ready programs from Certificate, Diploma to Degree Level in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Animation, and Game Development, Interior Design, Architecture, Special Effects Make-up, Multimedia Productions, Graphic Design, and Photography.

The ceremony saw 317 graduates from the Classes of 2019 and 2020 receiving Certificates in Fashion and Graphic Design.

As part of Vlisco’s yearly partnership with JACCD, Desmond Nhyira Amankona and Jonathan Teye Wayo emerged as the best designers in the Vlisco Competition with a total of 26 graduating students. The runners-up were Kizito Ronald Jnr, Rulaya Alidu, and Anuja Bharti for the 2019 group. The 2020-year group runners up were Nana Yaa Sarkodie, Nancy Adwoa Sakyi, And Cheryl Agbana.

On the institute’s commitment to transforming and developing Africa’s artistic industry, the Founder and President of the Institute, Madam Joyce Ababio said:

“After 26 years of impacting the world through creative designs, my mission is to influence the fast-changing world of the creative arts sector. The creative business is a multi-million-dollar industry and for a very long time, the area is largely untapped. At JACCD, we are prepared to harness opportunities by creating the required avenue for interested persons to nurture their talents”.

The president also congratulated the new graduates who have been equipped with the requisite creative skills to build industries, become entrepreneurs, and drive economic conversion in Africa.

“We are really proud of our Class of 2021, and we cannot wait to see all the accomplishments in the next chapter. All of their hard work and perseverance has led them to this proud moment in their lives. Best wishes to all our graduates on their next adventure!”

According to the Best Graduating Student, Nancy Adwoa Sakyi, “Fashion, to me, is an art. It is a concept that can be interpreted in various ways for each individual, which, for me makes it fascinating; everyone has a different style and to me, that is what makes you unique. Thanks to Joyce Ababio College; JACCD where else would you rather be!”

Due to the Covid restrictions, the Graduation was streamed live on zoom, Facebook, for the students, family, friends, and the general public.

Source: Ghana Web

The Ghana Tourism Authority has commenced a 5-day training program for 65 Inspectorate officers across the country at the Accra Tourist Information Centre (ATIC).

The training program which falls under the tourism component of the government’s ‘Ghana Cares (Obaatanpa)’ initiative is to expose the inspectors on safety and security, industry best practices, inspection criteria and defects, COVID-19 protocols among other topics.

Speaking in an interview, the Chief Executive Officer of GTA, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman said the training program has become necessary because the inspectors need new skills and knowledge in their line of duties to ensure that quality standards and safety protocols are adhered to in the hospitality industry.

Mr. Agyeman reiterated that his outfit is working closely with the COVID-19 task force of the Ghana Health Service, COTVET, and other law enforcement agencies who will serve as resource persons during this training program.

He said that the tourism training component of the Obaatampa initiative includes product knowledge, customer service, digital marketing, sales, and basic language skills in French.

The Ghana Cares project will tackle sector skills revitalization, address the low quality of tourism assets, enhance marketing and branding of tourism and help reduce other high costs of doing business.

At the end of the 18 month period, the sector skills program will train 10,000 operators in the tourism value chain.

Source: Ghana Web

Algeria’s Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef have been suspended for 10 years by the International Judo Federation (IJF) after withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics to avoid facing an Israeli opponent.

Nourine, 30, who was in the men’s -73kg class, said at the time that his political support for the Palestinian cause made it impossible to compete.

The IJF said the pair “with malicious intent” used the Games as a “platform for protest and promotion of political and religious propaganda”.

The governing body’s disciplinary commission said it was a “clear and serious breach” of its statutes, code of ethics and the Olympic charter.

Nourine was due to face Sudan’s Mohamed Abdalrasool in his first bout and a win would have paired him with Israel’s Tohar Butbul.

At the time he was provisionally suspended and the Algerian Olympic Committee withdrew their accreditation and sent them home.

The ban covers all IJF events and activities through to 23 July 2031, though they can appeal against the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The incident was not the first time that Nourine had withdrawn from competition to avoid facing an Israeli opponent. He pulled out of the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo for the same reason.

Source: Modern Ghana

Accra,- The Ghana Police Service has apologised to the media for the fracas that ensued between some Police personnel and journalists when Reverend Owusu Bempah, three others were arraigned on Monday.

Journalists were allegedly prevented by the Police from entering the courtroom to cover proceedings of the Head Pastor of Glorious Word Power Ministries International.

A press release signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kwesi Ofori, Acting Director-General of Police Public Affairs and copied the Ghana News Agency, said, it had also received report that some journalists were attacked by some purported supporters who accompanied the Pastor to court in an attempt to gather information at the premise.

It said an investigation team was studying the video footage of the alleged assault to identify the perpetrators to face the law.

The release has therefore apologised for the mishap and has assured journalists that they would be protected and allowed to cover subsequent proceedings.

Police will continue to do everything to deepen the cordial relationship between them and media personnel, it added.

Reverend Owusu Bempah and the three others have been arraigned over offensive conduct and allegedly threatening Madam Patricia Oduro Kwarteng, a priestess, popularly known as “agradaa”.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,– The Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin Tuesday expressed his condolences to Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on the death of his mother, Hajia Mariama Bawumia.

Hajia Mariama passed on in the early hours of Monday, September 13, 2021 in Accra. She was 82.

“On behalf of the Parliament of Ghana, I, with a heavy heart, express my deepest condolence to Your Excellency Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, on the passing of your beloved mother, Haji Mariama Bawumia,” he said.

The message, issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament, recognised a mother’s love as “intense and inestimable”.

“So, I understand the emotional implications of this sad news,” Speaker Bagbin wrote, and encouraged the Vice President and his family to stay strong and give their beloved mother a fitting funeral.

“I pray for forte and Allah’s mercies for you and your family throughout this period of mourning,” the Speaker wrote.

He gave an assurance that Parliament was available to offer whatever support he (Veep) may require to “help ease the burden of the loss.”

Meanwhile the funeral of the late Hajia Mariama Bawumia is underway at Walewale in the North East Region.

Hajia Mariama was a native of Kpasenkpe in the West Mamprusi District of the North East Region and an old student of the Wesley Girls High School, Cape Coast.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,- A 20-year-old motor rider who knocked down a 75-year-old woman with his uninsured motorbike, has been sentenced to pay a fine of GH¢1,800.

00 by an Adentan Circuit Court.

Sedorm Koto, in default, would serve six months’ imprisonment.

Koto was held over charges of careless and inconsiderate driving, riding a motor bike without license and riding without insurance certificate.

The charges were preferred against him based on the advice of the Attorney General.

He pleaded guilty to all the charges and pleaded with the court presided over by Mrs. Sedinam Awo Balokah to have mercy on him.

Police Inspector Gloria Ansaa Ayim, who held the brief of Superintendent of Police Patience Mario, said on September 15, last year, Koto was driving his motor bike with registration number M-20-VD-1053 from Dodowa to Madina.

Prosecution said on reaching an intersection at Adenta Washing Bay, Koto did not exercise due care and he knocked down one Comfort Have.

According to the Prosecutor, the victim was rushed to the Legon Hospital and she was treated and discharged on September 25, last year.

However, in October last year, Madam Have’s relation called the Police informing them that about 0600 hours same day, the victim fell unconscious and she was rushed to the Dodowa Government Hospital but she was later pronounced dead.

Prosecution autopsy conducted on the deceased that she died of haemorrhagic stroke and hypertensive heart disease.

The Prosecutor said when the docket was forwarded to the Attorney General’s office, it recommended that the above charges should be preferred against Koto.

Source: Ghana News Agency