Category: General

The autobiography of the late C.K Gyamfi, widely regarded as the most influential figure in Ghana’s football history, is set to be launched in Accra this month.

Gyamfi, who passed away aged 85 on September 2, 2015, shaped the lives and careers of many prominent footballers and coaches in Ghana and on the African continent.

Described by CAF as “a huge figure in Ghanaian and continental football folklore” and by FIFA as “one of the most successful coaches in African football”, Gyamfi won a joint-record hat trick of Africa Cup of Nations titles, leading Ghana to victory in 1963, 1965 and 1982.

Born Charles Kumi Gyamfi on December 29, 1929, Gyamfi enjoyed a celebrated playing career, starring as a prolific striker for traditional giants Ebusua Dwarfs, Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, and the Ghana national team. During his heyday in the 1950s, he was often hailed by the press as one of the most complete footballers to emerge from Africa.

In 1960, he made history by becoming the first Ghanaian footballer to sign a professional contract in Europe, and the first black African to play in Germany, joining Fortuna Dusseldorf’s first team. His exploits as a marksman for the German outfit earned him comparisons with the great Brazilian striker Pele.

Trained in Germany and Brazil, Gyamfi went on to become the first black coach of the Black Stars in 1962. He later led the team to back to back Africa Cup titles, and became the first coach to qualify a Sub-Saharan African national team to the football tournament of the Olympics (Tokyo 1964), reaching the quarter final with Ghana. He coached Africa XI sides in the early 1970s, and managed clubs in Somalia and Kenya to league titles in the 1980s.

His autobiography, titled “The Black Star”, a homage to the beloved Ghana national team, of which he was founding captain, is written in collaboration with award-winning writer Fiifi Anaman. It will be launched at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Airport Residential Area, on Thursday May 19, 2022 at 4pm. The program is being organized by Gyamfi’s sons, as a celebration of their late father’s legacy.

The book’s content spans many decades of historic events, examining the history and evolution of football in Ghana and Africa for most parts of the 20th century.

Gyamfi was a respected CAF and FIFA Technical Study Group member in the latter stages of his career. He was decorated with state awards in Ghana and Senegal, and was honoured posthumously by CAF (Legend Award, 2016) and CISA (Best Technician Award, 2018).

Source: Modern Ghana

SuperYogo, the nutritious fortified yoghurt from FanMilk, has rewarded cyclists who participated in the 2022 edition of 3FM Tour Du Ghana, a cross-city cycling competition.

The 3FM Tour Du Ghana is an assembly of Ghana’s best cyclists to complete a challenging route. This year’s race was a 289km route from Accra through Sogakope to Ho and return via Somanya to Accra, over a 2-day period.

For the second consecutive year, SuperYogo is the official nutrition partner for the competition. The brand nourished more than 100 cyclists who took part in this year’s contest and rewarded the finalists with various packages including product hampers, shopping vouchers, certificates of achievements, and medals.

Speaking before the event, FanMilk Brand Manager, Eric Kumah, said ‘SuperYogo contains vitamin B6 & D to support the immune system, calcium for strong bones, and Vitamin B2 for brain development. SuperYogo is available in two flavors: plain and lemon. That’s why we say SuperYogo fuels you to Go For More. The brand is all about encouraging an active lifestyle and healthy living, and 3FM Tour Du Ghana is a good program that gives Ghanaians an opportunity to be active.

We are proud to be the official nutrition partner for the race and we commend the organizers for a good job.” He ended by congratulating all cyclists who joined the race and encouraging all Ghanaians to adopt active healthy lifestyles.

At the end of the competition, the winners were awarded as below.
Overall Grand Winner / SuperYogo Go for More Award – Anthony Boakye
First runner up – Lawrence Adjei
Second runner up – Jacob Akwei
Youngest Cyclist – Ellis Sherrif
Best Female Cyclist – Deborah Allasie
Senior Cyclist – Joseph Arku
Endurance Award – Yaw Arthur
Best Amateur Cyclist – Hassan Sumaila

ABOUT FANMILK

FanMilk has been in existence since 1962. The company is currently engaged in the production and distribution of top-quality refreshing and nutritious milk-based and fruit-based products. The company is well known for beloved brands like FanYogo, FanIce, FanChoco, SuperYogo, and recent products like GoSlo and NutriDay.

Source: Ghana Web

Just about a month ago, on Friday, March 25, 2022, the Blackstars of Ghana hosted the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the first leg of a decisive World Cup Qualifiers in Kumasi, Ghana.

Both teams needed to win badly, not only to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022 but also to establish dominance over the other it’s a rivalry thing. Nigerians in Ghana were hyped. Ghanaians were charged. Fans of both teams were eager to support their respective teams. But there were concerns from a section of fans.

In the past, fans have raised concern over the overcrowding at the gates on match day, and for that reason, most choose to watch the game from the comfort of their homes. The decision not to go to the stadium meant a loss of revenue to the Football Association, the football teams, and patrons.

Introduction of e-ticketing

To increase participation, the government of Ghana, through the National Sports Authority, launched e-ticketing to digitize ticket sales. This was made possible through a private partnership between NSA, a private ticketing vendor, and ghana.gov (Ghana government’s maiden, fully-integrated payments processing, and settlements platform).

With a USSD short code, fans bought tickets to the game with little to no hassle using Mobile Money via the shortcode (*711#) and then obtained a unique code that they presented on game day to gain admission to the stadium. This made entry to the stadium seamless and safe.

The Impact

The results of the ease and convenience of purchasing tickets to this highly anticipated game were clear to the sight of many. The stadium was filled to capacity, and for the first time in the history of the National Sports Authority, proceeds to a single game were in excess of GHS1.4m.

This unprecedented feat led to the NSA implementing the same strategy to deploy the sale of tickets electronically tickets for local club games between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak on April 10, which realized revenue in excess of GHS591,000 with 15,965 attendances, translating to a whopping 103% increase in revenue. Two months prior, Hearts of Oak hosted Kotoko at the Ohene Djan sports stadium where tickets were sold the traditional way. With more than twice the attendance, revenue realized from that game summed up to GHS643,000.

Speaking on the impact of the rollout of the e-ticketing system at the National Youth Volunteers Programme in Kumasi, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, without mincing words, attributed the surge in ticket proceeds to the latest innovation. Adding that digitization, when done right, can help fight corruption.

As expected, and most feared, the system initially experienced challenges with verifying tickets when it was first launched for Ghana vs. Nigeria game, but this was quickly resolved and readied to be used for the next game. The verification process for the subsequent games (Kotoko vs. Hearts) was much more efficient, sealing all possibilities of other ticketing-related issues like ticket racketeering which is very prevalent in the industry.

What next?

“The digital economy has come to stay”, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif said as he led the launch of the platform in Kumasi.

And with that statement of assurance, fans look into the future with optimism that purchasing tickets to go watch their teams play and enjoy the game they so much love will not have to be a hassle anymore.

“Onwards, anybody accessing the stadium, whether it is a national team game or the Premier League, once it is a government facility, fans will be accessing it through the e-ticket platform which is a policy of the government.,” he added.

Source: Ghana Web

Accra, May 03, GNA – Former President John Dramani Mahama says, notwithstanding the challenges the country is facing, disruptions of the constitutional order cannot be an option.

“I am an unrepentant believer in democracy, and I hold that it is the only viable path to nation building,” the former President said in his presentation in Accra, dubbed: “Ghana at a Crossroads”.

“Disruptions of the constitutional order cannot be an option and would rather worsen a dire situation, but I am also pragmatic enough to realise that mere rhetoric and exhortations about democracy no longer give our people hope, particularly our young people who are desperately searching for jobs or the young families out there whose mortgage plans have been disrupted because the dollar has arrested the cedi.”

“What threatens them must threaten us and jolt us into solution mode.”

Touching on a Stronger Social Fabric for Sustainable Democracy, Mr Mahama said in his presentation Monday evening that aside reversing the economic decay, he wished to emphasise the need to reweave the social fabric, which was bursting at the seams and threatening national cohesion and democracy.

He said the despair and disenchantment that the economic and social problems had created within the people could not and should not be underestimated.

There were many in the country who questioned the relevance and usefulness of the democratic path Ghanaians chartered 30 years ago, he said.

“They see too little progress or hope to convince them that the democracy of the sort we are practicing is worth the effort.”

Mr Mahama said the citizens also had a responsibility to contribute towards national development but the structures must be put in place to support them to achieve that goal.

“In my interactions with them, they do not expect the government to solve all their problems. They are not unreasonable!”

“Therefore, we as political leaders must demonstrate through our deeds that the struggle to restore democratic rule those three decades ago and the flame of hope that was lit in our people has not been in vain. We must restore confidence in the democratic path,” he said.

He said the government could make headway if it carried out extensive reforms of the governance system and delivered the goods and services the people yearned for.

“This is the way to go so that even in times of crisis, they still see a silver lining at the edge of the clouds. And can wait out the hard times with the assurance that effective and responsive leadership will work in their best interest.”

Mr Mahama said the political elite in Ghana were taking Ghanaians for granted and were governing and using resources in a manner that suggested personal benefit overrode national collective benefit.

Under no circumstance must personal benefit override national benefit, the former President said, and that the time had come to adopt bold and radical measures to carry the people along to win back their trust and confidence in managing the affairs of the state.

After 30 years of constitutional rule, the young people of Ghana expected the political leaders to carry out a comprehensive review of the Constitution and governance system, a strengthened fight against corruption and waste, modesty, and frugality in spending.

“They expect humility and respect from those who lead them.”

He urged the Government to show commitment to building genuine consensus on the matters that concerned Ghanaians the most and rally support around a common national cause.

“I am ready to support this national goal with patriotic zeal,” Mr Mahama said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Starr Fm’s Emmanuel Donkor wins Outstanding Blogger and Online Of The Year at Communication Students Awards (CSA) 2022

Starr Fm’s Emmanuel Donkor has bagged an award at the just-ended 3rd Edition of Communication Students Awards organized by Sky Infinity Global held at The Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE) Accra on Saturday 30th April 2022.

Donkor emerged Outstanding Student Blogger and also Outstanding Student Online Of the Year.

Speaking after receiving the awards, he expressed profound gratitude to God, his team, and also people who have supported him.

His blog DonkorBlog has been in existence for over six years.

National Communication Student Awards is a top-notch communication awards program developed by sky infinity to help empower, encourage, motivate and appreciate the works of communication students.

The awards celebrate and reward communication students that are doing well in their field of studies nationwide.

Source: Ghana Web

Caveman Watches, a Ghanaian-owned, globally endorsed watch brand, has officially launched its non-profit organization to provide clean drinking water to rural communities across Africa, dubbed the ‘Water Africa” project.

According to the CEO and founder of the renowned watch brand, Anthony Dzamefe, the Caveman brand is not just a watch; “it has grown to become a call out to prioritize care for the communities around us, hence the Water Africa Initiative.”

Speaking at the launch, he explained that the Water Africa initiative is a campaign born to eradicate unsafe water drinking across Africa and prioritize the Sustainable Development Goal 6, which is about “ensuring the availability of clean water and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”

Appreciating the support of his customers and friends for playing a part in birthing this initiative, he also urged that the initiative be supported by local manufacturers to promote the Water Africa logo on their products so that a percentage can be used to support the initiative to reach its goal, and also by patronizing the Caveman products and also donating to help the initiative.

The launch event took place at the Fitzgerald Cantonments and had Nathaniel Attoh as host. The event had over 200 people as attendees. At the launch, two beautifully customized watches and three specially crafted art pieces were auctioned to raise some money to support the project.
The Water Africa initiative, whose ambassador is Kwame Akoto Bamford, is aiming at drilling sixteen (16) boreholes across Africa this year with a budget of GHCedis 15,000 for each borehole.

Last year, Mr. Anthony Dzamefe invested in the construction of a fully functional borehole for the people of Kuroboi.

The initiative, according to him, was motivated after Citi TV carried a report in January of 2020, about the Kuroboi community in the Upper West Region of Ghana, where the community, with a population of over a thousand people, had only one functioning borehole, which was constructed in 1964 and, during the dry seasons, barely provided the community with water.

Due to this kind gesture, he was enskinned by the chiefs and elders as a development chief with the skin name Fente Dua. He, in turn, made it known that this water project was not a one-off thing but rather the beginning of many more social interventions from Caveman Watches.

Mr Anthony, rather than just verbally sympathizing with the community, decided to take action to help alleviate the water problem facing the people of Kuroboi. In consultation with the chiefs and people.

Caveman Foundation’s Water Africa Project: A project founded by Caveman watches where they dedicate revenue made from some particular watch models to providing potable water for the deprived communities in Ghana and other African countries, invested over GHC 20,000 into the construction of a fully functional borehole for the people of Kuroboi.

Caveman is a globally endorsed watch manufacturing company in Ghana that has caught the attention of the New York Times and others. They have chalked many successes over the years with their beautiful and innovative timepieces such as the Blue Volta which pays homage to the Volta Lake and their flagship product the Caveman Turbo Premium which has adorned the wrists of the likes of the President of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Dr. Kwame Despite, Asamoah Gyan, Akon, Don Jazzy, etc.

Source: Ghana Web

Accra, May 3, GNA- Bridgett Sonia Owusu has been crowned winner of season two of the television reality show “RabbyStarlet”.

At this year’s grand-finale held at Silverbird Cinemas in Accra, Queen Sonia beat off competition from eight other contestants to take home the ultimate GHC10,000 cash prize, a brand new car, as well as other ambassadorial deals.

Speaking at the grand-finale, Ghanaian actress Rabby Bray, who is the brain behind the RabbyStarlet show, said the main purpose of the competition was to empower upcoming female talents in the film industry.

She said the platform offered young female actresses the opportunity to be self-motivated as they venture into film series and make a career out of it in the midst of unemployment challenges. 

“Our main aim is to inspire and also empower the next generation of young, talented women who would echo that indeed women can excel and become icons and role models in society without succumbing to stereotyped roles,” she explained.

Queen Sonia, after being presented with her prize, was elated to have emerged as the overall winner of the competition, having described the journey as very tough.

“The journey of being crowned the overall winner has not been easy, but I am delighted to emerge as the winner and I want to congratulate other contestants who made it this far,” she said.

Portia Blankson, winner of the first edition of the RabbyStarlet was at the finals of the competition, and handed the crown to the new winner.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Executive Chairman of Ghana Link Network Services Ltd (Ghana Link), Nick Danso Adjei has been awarded CEO of the Year (Trade Facilitation category) and Entrepreneur of the Year at the maiden edition of the Ghana CEO Vision, Exhibition, and Awards Night held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra.

The awards are in recognition of Mr. Danso Adjei’s exemplary and visionary leadership to leverage technology to automate processes to facilitate trade and increase revenue for national development and successfully steer the implementation of the Integrated Customs Management Systems.

This is the third time the Executive Chairman of Ghana Link has won a topmost award, at last year’s Ghana Shippers Awards, Mr. Nick Danso Adjei won the Personality of the Year award for his exceptional leadership character, vision, integrity, and focus to continuously provide direction to deliver projects that have directly impacted on increasing revenues while facilitating trade.

He was also honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award which is the Excellence In Business Award at the 4th Ghana Business Awards Night.
Mr. Nick Danso Adjei’s contribution and achievements in the ICT and Trade facilitation sector in the country and beyond remain pivotal in the development pursuit of the nation. This is demonstrated in the development and implementation of innovative and award-winning projects.

Under the leadership of Dr. Danso Adjei, Ghana Link is expected to deploy new modules and innovative projects (e-products) such as the E-Auction for the Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division and Domestic Tax Division) which aims to help the auctioning processes to be transparent and smooth, also soon the company is expected to work with the authorities at the Airport to deploy the Airport Passenger Information Systems also known as the APIS.

These initiatives are to help the GRA build one of the most advanced taxes and business regimes in Africa. The impact of the ICUMS has been a significant increase not only in tax revenues but also in the domestic tax revenue collections.

Commenting on the award on the sidelines of the event, Mr. Danso Adjei, noted that the award is a testament to the hard work he and his team of Directors and staff have put into running the ICUMS platform.

Adding that, despite the initial opposition to the implementation of the ICUMS system, the system has now proven to be a major revenue generation tool for the government.

ICUMS last year – 2021 – generated over GHS 16bn in revenue for the government.
Mr. Danso Adjei is the Executive Chairman of not only Ghana Link, but he has also been very successful at starting and running other businesses like the Royal Nick Hotel, the Royal Light, Nick TC Scan (Ghana and Port of Gambia), Misyl an Energy BDC, Nick Petroleum and several other companies.

The Ghana CEO Vision, Exhibition, and Awards seeks to celebrate Leadership and pitch Ghana and its business sectors to the world.
The Awards Night is the utmost exposure and thriving platform for CEOs to stay connected, relevant, ahead of the game, and get verified via documentary films, awards, and magazines.

It is an iconic premium brand that provides pitching platforms for CEOs who have used the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives, and ultimately the country. It brings together the best CEOs in each business sector in Ghana.

Source: Ghana Web