Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has stated that his next government will give top priority to resolving the issues surrounding the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy if voted into power. This comes after some Ghanaians called on the flagbearer to provide measures on how free SHS will be executed and funded. John Dramani Mahama reveals his plans to boost the education sector when he met some teacher unions, including Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers. He said he would hold a stakeholder forum on education in his first 100 days as president to solicit inputs on how to improve and deliver quality education. “Within the first 100 days of me becoming president, we will hold a stakeholder dialogue on education. It will have as part of its focus the implementational bottlenecks of the Free SHS, but it is also going to deal with how we can improve financing and teaching and learning at the basic school level and so at that stakeholder’s engagement, NAGRAT, GNAT, parents, students, educational experts, everybody is going to be there and we are going to have a discussion on access, on equity, on affordability, and on financing our educational system. Credit: Thinknewsonline

A 2-year-old toddler is fighting for his life at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital after a vicious attack by a mixed Shepherd breed dog on Monday night. The harrowing attack resulted in severe injuries, including the tearing off of his buttocks and private parts, leaving the toddler in critical condition. The sudden and ferocious nature of the attack left the family and witnesses in shock and disbelief. As the toddler battles through immense pain, his mother, with tears in her eyes, recounts the haunting events of that tragic night when her baby’s life was endangered. “I stepped into the washroom to relieve myself while my child slept peacefully in the courtyard. Suddenly, I heard his cry, assuming it was merely because I had briefly left his side.” “I rushed back only to find the dog attacking my baby inside the mosquito net where we had been sleeping”, Sarah Aboagye, the mother disclosed to TV3’s Godwin Asediba. The father, Eugene Addo, who also happens to work for the owner of the dog, expressed deep disappointment over the owner’s reluctance to fully accept responsibility for the incident, despite their supposed close relationship. “My boss brought my wife and child from the Eastern Region to Accra because he disapproved of me spending too much time away with my family”, he explained. “Where I sleep is a small security room, which gets hot and uncomfortable for the baby. That’s why they sleep outside in the compound of the house. My boss initially expressed interest in finding a place for them, but after we located one and informed him about it, he chose to ignore our request”. “I witnessed my son’s desperate struggle with the dog until he managed to break free and run to me for comfort. It was then that I noticed something was terribly wrong. Turning on the light, I saw that the dog had scratched his face and bitten off portions of his buttocks”, Eugene Addo narrated in tears. Medical call and mounting bills According to Dr. Glover Addy, a plastic surgeon of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the injuries inflicted by the dog are severe, requiring intensive treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. However, the mounting medical bills are posing a significant financial burden for the already distressed parents. Dr. Glover Addy, a dedicated plastic surgeon at the hospital, is leading the efforts to provide the best possible care and treatment for the toddler, working tirelessly to ensure his recovery. Despite attempts to seek answers and accountability, the owner of the dog has remained tight-lipped about the incident, refusing to speak on camera. However, eyewitnesses who were present during the attack have come forward to shed light on the tragic events. “We heard the dog barking and saw the mother of the baby running so fast to get a car for the baby,” a neigbour said. As the home of the family grapples with shock and sadness over the incident, there is a growing call for accountability and support for the toddler and his family. Credit: 3news

News coming indicates that Ghanaian gospel musician, Kofi Owusu Dua Anto, popularly known as “KODA,” has reportedly passed on. The confirmation is said to have been given by a source close to the family. According to Metro TV Ghana, he passed on in the early hours of Sunday morning after battling with a short illness. Further details by attractivemustapha say that the award-winning, talented artiste had been battling kidney disease for an extended period. KODA, celebrated for his uplifting melodies and soulful compositions, has left an indelible mark on the Ghanaian music scene. With hits like ‘Nsempii,’ ‘Nkwa Abodoo,’ ‘Yapai,’ and ‘Adorso’ to his credit, his music resonated deeply with audiences, inspiring hope and faith," the report said. He was 45. About KODA Kofi Owusu Dua Anto (KODA) was a Ghanaian gospel singer, songwriter, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist who was based in Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana. Celebrated as one of the definitive sounds of Ghana’s influential contemporary gospel music, KODA was a multi-award-winning artiste passionate about sharing the gospel and helping shape the sound and music direction of others through music production. He produced music for the likes of the late Danny Nettey, Ps. Joe Beechem, Nii Okai, Halal Afrika, Eugene Zuta, and more. KODA’s discography includes 3 studio albums, 2 live albums, and 2 instrumental/ jazz albums. ‘Keteke’ was his 6th vocal album.He is well-known for popular gospel songs such as ‘Nkwaa Abodo’, ‘Nsem Pii’, ‘Adooso’ and ‘Hossana’.Others are ‘Poma Dadaa’, ‘Amen’ and ‘Zion Song’.Many tributes continue to flood social media platforms. Credit: Ghanaweb

Ghanaian musician Irene Logan has married her partner in a stunning customary ceremony. The grandiose event happened on Friday, April 19, 2024. Irene tied the knot with her prince charming, Joey. This was barely 24 hours after pictures of her surprised bridal shower popped up on social media. A video shared on Instagram captured the singer adorned in a colourful green kente outfit enjoying the lovely and thrilling moments on her special day. Irene joyfully danced her heart out together with her bridal team members who were all dressed in green outfits and golden headbands. Irene looked stunning and eschewed beautiful smiles for the cameras while enjoying one of the best moments in her life. Credit: 3news

President Akufo-Addo’s personal driver, Joseph Addo has filed his nomination to contest the La Dedekotopon NPP Parliamentary primary on April 27, 2024. Joseph Addo who was vetted and approved by the party’s Greater Accra Elections Committee says he will win the seat back for the NPP. “I was born and bred here in La, I have lived all my life here so I am not new in this constituency.” The National Executive Committee of the NPP sanctioned a primary in the constituency after the elected Parliamentary Candidate, Dr. Gerald Joseph Tetteh resigned for personal reasons. The MCE for the area, Solomon Kotey Niikio has also filed his nomination to contest. Joseph Addo who has served as President Akufo-Addo’s driver for over 20 years says he has helped IN the development of the constituency. “I have helped the youth in this area get jobs and employment in government agencies” He added that, “Recently when the party needed an office space after the destruction of the old office, I personally worked to get a new office for the party”. Joseph Addo is confident of winning the primary on April 27th and win the main election on December 7. The NPP lost the La Dedekotopon seat in the 2020 election to the NDC’s Rita Naa Odoley Sowah. The NPP is hoping to recapture the seat in the December polls. Credit: Citinewsroom

The family of the legendary Highlife musician, Kwabena Kwakye Kabobo known as K.K. Kabobo has announced a week memorial service for the late singer. The one-week observation has been scheduled for Saturday, April 20 at the Police Depot Social Centre in Tesano, Accra. K.K. Kabobo whose music touched the hearts of many, succumbed to liver disease on Thursday, March 14, 2024 while he was being rushed to the hospital for treatment. Prior to his death, Kabobo had been on medication and was receiving treatment at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC). Weeks prior to his death, the ‘Onyame Ehu Wu‘ hitmaker had revealed he had been unwell for months and the expenses of the family to aid in his treatment were not enough. Many people including former President John Mahama, Samira Bawumia, Wendy Shay and the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) all donated to fund KK Kabobo’s medical bills. K.K. Kabobo was a veteran highlife musician with an extensive recognition for some of his most popular songs, such as ‘Onyame Ahu Wo’, ‘Nyatse Nyatse Girl’, and ‘Running Away’. Credit: 3news

Managing Director, and Head of regulations at the Railway Development Authority (RDA) Dr. Engineer Divine Okutu, has disclosed that the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) remains structurally intact and fit for purpose despite it crashing. He made these remarks while speaking to the media on Friday. He said "Despite visible damage to the front body, Dr. Okutu reassured the public of the train’s continued fitness for purpose" He stressed that further assessment done a day after the accident revealed that the only damaged part of the train was the front body. He noted that despite the setback, the train will soon be commissioned for use. It will be recalled that a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train which was on test-run crashed on Thursday after it ran into a truck parked on the rail line. The driver of the truck was later arrested and has been given a six month jail term. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Abel Dzidotor, the driver allegedly responsible for the train accident, has been sentenced to a six-month jail term. According to Citi News’ Benjamin Aklama, Dzidotor admitted guilt to three out of the four charges levelled against him. These charges include inconsiderate driving and causing unlawful damage. The first charge was for careless and inconsiderate driving, a violation of Section 3 of the RTA Act 683 (2004), as amended by Act 761 of 2008. Dzidotor pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 100 penalty units, equivalent to a potential 20-month prison term if not paid. The second charge was for unauthorized stopping, in violation of Section 19 of Act 683 of 2004, as amended by Act 761 of 2008. Dzidotor pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 penalty units, or a five-month jail term if unpaid. The third charge was for causing unlawful damage, contrary to section 172b of Act 2960. Dzidotor pleaded guilty and received a six-month sentence in hard labour. The fourth charge was for failing to produce a driver’s license, contrary to regulation 47(2) of LI 21(80). Dzidotor pleaded not guilty, asserting that his license was within the damaged vehicle. He has been instructed to present the license to the court by May 9, 2024, or face potential consequences.” The Ghana Police Service arrested the driver of the Hyundai truck with registration number GS 9018 – 20 for allegedly causing the accident involving the newly imported train on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line on Thursday. The newly imported train from Poland was involved in an accident during a test run. In a statement, the Police said their preliminary investigation had established that the suspect driver left the said vehicle unattended on the railway line, leading to a collision with the train. The truck driver is said to have gone to deliver cement blocks when the truck got stuck on the rail after he was unable to use a pass-through under the bridge. Credit: Citinewsroom

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Railways Development Authority, Yaw Owusu has revealed that manufacturer of the newly imported DMU train, Pesa Corporation, will bear the cost of repairs to the damaged parts. He made these revelations at the back of an accident which occurred on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line. Mr. Owusu said "The train has been taken to the station for an assessment of the damage" "The extent of the damage is yet to be determined.” “The cost of the repairs will be borne by the manufacturer. The train has not been formally handed over to the government of Ghana" “And I believe they have insurance to cover extra damages,” he added. “The train has officially not been handed over to the government yet and it’s still under the liability of the manufacturer. We are yet to ascertain what happened and how best we can go about it to ensure that this incident doesn’t happen again in the future.” Responding to whether there is local expertise to fix the train or it would be required to be transported back to the manufacturer, Mr. Yaw Owusu explained that “the train can be repaired here; the manufacturer has some personnel here on the ground as part of the site acceptance test so Pesa Corporation, who sold us the train, is still. “I believe that the trains can be repaired here. I don’t believe it’s a very expensive damage,” adding, “I cannot confirm that but I believe it can be repaired in Ghana.” Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghana Police Service says it has arrested the driver of a Hyundai truck with registration number GS 9018 - 20 for allegedly causing an accident involving a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line. The unfortunate incident occurred on April 18 as the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line was embarking on a test-run. The Ghana Police added that preliminary investigation has established that the suspect driver left the said vehicle unattended on the railway line, leading to a collision with the train. The Police further noted that investigation into the incident continues. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

News coming in indicates that the Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II has maintained Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum as Headcoach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko. The decision comes after the Asantehene met with the Headcoach and some management members of the club on Thursday. The headcoach met with Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II to discuss the abysmal performance of the club and way-forward. Later in the day, Dr. Ogum was allowed to lead the players to train after meeting with Otumfuor. Kotoko has been on the losing streak for sometime now. The Porcupine Warriors lost their last home game against Nsoatreman at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum has come under pressure as some supporters have called for his sack. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that the newly acquired train scheduled to transport passengers from Tema to Mpakadan has crashed. It is emerging that the train was embarking on a test-run. No casualties have been recorded. It will be recalled that the new train which was assembled in Poland for railway transportation in Ghana was handed over to government weeks ago. The first batch of 12 state-of-the-art trains from Poland will mark a pivotal moment for Ghana's transportation sector. It will be used on the new Tema-Mpakadan standard-gauge railway line. It will transport passengers from Mpakadan through Kpong, Juapong, Doryumu all the way to Tema port and then the passengers can switch from the standard-guage line to a narrow-gauge line to take them all the way to the heart of Accra. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith