Crime-action thriller “The Agency” to be premiered on October 1

Accra, Crime-action thriller “The Agency” by Cine-God Studios and Vascan Studios USA, is set to be released nationwide in October 2022.

The movie will make its world premiere on October 1, 2022, at the Silverbird Cinemas within the Accra Mall and West hills Mall in Accra.

Mr Abu Iddris (the ‘Cine-God’), Director of the movie, in a media engagement on Monday, said the premiere “promises to be full of glitz and glam with the presence of many celebrities, sponsors, partners, the cast and crew of the movie, other industry players and fans in attendance.”

The “Agency” features a host of very talented actors, including the legendary Mr Oscar Provencal of “Inspector Bediako” fame, John Dumelo, Prince David Osei, Salma Mumin, Beverly Afaglo, Cecilia Anno-Barnieh.

Written and executive produced by Mr Amin Ramart (Vascan Studios) with a simple ‘good-over-evil’ theme, the “Agency,” is a Ghanaian blockbuster with hyper-realistic action design that no or very few, if any, have attempted in Ghana with a completely Ghanaian cast and crew.

The movie tells the story of a very powerful government security agency which was formed to handle the government’s top-secret operations, but gets corrupted under the leadership of a highly connected female government appointee who uses the agency for back-door business dealings, hence, causing the emergence of a group of highly skilled individuals to embark on a self-sanctioned perilous mission to end the corruption and abuse.

Mr Iddris said the main goal of the movie production was to entertain its cherished Ghanaian populace.

He said the movie also defied gender stereotyping in the Ghanaian film industry where lead action roles were typically reserved for men while lead drama roles were solely set aside for women.

“By casting women in lead roles on both sides of the action, the Agency movie boldly proves that Ghana has great female actors who if empowered with the necessary skills and led by great directors, can take on roles like these and even more challenging ones.”

“The ‘Agency’ movie also serves as inspiration for other Ghanaian filmmakers. From writing to post-production, the film was made in Ghana by a Ghanaian cast and crew and with much less funds than it would typically take to make films of its standard,” he added.

He underscored the importance of co-production in the Ghanaian movie industry but added that such collaborations would be fruitful when done by like-minded people with similar visions.

Mr Ramart, expressing his excitement over the success of the production, said, “I cannot overemphasise the commitment of the cast and crew. It is such a joy to see what you’ve put on paper come to life. I am really excited with what we have been able to accomplish.”

He assured that they would produce more of such movies and called on citizens and corporate institutions to push for the movie to break Ghana’s boundaries.

“We’ll do everything we can to push for the promotion of this movie widely within the continent and internationally. However, we cannot do this alone. This movie can only go far when the support from you is massive,” he said.

Recounting their experiences on set, Mr Provencal said throughout this production was the toughest he had worked with.

He said having a female playing the lead action role was groundbreaking and a step in the right direction for women to take similar lead action roles.

Cecilia Anno-Barnieh said it was rare to find ladies play lead action roles in movies and the opportunity given to her to play such a role showed that women had the potential to step up and show their worth in the industry.

She was however quick to add that it had been an exhaustive time on set, especially with the many dangerous stunts one had do.

Beverly Afaglo lauded the Director for always keeping them on their toes, with Prince David Osei, adding that, “his type is needed to push actors and actresses to the limit and not to pamper them.”

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana elected to serve on African Court panel of judges

Tema, The African Union Commission at its 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council held in Lusaka, Zambia on July 15, elected Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei to serve a six-year term on the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights.

Justice Adjei replaces Ms. Marie-Theresa Mukamulisa from Rwanda who occupied the floating seat, in accordance with Paragraph Two of Decision EX.CL/Dec. 907(XXVIII).

At the close of nominations, the nominees were Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei, from Ghana; Lady Justice Aua Balde, from Guinea Bissau; Lady Justice Harimahefa Ratiaraisoa, from Madagascar; Justice Pedro Sinai Nhatitima, from Mozambique and Lady Justice Marie Therese Mukamulisa the incumbent from Rwanda.

According to African Union Commission document made available to the Ghana News Agency in Tema, there were three rounds of voting after which Justice Adjei was elected.

Ghana now has a member on the African Court of Human and Peoples Rights after Justice Sophia Akuffo, the first Ghanaian who served as a member and finally as the President of that court about six years ago.

The African Court was established by virtue of Article One of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Protocol).

The Protocol establishing the African Court was adopted on June 9, 1998 in Burkina Faso and came into force on January 25, 2004 after it was ratified by more than 15 countries.

The mandate of the African Court is to complement and reinforce the functions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission – often referred to as the Banjul Commission), which is a quasi-judicial body charged with monitoring the implementation of the Charter.

The African Court applies the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other human rights instruments ratified by the States concerned. It does not have criminal jurisdiction like the International Criminal Court.

The African Court was established to complement and reinforce the functions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission – often referred to as the Banjul Commission), which is a quasi-judicial body charged with monitoring the implementation of the Charter.

Its mission is to enhance the protective mandate of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights by strengthening the human rights protection system in Africa and ensuring respect for and compliance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as other international human rights instruments, through judicial decisions.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Supreme Court slaps GHS10,000 cost on Oliver Barker-Vormawor after a baptism of fire

Accra, July 14, GNA- Mr Oliver Barker-Vormavwor, Fix the Country Convenor, was slapped with a cost of GHS10,000 after a baptism of fire when he made his appearance before the Supreme Court.

The inexperienced Barker-Vormawor was made to answer several questions by the seven-member panel on his role in filing an application of contempt against the Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the GRA.

Appearing as lawyer for Benjamin Darko of Fix the Country, Democracy Hub LBG and Democratic Accountability Lab, he is praying the apex court to commit the Commissioner General of GRA and the GRA as an institution for contempt over the implementation of E-Levy policy.

It was the case of the plaintiffs that despite an interlocutory injunction, the Commissioner General and the GRA have gone ahead to implement E- Levy policy.

According to the seven-member panel, Mr Barker -Vormawor could not properly name his application, he failed to name the specific person to be cited for contempt.

The Court then asked him to refer to the Supreme Court rules in relation, but he could not produce his books in court.

You are coming to the Supreme Court, and you didn’t have your books or tools with you? On what legal basis are you in court?” the Court quizzed. 

A colleague then offered his book to him to read from.

Barker-Vormawor then informed the Court that he had a soft copy of the Supreme Court rules on his mobile phone.

The Court said:” You just rushed to the Supreme Court without doing any research before coming to court. You have just come to waste the Court’s time. We are looking for the law and not your opinions.”

“As an Official bystander, you are asking the court to agree with you. An outsider cannot cry more than the bereaved. The Supreme Court is looking at the law and not pieces of opinions,” the court quizzed.

Despite suggestions from the panel to withdraw the application, the young lawyer with five years’ experience at the bar insisted to argue his case out.

The seven-member panel with Nene Amegatcher, presiding, held that the panel had read the applicants application and they did find any need to call on the other lawyers.

Accordingly, it ruled that the applicant did not have any locus and was not clothed by law to file the application and commit the Commissioner General and GRA for contempt.

It further described the application as ineffective, frivolous, and vexatious.

Source: Ghana News Agency

FanMilk PLC rewards 86 trade partners in ‘Akyede Kese Promo’

Fan Milk PLC (Fan Milk) has rewarded 86 trade partners for their contribution to business growth in the “Akyede Kese Promo”.

The promo was launched last year to motivate trade partners to sell more whilst investing in their business. Two rounds of the promo were executed last year and rewarded a Total of 486 trade partners. This round of the promo is the 3rd in the series and ran from January to March 2022.

6 key distributors and 80 agents won exciting prizes ranging from distribution trucks, tricycles, and chest freezers.

Speaking at the Fan milk Distribution Centre at Kaase during the grand reward event, FanMilk Managing Director, Yeo Ziobeieton said “FanMilk PLC has a dual mission; economic progress on one hand and social progress on the other hand.

And we bring this dual mission to life through a range of programmes including Trade Support initiatives. One of such initiatives is our flagship Aky3de3 K3se Promo which we launched last year and continuing into this year”.

He added that; “I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of all our Trade Partners, both winners, and non-winners. We appreciate your efforts and resilience in these challenging times. In tough times like this, a business mindset and a strong entrepreneurial spirit are the ingredients that are critical to business survival and success. I am delighted to see our Trade Partners show these qualities and I encourage them to show more of it going forward.”

“Anointed Steve”, a key distributor in the Mid-Savannah cluster was adjudged the overall winner and was awarded a 2-ton distribution van. Besides the grand reward events, other winners were rewarded through tactical events in other FanMilk Clusters.

Source: Ghana Web

Driver grabbed over theft

A driver who took huge sums of money from seven victims under the pretext of securing United Kingdom (UK) visas for them but failed, has been remanded into police custody by An Accra Circuit Court.

Mark Frimpong Kwakye, aged 38, is said to have collected GHS 81, 100, $1,500 and £3,000 to secure UK visas for five out of the seven victims but failed.

Again, the accused collected USD 5000.00 and £ 6,500.00 from two other persons under the pretext of establishing an online tv station and purchase a Toyota Hilux vehicle for them.

Kwakye, charged on seven counts of defrauding by false pretense, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution led by Chief Inspector Isaac Acquandah said investigations were ongoing.

The Court presided over by Mr Sam Bright Acquah, therefore, remanded Kwakye into police custody to reappear on July 14, 2022.

Chief Inspector Acquandah told the court that the complainants, Grace Acheampong, Charles Owusu Adusei and Noah Kwabena Ofori were Ghanaians domiciled in the United Kingdom (UK) whiles Daniel Nuamoah Fofoe, Cynthia Osei Bonsu and Kwame Gyamfi were residents in Ghana.

The prosecution said Kwakye was a driver and a resident of Lapaz.

Chief Inspector Acquandah said in 2018, Acheampong saw an advert of a travel and tour holidays event on “Kumasi online TV station.”

The accused person who was the host of a programme on the said TV station said anyone interested in travelling or touring any of the European countries should contact him on his MTN numbers.

The prosecution said Acheampong got interested and in the late 2018, she came to Ghana and met the accused person.

The accused person allegedly confirmed that the travel and tour business was genuine and showed her some travelling documents belonging to other applicants who, he said. were about to travel to Europe in a few days.

Chief Inspector Acquandah said in 2019, Grace Acheampong introduced other complainants to the accused person.

The prosecution said the accused person demanded the various sums of monies as stated as processing fees to secure UK visas for them.

It said in 2020, the accused person informed Grace Acheampong that the online TV business was also lucrative and collected an amount of USD5,000.00 from her to establish one for her but failed.

Chief Inspector Acquandah said the accused person again collected an amount of €6,5000.00 from Adusei to purchase a Toyota Hilux for him and failed.

The prosecution said the accused person who then relocated to Acheampong’s house in Accra left without notice, switched off all his phones and went into hiding.

Chief Inspector Acquandah said a complaint was later lodged with the police.

On July 2, 2022, Acheampong arrived in Ghana to visit her family and whiles in town, she spotted the accused person and caused his arrest and handed him over to the police for investigation.

In the accused person’s investigation cautioned statement, he admitted the offences.

Source: Ghana News Agency

19 Ghanaian journalists win Merck Foundation awards

Accra, July 05, GNA – Mr Prosper Kuorsoh, a reporter with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) has won an award in the 2021 Merck Foundation’s “More Than A Mother” media recognition awards.

He won the first position in the online category and among 19 journalists from Ghana who received the awards.

The winners in the Print Category include, Ms Dzifa Tetteh Tay from The Spectator taking the first position, the second place went to Mr Jonathan Donkor of Ghanaian Times and Efia Akese of The Mirror with Mr Yaw Asirifi-Twum, a freelance journalist, taking the third position.

The rest are: Online category, Mr Zadok Kwame Gyesi of Graphic Communications, Neta Kris Abiana Parsram and Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah from the Multimedia Group Limited, and Ms Benedicta Gyimaah Folley of Ghanaian Times, all sharing the second position in that category.

The third place in the online category went to Mrs Agnes Opoku Sarong, also of New Times Corporation, while Mr Nyadror Adanuti Nelson of the Diamond FM, Tamale, came first in the Radio category.

In the Multimedia Category, Ms Akua Oforiwa Darko of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation placed second, and Ms Beatrice Senadju, also of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation came third.

The Winners in each category received a gold-plated medal, a certificate and would also be provided with a one-year access to an online educational training programme called “MasterClass.”

The awards scheme was opened to all journalists from print, online, radio and multimedia platforms.

It also featured fashion awards, the launch of a new song to create awareness on diabetes as well as the official launch of “Our Africa by Merck Foundation and I Want to be TV Programs.”

The fashion awards went to Ms Solace Akos Sakah, Ms Linda Mensah, Mr Destinee Mouanda Biyeri, Ms Pwatani Theresa, Mr David Kwabena Appaah, and Ms Catherine Natang, all of Joyce Ababio College of Creative Design.

The awards ceremony was on the theme “Raising awareness about Infertility Prevention, Breaking Infertility Stigma, and Empowering Girls and Women through Education.”

Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, the Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation, congratulated all the winners on their contributions towards fighting stigmatisation against infertility as well as helping to raise awareness on infertility in Africa and the world.

“I appreciate all the efforts put in by the African media fraternity who became the voice of the voiceless to raise awareness about sensitive social and cultural issues such as infertility stigma and girl education action in the past year,” she said.

Dr Kelej said the awards scheme sought support for girls’ education and aimed at breaking the silence on infertility through “More Than a Mother” campaign and fashion to end child marriage.

She said “through fashion and art with purpose, awareness can be raised to address different social and health issues in Africa.”

Dr Kelej called on all young, talented, and potential musicians and fashion designers from across Africa to come together and work on creative ideas to break the silence on infertility.

The Merck Foundation’s “More Than A Mother” media recognition awards is an initiative by the Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany in partnership with African First Ladies, to recognise and appreciate African Journalists who have produced accurate, informative and compelling stories about infertility, infertile women or couples with the aim of raising awareness about infertility prevention.

Source: Ghana News Agency

DCE presents relief items to flood victims in Ellembelle

Akropong (W/R), June 30, GNA-District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle, Mr Kwasi Bonzoh, has made assorted relief items available to flood victims at Akropong and Adubrim in the Ellembelle District.

The items were bags of rice, bars of key soap, toilet rolls, mosquito nets, rubber buckets and school uniforms for school children from Kindergarten to Junior High in both affected communities.

The donation followed recent torrential rains which resulted in severe flooding at Akropong and Adubrim.

Speaking at separate meetings, Mr Bonzoh said plans were underway for the District Assembly to resettle the communities through the proper layout.

The DCE assured the people of proper compensation for property that might be destroyed on the land during relocation.

Mr Bonzoh admonished them to foster unity and avoid any conflict of interest in the relocation process.

At Adubrim, the DCE donated 20 bags of rice, five packs of T-Roll,60 rubber buckets three boxes of key soap,100 packs of mosquito nets and school uniforms.

The two chiefs in the affected communities, Nana Nyameke Kyi III and Nana Assuah Meah III also received five packs each of rice, 670 pieces of T-Roll, 140 rubber buckets, six boxes of key soap, 200 packs of mosquito nets, 140 packs of pure water and 589 school uniforms for Kindergarten to Junior High.

Meanwhile, the technical team of the District Assembly is expected to meet the affected communities on Monday.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Republic Day walk comes off Saturday, July 2

Accra, June 29, GNA – The Republic Day Walk, the flagship event of the El wak Keep Fit Club, comes on this Saturday July 2, 2022.

The annual July walk christened Republic Day Walk, which is organized every July, hits its 20th milestone this year, and to celebrate the event, El wak Keep Fit Club, one of Ghana’s foremost keep fit clubs is organizing this year’s edition to celebrate the event.

The event, which is under the theme: stay healthy, stay wealthy, will be attended by several keep fit clubs from Accra, Volta, and Central regions.

The walk has a history of being ornamented by dignitaries and this year is no exception.

The walk will start from the El wak stadium at 6.30am sharp, and walkers in attendance will pass through 37, Pig Farm, Kotobabi, Nima, Mamobi and back to the El wak Stadium where there would be addresses from the dignitaries.

There will be breast screening for participants who attend the event by MaudLokki Breast Cancer Foundation.

The chairman of the committee Dr. Stephen Bani indicated that the usual excitement that allows people to walk long distance without getting tired whilst exercising will once again come to play. He invited families, friends and all other social clubs to participate in the walk to stay healthy.

Source: Ghana News Agency