Black Sherif, a Ghanaian musician, recently took control of a digital billboard on the streets of New York, marking another significant achievement.
Black Sherif’s performance of his hit song “Kwaku the Traveller” is captured in part on a video of the billboard that blogger Zionfelix uploaded.
This comes after the artist known as “Kwaku the Traveller” was invited to join YouTube’s Foundry Class of 2022.
The initiative is YouTube Music’s worldwide artist development program, which supports the independent music industry by providing musicians with resources to succeed on YouTube and forge successful independent careers.
As you may remember, Blacko topped Twitter trends when he debuted the song “Kwaku the Traveller” on March 26, 2022, after giving Ghanaians a sneak preview of it at the 3Music Awards.
He currently has more than nine million YouTube views, and there are endless comments complimenting the musician for his musical ability.
The artist’s latest song used a sequential storytelling style, albeit this time it wasn’t done in Twi like it often is in Blacko’s earlier songs.
The musician stunned many social media users with his poetic prowess in the language of the English man, mixing a variety of distinctive styles with English.
Mr. Boakye Agyarko, a former minister of energy, has counseled New NPP National Executives to exercise firmness and objectivity in making decisions as they carry out their constitutional obligations.
In order to escape the 8-year rule syndrome, he said, the National Executives must make sure that the laws outlined in the party’s Constitution are relevant. This would assure justice for the party’s expansion and development.
After serving the party devotedly and loyally, Mr. Boakye Agyarko announced his intention to run in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2024 presidential primaries. He observed that the past NPP National Executives never worked.
Speaking on the afternoon political talk show “Dwaberem” on OTEC FM.
Mr Agyarko was of the view that the leadership of some past executives and the immediate past executives failed to live up to expectations because they failed to implement the party’s Constitution.
He explained that former national executives were not firm in their decision making adding that they had no proper relations with party folks, especially the grassroots.
Citing an example, Boakye Agyarko touted how former leaders like Dan Rocha, Dan Botwe, and the likes worked with passion and integrity to make the party attractive to date.
Mr Agyarko, therefore, charged the new leadership to emulate the Dan Botwe, Dan Rocha leadership style to make a difference which can enable the party to make history and break the 8.
“I know the new Chairman and General Secretary very well and I believe they can do a good job, but they must be strong as the task ahead is not an easy one,” he told the program’s host, Dr. Cash.
On Thursday, July 28, when the house assembled for the final sitting of the second session of the eighth parliament, something pretty odd happened in the chamber.
The fate of Dome Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo, who had not appeared in parliament for more than 15 days, was to be decided by parliament as one of the issues on the agenda for the day.
Prior to this, the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, had referred the MP and two other individuals to the Parliament’s Privileges Committee on April 5, 2022.
The Speaker’s instruction was in accordance with Order 17 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which categorically states that “A Member shall not absent himself during a meeting for more than fifteen sittings without the permission in writing of the Speaker,” and Article 97 (1) (c) of the 1992 Constitution. Any member who violates this rule will have his or her behavior reported to the Privileges Committee.
After meeting with the two additional MPs, Ken Agyapong and Henry Quartey, the Privileges Committee wrote a report, which it then presented to the legislature.
The Privileges Committee claimed in their report that they were unable to speak with Adwoa Safo and as a result were unable to make a decision, but the majority insisted that regardless of whether they spoke with Adwoa Safo or not, the constitution clearly stated that the seat should be declared vacant as it was inevitable.
As stated on the order paper, the house was then intended to move a motion for a debate on the subject, but the majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, asked that the Speaker move a motion for the house to approve the Privileges Committee’s findings on the alleged violation of Article 97 (1) c.
The majority leader stated that since the committee had already given its report to the house and laid it out for the house’s information, the decision about the three individuals had already been made and the requirements of Article 97 would immediately take effect.
He continued by saying that what was written as a motion in the order paper has problems since a motion is meant to ask the house to make a decision, which he believes has already been made.
However, the minority rose to voice their displeasure over the fact that the majority did not propose the motion but instead spoke their viewpoint. Haruna Iddrisu, the minority leader, pressed the majority on the issues that had been brought up.
How Minority defended Adwoa Safo in Parliament
According to Haruna Iddrisu, the house is controlled by the standing orders of the house and the constitution from 1992.
He asserts that the house shouldn’t establish a precedent wherein a seat might be declared empty in response to suggestions in a Privileges Committee report because such a precedent would probably have an impact on the house in the future.
Even while Haruna highlighted that the minority’s position in no way supports an MP violating the constitution or legal processes, as Adwoa Safo has done, the proper legal processes must be followed.
Haruna Iddrisu contends that once a report has been delivered to the legislature, action must be taken.
He claimed that because of this, there is a clause describing how to remove an elected member of parliament. He claimed that parliament serves as the guardian of fundamental human rights and liberties.
Haruna added that the reason for this is that the constitution recognizes the importance of an elected official who wants to exercise the sovereign’s power and authority.
He emphasized that the majority’s plan to remove Adwoa Safo by declaring the seat empty is illegal and that the minority is not in favor of her.
“Mr. Speaker, you just referred the matter, we will respect your ruling on the matter of the referral to the Privileges Committee but to state that what the Honourable Member for Dome Kwabenya is doing is not right, and is not acceptable, we are only disagreeing on procedure… and we will be guided with your expertise on this,” he stated.
He stated that after the motion has been discussed and debated, the recommendation would be approved by parliament and put to a vote.
The Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation (MoCD) will engage and consult key stakeholders and all telecommunication companies to determine whether to extend the recent SIM card registration exercise or not, Sector Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has disclosed.
Barely 48 hours to the second deadline, which was prolonged to Sunday, July 31, 2022, from the previous deadline of March 31, some Ghanaians are still calling for an extension of the new deadline—possibly to the end of the year.
Despite the appeals, the MoC has emphasised its resolve to stick to the current date – a duration it maintains has been enough to ensure compliance.
However, speaking to the B&FT on the sidelines at the launch of the Tertiary Digital Innovation Programme to herald the 5th anniversary of the Ghana Digital Centres (GDCL) in Accra, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said: “We’ll engage all stakeholders and all telecom companies on the matter.” Until then, the deadline remains the same”.
Meanwhile, notable civil society organisations (CSOs) including CUTS Ghana and some personalities are continuously appealing for an extension of the deadline.
Per the directives, individuals who do not register their SIM cards risk being removed from the communication network.
Current data from the National Identification Authority (NIA) has it that a little over 16 million people have so far registered for the Ghana Card – an access card which enables the registration of SIM cards.
Per the figures, it appears that more people are yet to register their SIM cards, as data from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunication suggests that more than 30 million phone gadgets are being used in Ghana.
About the Tertiary Digital Innovation Programme
The Tertiary Digital Innovation Programme is designed by the GDCL to equip tertiary graduates with the knowledge, skills, and tools to transition from school to industry in response to the growing youth unemployment in Ghana.
CEO of GDCL, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, in his remarks indicated that as an agency of the MoC, GDCL is positioned to bridge the gap between academia and industry toward digital skills development and job creation, and is thus, pleased to partner with GIZ to make the TIP an important programme in Ghana’s digital innovation ecosystem.
The programme will select and onboard graduates, who at the point of completion from the participating universities, have developed a concept for a technology start-up which they have the desire to pursue with the needed support.
He said to be eligible for the programme, the participant must be a final year student or a recent graduate of (the University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana Communication and Technology University (GCTU) or Academic City University College (AUCC).
“Applicants must also have a concept/idea for a digital/technology or a tech-enabled start-up that has the potential to contribute to the SDGs, and have 2-3 co-founders with a passion to develop their idea,” he said.
Successful applicants will be formally onboarded by the Ghana Digital Centres Limited to enable them to develop their innovations during the mandatory National Service period. Thereafter, innovators will be provided with an additional six months of support to further assist with the development of their businesses.
To ensure inclusivity, the programme will target at least 30 per cent female participation, with a preference for all females and female-led teams.
The Tertiary Digital Innovation Programme will run over an 18-month period, helping participants build viable business models, product prototypes, market testing and a full launch plan.
In order to emphasis on important areas, Vodafone Plc has reached an agreement to sell its business in Ghana to Telecel Group.
Subject to certain requirements, the London-listed business will sell its majority stake in Vodafone Ghana to Telecel, an African-focused company, a Vodafone representative said in an email statement.
In 2008, Vodafone entered Ghana by paying the government of the west African nation $900 million to acquire 70% of Ghana Telecommunications Co. In the company, the government still holds a 30% stake.
According to persons familiar with the situation who declined to be identified discussing confidential information, Telecel intends to subsequently sell the cell towers owned by the Ghanaian company to help finance the acquisition.
A representative for Telecel confirmed the talks with Vodafone but declined to comment further.
Nick Read, Vodafone’s chief executive officer, has been focusing the group on Europe and Africa as he streamlines a sprawling operation that once extended from its Newbury, England headquarters all the way to New Zealand.
In Africa, Vodafone has been steadily consolidating interests under its sub-Saharan subsidiary Vodacom Group Ltd., of which it owns 60.5%. Vodafone explored a sale of its Ghanaian business to Vodacom in early 2021 and, while that deal did not materialize, transferred a 55% holding in its Egyptian operations to the group later in the year.
Founded in 1986, Telecel operates in more than 30 countries and employs over 700 staff, according to its website. The company has a history of growth through acquisitions, having struck deals in Gibraltar, Liberia and Mauritania in recent years.
Sarkodie, a musician from Ghana, acknowledged the significance of rap music in his life. Michael Owusu Addo is better known by his stage name. In a recent post on his verified social media account on the well-known social media site, Twitter, he announced this.
According to the post he made, if it weren’t for rap music, he might already be in pain. The message he posted says;
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has deferred ruling on Dome Kwabenya legislator Adwoa Safo, who was referred to the Privileges Committee for absenteeism.
The Speaker deferred the ruling following a debate from both sides of the House on Thursday, July 28 2022.
When the motion for the declaration of the Dome Kwabenya legislator’s seat was moved, however, Speaker Bagbin suspended sitting.
When sitting resumed, the Speaker indicated that he would not rush to deliver a ruling on the fate of the legislator.
According to the Speaker, he would deliver his ruling on the matter when Parliament resumes from recess.
He said: “I have consulted the old lady, the old lady has given me some advice and I think that advice is correct. I need time to submit to this House a reasoned written ruling.
“I cannot in the haste of today give you a ruling, in the circumstances, I will urge this House for us to call it a day. In return, I will deliver a written ruling.”
The Dome Kwabenya legislator failed to appear before the Privileges Committee to explain her absence from Parliament for over 15 sittings.
In a report submitted to the Plenary after its sitting, the Committee recommended that the legislator’s seat be declared vacant.
Parliament on Thursday approved a $1.3 billion cocoa syndicated loan to finance the purchase of cocoa for the 2022/2023 crop season by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
The receivable-backed trade finance facility is between COCOBOD and a Consortium of Banks and financial institutions, with the Government of Ghana as the guarantor.
The facility had waiver of Stamp Duty amounting up to GHC6.5 million, which is in accordance with article 174(2) of the 1992 constitution, Section 36 of the Stamp Duty Act, 2005 (Act 689) and Standing Orders of the House.
Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament said the Committee had carefully considered the agreement and the request and finds that the syndicated facility was integral to the successful management of operations related to the purchasing, quality assurance, storage, and export of cocoa by the COCOBOD.
Touching on the late submission of the facility to Parliament, the Chairman said the Committee expressed serious concern about the fact that the instant agreement and request were only presented to Parliament in the final week in which the House was scheduled to rise sine die.
He said Members of the Committee were worried that the House and Members had not been given adequate time to scrutinize the documents on the finance facility and the request for the waiver of Stamp Duty.
“While agreeing that the urgent approval of the instant facility and request is in the national interest, the Committee strongly iterate that going forward, COCOBOD’s annual syndicated facility (and waiver request) should be presented to the House early to afford Members a much longer period to peruse and approve same before Parliament rises sine die.”
The Committee noted that for the 2022/2023 crop season, cocoa production had conservatively forecasted to be 850,000 tonnes, which was based on the trend of cocoa production over the past years and relevant agronomic practices being adopted by COCOBOD.
Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee/Member of Parliament (MP) for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam, said the COCOBOD had a bad balance sheet with the security rate going up.
He said the issues of cocoa needed to be important to all Ghanaians; adding that the Government must ensure that sector does not collapse.
Dr Forson said the sustainability of the cocoa industry depended on the production and that COCOBOD needed the money to survive industry-wise.
He, however, urged stakeholders to pull themselves up in making sure that the sector thrive.
Mr Partick Yaw Boamah, MP Okaikwei Central, said the approval of the syndicated was precise to support the sector to live up to expectation.
Mr Eric Opoku, Ranking Member for Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee/MP Asunafo South, urged the COCOBOD to make resources available to contractors within the Cocoa value-chain.
He also appealed to the Government to ensure that cocoa farmers were paid on time for their produce.
Dr Kwabena Donkor, MP Pru East, who said Ghana had for over three decades been depending on syndicated loans to finance the cocoa crop season, urged the country to wean itself from the syndication.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader, said going forward, COCOBOD must ensure that the submission of the cocoa syndicated loan agreement document to Parliament was done on time to enable Members of the House to could do proper scrutiny of it.
Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader, who said COCOBOD was facing enormous challenges such as high prices of fertilizers and agro-chemicals, also urged Members of the House to approve the cocoa syndicated loan agreement.
Nana Akosua Duaa Asor Brayie II is not the Paramount Queen Mother of the Sunyani Traditional Area, the Boahen Korkor Royal Family, the Mother gate of the three Sunyani royal families, has asserted.
The royal family made up of the Akosua Duaa, Kwantwiwaa, and Nyantakyiwaa royal gates said it had activated a court process against what it described as “unlawful installation,” and that until the case was decided in her favor, “Nana Brayie II ceased to be the Paramount Queen Mother of Sunyani.”
“This is because Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawri II, the Paramount Chief of Sunyani Traditional Area unilaterally chose her as his queen, contrary to the demands of the customs and culture of the Nana Boahen Korkor Royal Family,” the family claimed.
Addressing a news conference in Sunyani on Thursday, the three royal gates said the “supposed Paramount Queen Mother” had not entered the “stool room” for the necessary customary rites to be performed to enable her to take a “stool name” and described her installation as “taboo.”
Flanked by other members of the royal family, Nana Joseph Adjebeng Danquah, the spokesman and head of the Nyantakyiwaa gate, said “it is shocking and embarrassing to observe that, even when she has not been accepted as the Omanhemaa of Sunyani, Nana Brayie II has begun a very tyrannical rule, which, if not checked, can turn Sunyani upside down.”
“The latest of her unwarranted abuses of power that has caused an uproar in Sunyani was ordering some respectable and responsible market women (yam sellers) to lie prostrate before her to apologize for a so-called offense.
“It is very ironic that this act of disrespect for human dignity, and against women, which is unprecedented in the annals of the Boahen Korkor Royal family has been committed by an illegitimate queen,” Nana Danquah stated.
He cautioned the public against dealing with her in the capacity of Omanhemaa until the court case was dealt with.
The Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer for Bono Region, Mad. Emily Ama Oduro, has advised nurses and midwives to avoid abusing social media by twerking and advertising themselves for husbands on such platforms.
She implored them to take advantage of the positive aspects of social media to educate the public on health issues. She was speaking at this year’s International Nurses Day celebration in Sunyani.
This year’s International Nurses Day celebration was under the theme: “Nurses and Midwives: A voice to lead, investing in nurses and respect Nurses right to secure global health”.
The celebration had nurses from Bono, Ahafo, and Bono East (BABE), regions present. A key part of the ceremony saw the nurses light candles in memory of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, who cared for wounded soldiers in the night with her lamp during the Crimean War between 1853 and 1856.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the celebration, the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer for the Bono Region, Emily Ama Oduro, expressed worry over some negative attitudes such as twerking in uniform by some nurses and bemoaned that the phenomenon is reducing respect for the nursing profession.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer for Bono East, Joyce Eshun, indicated that systems and technology can’t do away with nurses and midwives; however, she believes that nurses need to upgrade themselves and prioritise the needs of their patients.
For his part, the Regional Chairman of the GRNMA in the BABE Regions, Fedelis Atibila, called on Government to take a look at the conditions of service of nurses to help curb the brain drain of nurses.
Certificates were given to nurses who performed creditably in their districts. With Boakyewaa Ako Sara in Sunyani West emerging as the best nurse in the BABE Regions.
