Ghana forward Joseph Painstil was racially abused during the Major League Soccer derby between Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles FC. The 26-year-old suffered racist remarks on social media as LA Galaxy suffered a 2-1 defeat to their main rival LA FC. Los Angeles FC have reported the incident to the MLS, with investigations already opened to find the culprits. The club is standing by the player and are ready to hand him the necessary support to continue his career in the United States. "LA Galaxy forward Joseph Painstil was the victim of a racist social media incident following Saturday's match against LA FC. The club stands with Joseph and anyone who has suffered racist abuse through social media and anywhere else," wrote LA Galaxy in a statement on social media. "The incident was immediately reported to the Major League Soccer. We are working with the MLS to ensure Joseph has all the resources and support he needs at this time. "There is no place for racism in our community, in our league or anywhere else in society." Painstil joined the MLS giants in February as a Designated player after leaving Belgium giants KRC Genk. Credit: Ghanasoccernet

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in conjunction with Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division) and Ghana Standards Authority have warned manufacturers, importers and distributors on the importation of unregistered baby diapers into the country. According to the FDA, the importation of unregistered, poor quality and unhygienically packaged baby diapers into the country will result in their seizure and safe disposal at a cost to the importer. In a communique signed by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Delese Darko, she said "The above notwithstanding, the Authority has noted with great concern, the continuing practice where disposable baby diapers are still imported into the country, either unhygienically packaged in bales or hidden in bales of used clothing" She added that those baby diapers are subsequently repackaged and offered for sale without adequate label information or no labelling information at all. "Importers are strongly cautioned that this practice goes against the FDA Guideline for Registration of Medical Devices (Appendix II) and the Ghana Standard Authority’s specifications for single-use disposable baby diapers (GS 1166:2017)" "The public is to note that materials used for baby diapers are tested by the Authority during the product registration process. This ensures that any dyes, skin irritants, or toxins are absent so as not to cause harm to babies" "In addition, handling of bale diapers, frequently re-packed and relabelled under insanitary conditions, can cause germs to enter the genital region of a child, especially a girl child, further posing great danger to their health and well-being" "Imported finished baby diapers should be registered before importation, with an approved label and ready for sale.  A finished registered baby diaper is a diaper that has been duly evaluated by the FDA and conforms with GS 1166:2017" She noted that all registered diapers imported into the country must be well-packaged and properly sealed to protect the product from moisture, soiling, contamination and damage during transportation, storage and distribution throughout the product’s shelf-life. "The Authority also allows the importation of raw materials for the manufacture of baby diapers but the importer should have a licensed facility for the manufacture of baby diapers" She stressed that the FDA commits to continue to collaborate with the GRA (Customs Division) to ensure that disposable baby diapers on the market are safe and meet the required standards. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

In a move signaling greater transparency and collaboration at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Acting Commissioner-General Ms. Julie Essiam has pledged to prioritize consistent and meaningful engagement with clients. This commitment came during a meeting to resolve an impasse at the Tema port concerning the seizure of essential medications for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Earlier this year, it came out that $45 million worth of pharmaceutical products procured through the Global Fund were stuck at the port. The impasse arose from unpaid third party charges on the medications, essential in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. This delay threatened to exacerbate existing stock shortages and raised concerns from the public and healthcare professionals. The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) in a statement last month expressed its concerns about the potential consequences. Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh, President of the PSGH, stated, "The deadlock imperils the health and well-being of numerous Ghanaians grappling with HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria." Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Ms. Essiam, upon assuming her new role, convened a meeting with the Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, (CCM-Ghana) to seek a speedy resolution. "It is unfortunate that whilst an exemption had been granted for the products, outstanding third party clearance fees resulted in demurrage and other penalties," Ms. Essiam explained. However," she emphasized, "the GRA will prioritize constant engagement with our clients in order to avoid such delays in the future." The meeting between the GRA and the CCM-Ghana yielded positive results, with Ms. Essiam highlighting the importance of open communication and collaboration. "I am committed to engaging consistently and meaningfully with stakeholders from all sectors," she declared. "This will ensure transparency in our processes and foster a collaborative environment where we can work together to find solutions to the issues that affect all of us." She added, "It is my priority to ensure that the GRA serves the needs of our clients not only with integrity and fairness but also with empathy." She said this approach would foster communication, trust and collaboration with stakeholders, and help address and resolve challenges speedily. It is expected that following the intervention of Commissioner-General Essiam, the first batch of 12 bills of lading of pharmaceutical products will leave the ports by the close of this week, for onward distribution in Ghana’s fight against HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. Story by: Ruth Botsio

Award-winning rapper, Sarkodie has encouraged Ghanaians not to give up in their endeavours to succeed despite the difficult challenges they face. In a Facebook post to celebrate his 14 years in the industry, the ‘Countryside’ hitmaker urged the young and upcoming musicians to emulate his traits of resilience and perseverance. The rapper shared a short documentary detailing his journey which he said should be “a beacon of inspiration for you [youth] to keep pushing forward.” “From 2010 to now, the journey has been a testament to consistency and resilience… The grind never stops. Greatness awaits!” Sarkodie wrote. It can be recalled that Sarkodie dropped his recent single, ‘Otan’, which talked about his unwavering resilience and attainment of excellence in the face of the numerous challenges he has faced in the past. Sarkodie has received eight nominations at this year’s Ghana Music Awards including a nomination for the artiste of the year which the rapper has won twice already in 2010 and 2013. Sarkodie has over the years etched his name as one of Africa’s best rapper having won BET awards and other African awards. Credit: 3news

New cases of breast cancer have doubled from 2,000 as of 2022 to 4,000 on a yearly basis since last year across the country. Unfortunately, over 20 percent of the patients are less than 40 years old, thus raising concerns on the need to move beyond awareness creation as a country. The peak age group for breast cancer is 40. However, the number of younger individuals getting diagnosed with the disease in the last 2 years and at advance stages is said to be alarming with death toll in the last two years also increasing from 500 to more than one thousand. Gifty Oppoy is barely 30 years old but was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. Unfortunately, it was over a year after her diagnoses before she sought the needed medical attention. As difficult as she puts it, many families including hers will first resort to superstition during initial stages which has led her to a very difficult state currently. Her left breast has been removed and the right breast has also developed a cancerous lump. ‘‘When I first discovered the lump, it was not cancerous but because I was relying on family. Then later I discovered it has developed into cancer. My family did not want me to go to the hospital. They knew the breast will be removed. … so I run away from home to seek help.” She has had four cycles of her chemo sessions out of the 6 she requires, and it hasn’t been an easy journey for her and her family is yet to come to terms with her ordeal. “It’s really difficult and some family members have refused to talk to me since I did the surgery. Your hair going off..it comes with fatigue and tiredness. My friends …..they still took me to a pastor for prayers…………people around me believe in me and expect me to fight so that alone is enough encouragement for me to keep fighting,” she said. Gifty is just one of the many young ladies out there who are battling breast cancer and lack family support systems to pull through. Georgina is also in her thirties and a breast cancer survivor. She would have lost her life to the cancer due to misdiagnoses by medical practitioners. “It took me 3months with numerous recommendations before I was finally diagnosed. I had to seek for the 4th opinion after all the doctors kept dismissing me that it wasn’t breast cancer. But infection and they were giving me antibiotics. But I am the type of person who has already suffered doctors’ negligence before, so I didn’t take it for granted. please if u can, seek a 2nd opinion,” she explained. Her family support has kept her strong throughout the journey. And she has been living her normal life since. She said “my husband was not concerned about me losing my breast neither did my pastor ask me to pray only. My mum wishes her breast could be exchanged with mine, so family support is very important”. A General Surgeon at the Breast Cancer Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Josphine Nsarful tells us the breast clinic at the Hospital records over 20 new cases every week. She said "Last year we had a patient who was 18yrs old. Indeed, we are seeing too many of the advance cases. Risk factors often include eating fatty foods and no exercise. Most at times too, they come to the hospital and after diagnosis, they go to the unorthodox methods and return with the case worsened.” She believes systems need to be strengthened while training of specialist needs to be beefed up to broaden geographical coverage and awareness creation of the disease should not be limited to the urban centres. Another issue of concern she raised was the lack of adequate number of mammogram diagnostic machines across the country to serve the people. Credit: 3news

Ghanaian actress, Salma Mumin has revealed why she chose to undergo a Brazilian Butt Lift procedure which is popularly known as BBL. Salma explained in an interview with Delay that she preferred a bigger and curvier butt as she did not like the shape of her natural butt. According to her, this compelled her to opt in for the BBL surgery despite the risk and pains she was aware of. “In the quest of putting my shape in check, I realized there was an option like that, I didn’t really mind and I went for it. I did not like how my butt looked like, I wanted it bigger and more curvier. “Just like any other surgery which is risky, I was also nervous. You hardly feel a pain, you sleep, you wake up and it is done. The pains depend on where you had your surgery,” she told Delay on The Delay Show. The actress and businesswoman further indicated that she has been happier with the outcome since her surgery and unconcerned about the online trolls concerning her body. “I have been happy since I woke up from my surgery bed. I have never regretted ever doing it but I see the trolls online about my body, I see my body and its not like that…my body is not what they say it is so I do not care,” she said on the recent episode of the Delay Show. About BBL procedure A research on the website of American Board cosmetic surgery details Brazilian Butt Lift as a specialized fat transfer procedure that augments the size and shape of the buttocks without implants. Excess fat is removed from the hips, abdomen, lower back, or thighs with liposuction, and a portion of this fat is then strategically injected into the buttocks. A skilled cosmetic surgeon can improve the proportions of the entire lower body with Brazilian butt lift surgery, helping a patient lose fat in common “problem areas” and enhance the buttocks, with results lasting many years. Credit: 3news

Ghanaian Musician, Felicia Nuna Akosua Tawaiah also known as Feli Nuna, has disclosed that she has been dating her current boyfriend for a decade but marriage is currently out of her priorities. Feli Nuna revealed this while speaking on The Ladies Circle show on TV3, Saturday, April 7. She clarified that she wants to concentrate on her career and promised to be married when the time is appropriate. The Afropop singer added that her boyfriend had been supportive of her career even before she became a renowned artiste. She claims that despite all of the difficulties they have encountered, their relationship is still strong. “I have been dating my current man for about 10 years now. He was there for me from the beginning even before I became known. It has not been easy, we have the good moments and our tough times when we were going out and weren’t seeing each other due to our tight schedules. I think right now, we are in a good place" “I’ve always wanted to be in a place mentally before I get married. I don’t give him pressure and he doesn’t give me pressure too. We are intertwined and our families know each other. I would like to settle down with him but right now because of work I want to be in the right place before doing so,” she said. She added that she’s the type who likes to be in long relationships. Credit: 3news

The Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, has clarified that the video that went viral on social media regarding the alleged marriage ceremony that took place at Nungua was a traditional rite and not a marriage ceremony. The Saturday March 30, 2024 ceremony has created a lot of controversy with many calling for the arrest of the Gborbu Wulomo, Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, for marrying a minor against the laws of the land. But the Minister who has engaged the stakeholders involved in the brouhaha has said that “during the event a lot of things were said and the information came out as if they were marrying the girl to the Wulomo.” He said the engagement that ensued between him and the traditional authorities of Nungua also included the Ga priest and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. “Through these discussions, it became evident that there were no intentions of carnal relations with the young girl,” he said Sunday, April 07, 2024 on Accra-based JoyNews. The Minister also disclosed that the young girl at the centre of the controversy has been relocated from the Nungua Community for her welfare. Mr. Asamoah Boateng, amid the ongoing investigation into the matter, has pledged to work tirelessly with the law enforcement agencies and local communities to ensure justice and accountability prevail, underscoring the government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of minors in the country. Following a preliminary investigation conducted by the Ministry, the Minister disclosed that the girl in question is not 12 years as reported earlier but will turn 16 in June this year. Credit: 3news

The Kumasi Central Market Traders and Secondhand clothes Union have expressed their utmost disappointment in the government for abandoning the Kumasi Central Market Redevelopment Project. During the evacuation exercise to pave the way for the commencement of the project, the government made them believe that the project would be completed on time to enable them to return to their business. However, in December 2022, the project came to a halt for unknown reasons when the Brazilian Construction Firm, Contracta, suddenly sacked all its workers, leaving the skeleton of the structure on the site. According to the traders, they were told by the government that the project was halted due to the Debt Restructuring Programme, and that work will be resumed when the first tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) money hit the accounts of the government. Traders patiently waited and despite the first and the second tranches hitting the government account, work has still not resumed, leaving the project to the mercy of the weather. Speaking on Ghanakoma morning show on Akoma 87.9fm in Kumasi with Aduanaba Kofi Asante, traders were disappointed about the delay of the project. “Currently, weeds and reptiles have taken over the project site as traders struggle to get a place to ply our trade. It has come to our notice that many projects in other regions have begun, and others completed after the first and second tranches of the IMF money hit the government account, but the NPP government has remained unconcerned and turned its back on the region that gives them power and has abandoned our market. We feel utterly disappointed in the NPP government for ignoring and neglecting such a huge market complex that feeds many traders who have but only depend on market business to make ends meet. Many of our members who were evacuated from the market are still at home suffering because they do not have anywhere to ply their trade while others have taken over the streets of the Central Business District in an attempt to make ends meet under the scorching sun. We have, therefore, exhausted our patience and have resolved to embark on five days of continued demonstrations to press home our demand for work to resume on the project”, their spokesperson said. During the five-day protest, traders will picket and remove all the barricades on the project. After the demonstration, if nothing is heard, they will storm the uncompleted market site with their goods and commodities to trade. Story by: Benjamin Aidoo

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has warned the general public not to allow a third party to receive or transfer funds through their bank account as they may be aiding money laundering or terrorist financing if they do that. The central bank said that when a person provides his or her legitimately or illegitimately acquired funds or assets for terrorist activities or organizations the person will be financing terrorism. The central bank said financing of terrorism is a crime and is punishable by law therefore people should be careful they do not become a conduit for such activities. The Bank of Ghana said these in its Financial Literacy document. “Financing of terrorism is a crime and is punishable by law. When you provide your legitimately or illegitimately acquired funds /assets for terrorist activities or organizations you are financing terrorism. Becareful you do not become a conduit for such activities" “Sudden unexplained wealth could be as a result of money laundering and you could be prosecuted. Be sure to be in a position to satisfactorily explain your source of wealth" “Don’t allow a third party to receive and or transfer funds through your bank account. You could be aiding money laundering or terrorist financing which is crime a punishable by law,” it said. The BoG also explained how money laundering is done and how people can face the consequences of engaging in such illegal acts. The Bank explained that money laundering is the process whereby money obtained from unlawful activities such as drug trafficking and corruption is legitimized through complex transactions and processes called ‘cleaning’ to hide its illegal source. It went ahead to caution that such activities are punishable by law. “Beware, both the underlying illegal activities which produce the ‘dirty’ money that has to be ‘washed or cleaned’ and money laundering, which seeks to legitimize the proceeds of the illegal activities are punishable by law. “Money laundering and terrorist financing can have potentially devastating economic, security and social consequences for nations, businesses, and individuals. Terrorist financing includes the provision of funds and financial support to individuals, state and non-state actors for the purpose of extremist acts and the promotion of terrorism and terrorist organizations,” the Bank said. The BoG went ahead to explain the role that the various banks and financial institutions play in fighting money laundering. In order to control money laundering and terrorist financing, it said “you may be required to disclose and prove the source of funds used to undertake transactions at all Bank of Ghana licensed and regulated financial institutions.” Credit: 3news

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has swapped the Upper East and Upper West regional ministers. In a statement signed by the Communications Director at the Presidency Eugene Arhin, the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu, will assume the role of Upper West Regional Minister. Similarly, the Upper West Regional Minister, Hafiz Bin Salih, will become the new Upper East Regional Minister with immediate effect These changes are part of President Akufo-Addo’s ongoing efforts to ensure effective governance across the country, and has tasked the Ministers to work tirelessly to promote the welfare and development of the people of the Upper West and Upper East regions, respectively. Credit: Citinewsroom

In the wake of the controversial marriage between a 63-year-old priest, Gborbu Wulomo, and a 12-year-old girl, Naa Okromo, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore, has issued a cautionary statement to members of his party. Emphasizing the traditional nature of the union, Moore urged members of the NDC to refrain from commenting on the matter, citing respect for Ga-Adangbe traditi on. Speaking to Nana Yaa Brefo and Isaac Ekow JB on Yen Nsempa, Onua FM on April 4, he stressed that the Nungua Traditional Council had granted Wulormu the authority to proceed with the marriage, indicating his reluctance to interfere. “Let me use this opportunity to advise the members of NDC party within the Greater Accra Region that they should desist from meddling in traditional matters,” Moore asserted, underlining the party’s focus on governance" Moore lamented the influence of social media, noting its role in undermining traditional values. He expressed worry over the ease with which individuals can now critique age-old customs, contrasting it with a time when such dissent was uncommon. “In the olden days, back in the days, no one could talk against tradition. It is due to the advent of social media, anyone can trivialise tradition, if this had happened in other traditional areas, no one will speak against it,” he said. Initially identified as a 12-year-old, Naa Okromo’s age has been a focal point of contention. The controversy surrounding the marriage has sparked condemnation from civil society groups and calls for the priest’s arrest. Credit: Onuaonline