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Keta Port project is alive, discount opposition propaganda – NPP Chairman

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Makafui Woanyah, Chairman, Volta Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), says the Keta Port Projects suffered temporary delays due to exogenous factors, including largely the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the pandemic stalled most of the processes, particularly foreign participation, which delayed the progress insisting the project was still alive.

He said there were processes that needed to be satisfied including the pillars of contractual and other matters.

Mr Woanyah, who made these statements at a press conference, said historically, it took decades from conception to execution for such big projects, but government was focused on completing the Port project in record time.

The Regional Chairman said the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer for the project in earnest was to facilitate procurement and other processes for eventual construction phase.

He explained that the issuance of an Executive Instrument declaring the Keta area as a port zone opened actions such as invitation to global investment with the conclusion of feasibility studies and advertisement and publication for the expression of interest as well as approval by Parliament a budget outline to construct an office complex.

He asked the motive of the MP and the NDC, who had occupied the executive position of this country since independence the most without conceiving such a project, must allow them to execute the Keta Port project according to the government’s plan.

Mr Woanyah said the Keta Port project like other government projects would be completed.

He said the NPP government was executing an 85-million Euro Keta Water Supply and Rehabilitation project for Southern Volta, which commenced April 2021, and was progressing steadily and due for completion at the end of the year.

“Another ongoing project affected by COVID-19 is the phase three of the five-District Water Supply Scheme, an Austrian funded project of 11.5 million Pounds.”

He enumerated projects across all sectors that are benefiting the people of the Volta region.

Source: GNA

Wife of Paul Mashatile: Meet the wife of Paul Mashatile

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Paul Mashatile is a South African politician and member of the African National Congress (ANC).

He has served in various leadership positions within the ANC and the government, including as Premier of Gauteng, the country’s economic heartland, and currently as Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.

Paul Mashatile was born in 1957 in Atteridgeville, a township west of Pretoria. He began his political career in the 1980s as a member of the ANC Youth League, where he was actively involved in fighting apartheid. He was arrested and imprisoned several times during this period for his political activities.

After the fall of apartheid in 1994, Mashatile was elected to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, where he served as the ANC’s Chief Whip. In 2000, he was appointed the provincial MEC (Member of the Executive Council) for Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, a position he held until his election as Premier of Gauteng in 2008. He served as Premier of Gauteng from May 2008 to May 2014.

As Premier, Mashatile was credited with implementing policies that helped improve the province’s economic growth and social development. He also played a key role in the establishment of the Gauteng City-Region Observatory, which aimed to improve the coordination and planning of development in the province.

After serving as Premier, Mashatile was appointed as Minister of Arts and Culture, a position he held until 2019. In 2019, he was appointed Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology. He still holds this position. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the development and promotion of the country’s cultural and creative industries, as well as the promotion of science and technology.

Mashatile has been a vocal advocate for the rights of the poor and marginalized, and is known for his strong commitment to social justice and equality. He is also a strong supporter of the arts and culture and has been instrumental in promoting the development of the country’s creative industries.

Throughout his career, Mashatile has been actively involved in the ANC and has held several leadership positions within the party. He is currently a member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and has served as the ANC’s Gauteng Chairperson.

As a member of the NEC, Mashatile has been a vocal advocate for the renewal of the party, calling for the ANC to become more responsive to the needs of the people and more accountable to its members. He is also a strong supporter of the party’s alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP).

In summary, Paul Mashatile is a respected political figure in South Africa, known for his strong commitment to social justice and equality, and has played a key role in shaping the country’s political and economic landscape as a leader in the African National Congress (ANC) and as a Premier and Minister in the government.

Wife of Paul Mashatile: Meet the wife of Paul Mashatile

He was married to Manzi Ellen. However, he has been single ever since she sadly passed away in July 2020.

Baby found dead on refuse dump at Sefwi-Bekwai

Caleb Qwofi Right
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An unidentified baby girl believed to be about two weeks old has been found dead at sefwi-Bekwai in the Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region.

The deceased was found at a refuse dump in the early hours of Friday, January 20, 2023, wrapped in a cloth.

Mr Kwaku Bawah, a staff of Zoomlion Ghana Limited and an eyewitness, confirmed the story to the Ghana News Agency, said he went to the refuse dump at dawn as has been his daily routine.

“On arrival l saw a baby covered with a cloth but the legs were showing so l raised alarm and some neighbours came over only to realize the baby had already passed away.”

He said they informed the Assembly Member of Anorku Electoral Area, Mr Akwasi Prince Tano, who reported the incident to the Sefwi-Bekwai District Police Command.

Mr Tano said the police had collaborated with the Environmental Health Officers in the Municipality to bury the baby while investigations continued.

Source: GNA

Motor rider stabs colleague to death at Dagbamate

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Agorsor Christian, a 22-year-old commercial motor rider, has allegedly stabbed his colleague rider to death.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) learnt the alleged act was as a result of the suspect’s attempt to pick a passenger ahead of the deceased.

Agbesi Davor, 33, died on his way to the Abor Sacred Heart Hospital after his colleague stabbed him in the chest with a screwdriver.

Mr Raphael Ahiable, the Assemblyman for the area, told the GNA that a misunderstanding ensued between the two riders at their parking terminal as to whose turn it was to pick a passenger first.

The suspect, to express his anger, pulled out a screwdriver and stabbed the deceased’s chest before absconding.

Mr Ahiable said the deceased was quickly conveyed on a motorcycle by residents in the area.

“It was initially planned to move him to Abor Hospital but was rushed to a health center at Avenorpedo on their way after they realised his condition was worsening but died upon arrival,” he said.

Sources at the Abor Police Command confirmed the incident to the GNA.

The sources said the suspect fled the scene before the police arrived, but was later brought to the police station by his father, Pastor Agorsor Gomez.

The police at Abor said the suspect was currently in custody as investigations continued.

The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Sacred Heart Hospital Morgue at Abor for autopsy.

Source: GNA

MTN FA Cup: Dreams send Hearts packing in dramatic fashion

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Defending MTN FA Cup Champions Accra Hearts of Oak were knocked out of this year’s competition after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Agyenim Boateng gave Dreams the lead in the early stages of the first half, but a dramatic series of events in the last minute of added time made the game pulsating.

Referee Rustum Gameli Senorgbe awarded Hearts a penalty in the 98th minute of the game after Kwadwo Obeng Junior was brought down in the penalty area.

Substitute Benjamin Yorke missed his initial kick, but referee Rustum ordered for it to be retaken after the goalkeeper came off his line to make the save.

The decision by the referee infuriated the Dreams player, who temporarily walked off the pitch but came back later as Samuel Inkoom failed to put the ball at the back of the net.

It was a well-deserved win for Dreams FC, who were brilliant on the day and dominated possession in both halves, with Hearts often on the back foot.

Hearts were lackluster in every department of the game, especially in defence, where debutant Yakubu Zakari made a lot of mistakes, giving away the only goal of the match.

The Phobians really struggled in the game and should have been down by more goals, but goalkeeper Richmond Ayi pulled off some brilliant saves to keep the scoreline slim.

But Hearts couldn’t capitalise on the last chance as Dreams held on to progress to the Round of 16 of this year’s competition.

Source: GNA

Finance Minister inaugurates first-ever Independent Tax Appeal Board

Caleb Qwofi Right
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The Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, has sworn members of the first-ever Independent Tax Appeal Board (ITAB) of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) into office with a charge to establish a strong tax dispute resolution system to support revenue mobilisation.

He asked them to ensure that justice was done in the administration of taxes in the country.

The 11-member Board was established in line with the Revenue Administration Amendment Act, 2020 (Act 1029).

The Minister noted that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms were accepted as a speedy and more cost effective approach to resolving disputes, even tax disputes.

He was confident that an ADR mechanism would boost investor confidence and reduce time spent litigating for both taxpayers and the Tax Administrators. 

The establishment of the ITAB, Ofori-Atta further indicated, would provide a cost effective means of resolving tax disputes for both the GRA and the taxpayers. 

It will also relieve the Ministry of duty of having to mediate disputes between the GRA and taxpayers.

He said, “we need to establish that discipline and that trust and that authority that GRA must have.”

The Minister urged the board to provide a fair and independent forum for dispute resolution and to make decisions based on the evidence presented, provide guidance and precedence for similar cases and ensuring compliance with the tax law by providing clarity in the interpretation of tax legislation. 

Mr Ofori-Atta said the ITAB would help to improve

Ghana’s tax-to-GDP rate of 13 per cent, which is one if the lowest in the sub-region, despite the concerted efforts of the tax authorities.

He commended the GRA for exceeding its revenue target for 2022 by over GH¢3 billion but called for more effort to enable the country reach the revenue generation levels of the OECD countries, whose tax levels are almost triple that of Ghana.

Chairman of the Independent Tax Appeal Board, Justice Lawrence Mensah, a retired Appeals Court Judge, stated that “the goal of any dispute settlement body such as the ITAB is to ensure access to justice.”

He said the ITAB would focus on providing an efficient, effective forum for speedily resolving disputes that could create threats for market players and distort government’s income generation projections and even affect the GRA.

He said the ITAB would operate with integrity in all facets of its works.

The members of the ITAB are Justice Lawrence Mensah, who is the Chairman, Peter Kwame Abebrese, Samuel Narh Djangmah, Mrs Mangowa Ghanney, Justice Kwabena Asuman-Adu, Nii Ayi Aryeetey, Theophilus Tawiah, Emmanuel Obeng-Asiedu, Dr Isaac Nyame, Catherine Quaidoo and Fauziah Ibrahim. 

Source: GNA

Don’t forget to do these 5 things if you’re planning a party

Caleb Qwofi Right
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So you open your Instagram feed and start to scroll. You spot all the fine photos and reels from a slew of parties.

Bachelor parties, wedding parties, gender reveal parties and the list goes on. You feel inspired and say to your self “This is fun. I could do this. I could be a party planner.” And you can but you want to approach your newfound career with some tips and advice.

Firstly, event planning is a high-pressure career that focuses on a lot of moving parts. And those parts usually move spontaneously.

Brace yourself because you’ll have to be level-headed and organized. Your attention to detail will come to play because every well-planned party always comes down to the details.

Speaking of details, you may easily overlook or forget certain things when planning your party. Don’t worry. We got you. If it’s about throwing down a shindig for the ages then we dey for you.

You may be new to the party planning game but these easy tips and dos will assure your success.

Here are some of the top party planning tips to have a successful event.

Have a theme
Always come up with a theme. Party theme are fun and excitement, and a great one will keep your party on the lips of attendees for ages. Masquerade parties, pyjama parties, 80’s Hiplife parties…the options are many. You can surf the internet for ideas or ask friends for inspo. But the best choice would be to ask the celebrant what they want their party theme to be.

Take account of party and tech set-up

You always need a contingency plan when organizing a party. Think about all the scenarios that might require a contingency plan. If the party is outdoors, plan for if there’s bad weather. Don’t make the mistake of leaving your space and party set up till the 11th hour. This is one of the biggest oversights many party planners make. Especially with regards to the tech set-up. You don’t want to derail the party with tech issues. Account for the music, lighting and power ahead of time.

Make a guest list and then account for 20% more

When it comes to events anything can happen. The smart thing to do is to have excess as opposed to less. Account for extra seating, extra food and any extra goodies. This is important, especially when you are planning a bigger party than usual. This will also help you prepare in case you have limited party space.

Invites timing

A lot of party planners either send out invites too early or too late. If it is sent out too early, the party could be forgotten. If it’s too late, the guests might not have enough time to plan to attend. The best time would be far enough in advance to guarantee guests won’t already be booked, but close enough to the date that they will be looking forward to attending. We suggest like they do in corporate; a two weeks notice. Another reminder three days to the party wouldn’t hurt either. P.S. include directions and contact to the invites.

Prioritize all five senses

First and lasting impressions rely on many things but the most of them rely on stimulating the sight, smell, taste, sound, and touch senses. What does this mean for you? Your venue must look visually amazing; lights and decor set-up. It should smell pleasant and inviting; aromatic flowers or oil diffusers. You could offer a welcome drink on arrival, enjoyed with a soothing backdrop of music. Your guests should have access to comfortable and plush spaces to socialize before the real party gets started. Best believe you’ll have your party attendees right where you want them to be.

Source: braperucci.africa

Camidoh finally releases his much-anticipated EP ‘A Lifetime Is Not Enough’

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Ghana’s afropop, R&B and afrobeats artistes Camidoh has finally dropped his much-anticipated Extended Playlist (EP), titled “A lifetime Is Not Enough”.

The songs were produced by Camidoh himself and Hope Brain Ashiagbor.

The EP has six tracks, which includes “Free Me”, “Adoley”, “Like You Mean It”, “Ghetto Love”, “All Yours” and “Do Me”.

Tracks two and five on the EP were mixed and mastered by EddyKayBeatz while tracks one, three, four and six were mixed and mastered by Adeleke.

The EP has only one Ghanaian artiste Cina Soul, who was featured on one song titled “Like You Mean It” tack.

The young singer shared a cover photo of his EP on his instagram page informing all his fans about the release.

The “Sugarcane” hit maker, Camidoh, has gained a large audience for his break-out single “Sugarcane” which was further remixed with both local and international artistes like King Promise, Mayorkun, and Darkoo.

However, he released his first solo single dubbed “Kaba” last year, which portrayed modern romantic relationships and exploring love and its complexities.

Camidoh has been working hard to put the Ghanaian music industry on the international frontline.

Source: GNA

Ghanaian music industry is at the forefront globally – Chantman

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Afro-Caribbean musician, Chantman, has described the Ghanaian music scene as a thriving one, and the centre stage for music globally.

He pronounced the Ghanaian music scene as unique, saying, “the majority of all the big names in music come to Ghana to pop and I think that’s magical.”

To him, any artiste who seeks success in the continent must first seek approval in the Ghanaian music scene.

“I think the Ghanaian music industry is at the forefront of the global music industry. I say that because I have monitored the scene. As a student of music, I have monitored the various markets to identify the thriving ones. What I found unique about Ghana is that the majority of all the big names come here to pop and I think that’s magical.

New artists also come here to link up with the promoters and they get them on stages out there. It looks like so far as Ghanaians accept these new artists, it sends a signal to the rest of the continent that this guy is good enough to be supported,” he told Akua Sika in an interview on the Happy Evening Drive.

The artiste with Ghanaian roots regards the country as a place filled with amazing creative talents. “I’ve realized some top international producers are Ghanaians. The soul of the music world grows in Ghana.”

Source: www.etvghana.com

NDC MP slams Akufo-Addo for spending GH₵10billion on unrelated Covid-19 issue

Caleb Qwofi Right
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The Member of Parliament for Builsa South has raised questions over the misappropriation of Covid-19-related funds.

Dr. Clement Apaak says the government kept blaming Covid-19 as one of the reasons for our economic world when in actual fact the allocation for Covid-19 expenditure was misappropriated.

He said although Covid-19 gave the government so many funds, 10 billion was used for unrelated activities.

The Auditor-General has revealed that the government spent ¢10 billion of monies mobilised for Covid-19 activities on budget support.

According to the A-G, a total of ¢21,844,189,185.24 was mobilised for the fight against the outbreak in Ghana.

However, out of this amount, only ¢11,750,683,059.11 was spent on Civid-19/activities.

The A-G said the rest, per its records, was used for budget support.

“Out of ¢21,844,189,185.24 mobilised, ¢11,750,683,059.11 was spent on Covid-19 activities and the rest on budget support.

“On Covid-19 activities, we noted that ¢8,658,496,124.96 was spent in 2020, ¢3,084,311,725.45 in 2021, and ¢7,875,208.70 in 2022 to mitigate the impact of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in Ghana,” excerpt of the report said.

The report also revealed that $80m worth of vaccines paid for by the government has not been delivered.

According to the A-G, the government paid over $120m to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) but only $38m worth was delivered.

Meanwhile, the report also stated that over US$2.5bn (¢21bn) of monies mobilised for the fight against Covid-19, only 25% (¢5.5) was used on health.

The A-G added that the balance was spent on government programmes such as Free SHS and LEAP, among others.

Aside from these figures, GHc605,000 of Covid-19 funds was paid to chiefs using Covid funds unaccounted for. GHc150,000 of that amount was misapplied.

Dr. Apaak reacting to this slammed the government and wondered why it would misapply funds meant for Covid-19 expenditure and later blame its recklessness and mismanagement on something else.

He tweeted saying “Explosive. Covid-19 gave gov’t so much funds, 10b was used for activities unrelated to Covid. How can a pandemic which gave gov’t a windfall be a reason for our current economic woes.”

Source: rainbowradionline.com

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