Seven individuals have reportedly died in a road accident on the Amasaman- Nsawam road in the Greater Accra Region. The Monday incident is said to have happened when a tanker ran over a trotro vehicle killing seven out of the 10 passengers onboard. Speaking to to Adomonline.com, an eyewitness, Alex Ahenkorah who narrated said the tanker driver failed its brake and crashed into the commercial vehicle. “The commercial driver slowed down upon getting to a section of the road which is under construction due to a hole there. "Unfortunately, the tanker driver which was behind crashed into it and destroyed it totally,” he said. According to him, Bystanders managed to remove the victims from the mangled vehicle but most of them were not responsive. Credit: Adomonline

King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer, says Buckingham Palace. The type of cancer has not been revealed - it is not prostate cancer, but was discovered during his recent treatment for an enlarged prostate. The King began "regular treatments" on Monday and will postpone public duties during it, the Palace said. The Monarch, 75, "remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible," it added. No further details are being shared on the stage of cancer or a prognosis. Charles informed both his sons personally about his diagnosis and the Prince of Wales was said to be in regular contact with his father. The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, who lives in the United States, spoke to his father and will be travelling to the UK to see him in the coming days. The King returned to London from Sandringham in Norfolk on Monday morning and the palace says he has started treatment as an outpatient. Although he will pause his public events, the King will continue with his constitutional role as head of state, including paperwork and private meetings. It is understood his weekly audiences with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will continue and will be in person, unless doctors advise that he limits such contact. There is a constitutional mechanism for when the head of state is unable to carry out official duties - in that circumstance "counsellors of state" can be appointed to stand in for the monarch. King Charles's cancer diagnosis At present that includes Queen Camilla, Prince William, the Princess Royal, and Prince Edward. Prince Harry and the Duke of York are no longer called upon as they are non-working royals. Prince William had also temporarily withdrawn from public engagements while he helped his wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, as she recovered from abdominal surgery she had last month. But it was announced earlier on Monday that he would return to public duties later this week. The King was seen at a church service in Sandringham on Sunday, where he waved to crowds and walked for about 10 minutes. He had a prostate procedure at a private London hospital more than a week ago. At the time, the Palace said the treatment was for a "benign" condition. "It was during this intervention that a separate issue of concern was noted and subsequently diagnosed as a form of cancer," it said on Monday. The King chose to go public about his cancer treatment, the Palace said, as he had been a patron of a number of cancer-related charities when he was Prince of Wales. "In this capacity, His Majesty has often spoken publicly in support of cancer patients, their loved ones and the wonderful health professionals who help care for them." He had also gone public about his prostate treatment, with the aim of encouraging more men to get prostate checks. He was said to have been delighted to have raised awareness about the issue, with the NHS website reporting a surge in issues about prostate conditions. The Royal Society of Medicine thanked the King for highlighting "how cancer is indiscriminate" and urged members of the public eligible for cancer screenings to make an appointment. "Please don't be shy - the more information we have the better to help, hopefully rule out cancer, or, if not, put you on the most suitable treatment pathway," said Dr Jay Verma, president of the general practice with primary healthcare section of the Royal Society of Medicine. One in two people in the UK develop some kind of cancer during their lifetime. There are more than 200 types of cancer - the most common ones in the UK are breast, lung, prostate and bowel, according to the NHS website. For many types of cancer, the chance of getting it increases with age. UK figures suggest, on average each year, more than a third (36%) of new cancer cases were in people aged 75 and over. ​Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wished the King a "full and speedy recovery", as did Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. US President Joe Biden expressed his concern and said he would speak to the King. In a post on X, he later said: "Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage. Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery." Mr Biden's son, Beau, died of brain cancer aged 46, and his long-time friend, Republican Senator John McCain, also died of cancer in 2018. Charles acceded to the throne on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, and his coronation took place the following May. The King and Queen are scheduled to visit Canada in May, and Australia, New Zealand and Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October. The Palace has yet to confirm whether the tours will go ahead, with no date suggested for the King's return to full public duties. Credit: BBC

Former Ghana midfielder Laryea Kingston has urged fans and officials alike to exercise patience in the wake of growing calls for Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo to be included in the Black Stars squad. The clamor for Mainoo's inclusion gained momentum after his standout performances in the English Premier League, including a crucial injury-time winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers last Thursday. Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council member, Randy Abbey, expressed the GFA's interest in working with Mainoo, recognizing the player's incredible talent. However, Kingston, currently serving as an assistant coach for the Black Starlets, highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach. In an interview with Graphic Sports, he stressed the importance of engaging with Mainoo, visiting him at Manchester United, and creating an environment that would make the 18-year-old feel welcomed before considering a national team call-up. “Here is a case where we have a young boy coming up and he is doing well with Manchester United and all of a sudden Ghanaians say we should bring him. Have we thought about integration, how many times has he even come to Ghana?” he said. Kingston drew on his own experience, recalling how he and other players assisted in the integration of overseas-born talents like Junior Agogo and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie into the national team. “We need to talk to him, visit him at Manchester United and let him feel that he is welcome then slowly you lure him into the environment. Agogo and Quincy and all those people, some of us were part of their integration. We helped them to fit in and feel comfortable,” he recalled. The former Black Stars player also underlined the need for a thorough evaluation of Mainoo's performance at Manchester United. According to Kingston, assessing whether the player's style aligns with the national team's strategy and philosophy is crucial in determining his suitability for the Black Stars. Moreover, Kingston urged Ghanaians to consider Mainoo's connection to Ghana and the potential challenges of integrating a player who may not have a deep connection with the country despite his heritage. Credit: Ghana Soccernet

The Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Peter Twumasi, has defended the decision to lease the Accra Sports Stadium for concerts in December. This move sparked controversy as sporting activities had been banned at the stadium during the same period. When he appeared before the Public Account Committee, Ningo Prampram Member of Parliament, Sam George questioned whether the payment of GH¢70,000 received from Stonebwoy’s Burniton group for his BHIM concert was sufficient to cover any damages caused to the stadium. While evading specifics on the financial aspect, Mr Twumasi said the stadium had been restored to its optimal condition. “On January 9, the Minister sent an inspection team led by the Chief Director to check if we were able to recover the pitch, and it was fully done; they can attest to that,” he responded. Sam George further inquired about the absence of pitch covers during the social activities, contrasting it with the standard practice for sports events. The NSA boss explained that, pitch covers are used during sports events for a limited time, allowing periodic watering. However, for prolonged social events, constant watering is impractical, and covering the grass for extended hours could lead to heat buildup, potentially causing damage. “The turf is a natural grass surface so if it’s used for a very limited time, you can use pitch covers in morning and evening you resume watering regime. If the event is taking more period, you can’t water and it will be building heat underneath the covers and it burns even more if not covered. Grass is a sensitive material so it couldn’t have been covered for an event that lasted long” Mr. Twumasi explained. Credit: Adomfmonline

The Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) of Ghana, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko received the prestigious "Africa’s Medical Products Regulation Achievers Award" during the 6th Biennial Scientific Conference on Medical Products Regulation  in Cairo, Egypt. This recognition not only celebrates her dedication to the Authority’s commitment to becoming a global centre of regulatory excellence, but also positions the Authority as a formidable leader on the African continent. The conference organized by AUDA-NEPAD and WHO at the end of 2023 in Cairo, Egypt under the theme "Strengthening regulatory systems for the advancement of local production and increased access to medical products and technologies for Africans” and convened over 300 policymakers, heads of National Regulatory Agencies (NRAs), researchers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders across the African continent to share scientific advances and current best practices in regulatory science disciplines. The conference also provided a forum to discuss strategies to strengthen regulatory systems, improve access to affordable essential medical products, vaccines and technologies, and catalyse local production of medical products in Africa. The award acknowledges FDA Ghana as the pioneering NRA to create a Partnerships and International Collaboration Department which is to engage in partnerships with other NRAs, key stakeholders in medicines regulation, development partners, as well as academia. A central role of the Department is to; (i) facilitate national engagement on the importance of investing in resilient regulatory systems to protect public health and safety; (ii) mobilize critical resources to advance the mandate of the Authority; and (iii) strengthen collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. Since the creation of the Department, the Authority has trained over 221 regulators and researchers across the continent from sixteen (16) countries, including The Gambia, Senegal, Gabon, Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Tanzania, Uganda, Guinea, Rwanda, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Eswatini, and Botswana.  Additionally, the Authority has contributed to strengthening the regulatory systems of several NRAs across the continent through study tours, mentorship twinning programmes, and customized expert visits. The Authority has signed a few Memorandums of Understanding with 6 NRAs mapping out several areas of collaboration and is currently actively engaged with 5 other NRAs, including El Salvador and Madagascar, in the pipeline. Under the guidance of the Department, the Authority in collaboration with partners and academia organized its first Scientific Forum Under the theme “Protecting Public Health and Safety Through Partnerships”. Recently, the AUDA-NEPAD designated the FDA Ghana as a Regional Centre of Regulatory Excellence (RCORE) for Vaccine Regulatory Oversight for eight (8) out the nine (9) regulatory functions. The FDA was designated by AUDA-NEPAD as a RCORE for Marketing Authorization, Pharmacovigilance, and Clinical Trials in 2014. The designation as an RCORE signifies that the FDA has the capacity and competencies to train its peers in those regulatory function areas. The FDA Ghana says it remains committed to its mission of safeguarding public health through regulatory excellence. This prestigious award reflects past accomplishments and sets the stage for future endeavors. The CEO’s transformative leadership, which contributed to the award, has elevated standards within the Authority while catalyzing positive change and advancements in medical product regulation across Africa. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ya-Na Abubakari Mahama II, Overlord of Dagbon has questioned former President John Dramani Mahama’s quest for another opportunity to be President. According to him, he believes the former president has the country at heart and is not in the race to make more money for himself. To the Ya-Na, if the former President gets the nod, he should be bold with his decisions and weed out persons who will not help his administration. He called on the National Democratic Congress flagbearer to ensure regular reshuffles in order to get the best out of his team. “I believe you are not coming to make more money for your family but to leave a legacy that your children will not only be proud of but will pave a way for them wherever they find themselves in future when you are long gone to your maker.” “To make this legacy a reality, when you get the nod from Ghanaians do not shy away from reshuffling your team to get the right ones on board by merit and confidence and lay off even loyalists but misfits who will only churn out mediocrity for your government. This applies to your kitchen cabinet because they in reality rule you and the country. That will be a mistake, and no Ghanaian will forgive you,” he said in a speech read on his behalf during a courtesy call on him by former President Mahama as part of his ‘Building Ghana Tour. Source: MyNewsGh

The Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abubakari Mahama II has admonished former President, John Dramani Maham to recognize Vice President Dr. Bawumia as a brother and not an enemy. This, according to Ya-Na, will ensure a clean campaign ahead of the 2024 general elections devoid of petty name-calling. In a speech read on his behalf during a courtesy call on him by former President Mahama as part of his ‘Building Ghana Tour, the Ya-Na stressed that both the NPP flagbearer and the NDC flagbearer are his sons and should therefore conduct themselves well’. The comment by the Dagbon Overlord follows swipes by the former President and his description of President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia as “Jack Toronto and his younger brother” The Ya-Na counselled the NDC flagbearer, “You have no other brother out there besides him (Bawumia). Being on the opposite side of the political divide does not make you enemies” The Ya-Na urged both former President Mahama and Vice President Dr. Bawumia to keep this year’s election peaceful, concluding that “only Allah knows the winner of the election” The NDC flagbearer was in Yendi to inform the Ya-Na of his presence in the region and to ask for permission to tour some selected constituencies. Credit: MyNwsGh

The Lands Commission has interdicted 14 staff for their involvement in Stamp Duty fraud. The Stamp Duty fraud was detected in May 2022 when the Audit Unit of the Commission realized that the tax figures paid by some property owners for the registration of their properties failed to reflect the expected tax amount. The fraud is alleged to involve a 100 million Ghana Cedis tax loss. The affected staff are being taken through the court processes by the National Investigations Bureau. Mr. Benjamin Arthur, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, announced this during the Executive Secretary’s Annual Briefing and the launching of the Staff Awards Scheme in Accra, on Friday. However, the Commission said after further investigations it realized that the amount has been exaggerated. The Commission had also taken internal disciplinary action against the suspects and is undergoing final disciplinary processes to determine their fate within the Commission, Mr. Arthur stated. Meanwhile, some Commission staff were also being taken through disciplinary procedures for fraudulent deletion and insertion of records in order to produce false search reports. “It is important to state that while management will continue to provide the required job security for staff, such acts of indiscipline and fraud will not be condoned,” he said. “Therefore, management will provide the state investigation bodies with the required assistance to weed out the bad nuts among us.” The event also saw the outdoing of a five-year Business Strategic Plan of the Commission from 2023 to 2027, which will guide its operations. The strategic plan has five major goals, including enhancing the Commission’s financial sustainability, digital reforms, and corporate image, as well as the competence and discipline of staff to improve service delivery. The campaign, he explained, would focus on creating public awareness of the Commission’s mandate, service delivery, and specific processes in delivering those services, the fees chargeable for the services, and digital reform platforms, among many others. That, he said, would enhance the corporate image of the Commission, public trust, and confidence in its operations. “In Ghana, workers of the Lands Commission are perceived as taking the “biggest bribes,” and other media reports on the performance of the Commission often focused on our shortcomings, while little is reported on the efforts and good works of the Commission,” Mr. Arthur observed. “The very hard works of most staff are drowned by the wrongs of the few. Most people are not well-informed about our operations and the role of the Commission in the land space.” The outreach campaign is, therefore, intended to correct these misconceptions and create a positive corporate image going forward. However, the Acting Executive Secretary was quick to explain that its corporate image redemption drive could only succeed if it was associated with improvements in service delivery to the public. Mr. Arthur, thus, called for teamwork among the staff and management to complement one another and achieve the desired outcomes. Mr. Benito Owusu-Bio, a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, highlighted the Ministry’s plans for this year, including digital transformation of land administration activities, completion of the new Lands Commission’s head office, which would be commissioned in April this year, and enhancement of the Commission’s corporate image. He expressed confidence in the Commission’s leadership and believed that it was heading in the right direction. “Ghanaians will overwhelmingly vouch for the credibility and efficiency of the Commission sooner or later,” he said. Credit: Citinewsroom

Following the Black Stars’ appalling performance at AFCON 2023, former president of Ghana and National Democratic Congress flagbearer John Dramani Mahama has offered a solution to bring football back to the nation. The former president claims that his government will work with the Ghana Football Association to assemble a team with a nucleus from the national league. In order to give them the proper exposure before going overseas, he also expressed the aim to develop indigenous players and present them to the appropriate local clubs. “We just came from the Africa Cup of Nations and we performed abysmally and disastrously,” he said. “We performed abysmally because we are not growing our football and so we are going to work with the Ghana Football Association to start catching them young so that we can train them and give them to local teams to gain experience before if they want to travel abroad they can travel,” he added. John Mahama believes the right balance between homegrown players and foreign-based players will help build a strong national team. “We will build the new Black Stars based on homegrown players. Domestic players who have trained together for a long time and work as a team and then we will bring the foreign players to come and blend with them,” he continued. “If you bring only foreign players, they don’t play together and play in their individual teams and then when it’s time for competition and tell them to come and play, it won’t work. The core of the Black Stars must be made of domestic players. “We are going to overhaul Ghana football in collaboration with the Football Association.” He said. Credit: Kessben

Armed men have shot dead a traditional ruler, and kidnapped his wife plus one other person in south-western Nigeria, authorities say. The attackers stormed the palace of Segun Aremu – a retired army general and monarch whose official title is the Olukoro of Koro – on Thursday night. It is not clear who the gunmen were or whether they are demanding a ransom. This latest killing and abduction comes days after campaigners demanded a state of emergency to deal with the issue. Some 50 civil society groups want President Bola Tinubu to make that declaration, saying more than 1,800 people had been abducted since he took office last May. But the true number of abductions during that time could be more than double that figure, at almost 4,000 people, says Nigerian risk consultancy SBM Intelligence. No matter how desperate the circumstances are, Nigerian law prohibits the payment of ransom money. However, many victims pay up because they do not trust authorities or their track record. Condemning the killing of the Olukoro of Koro in Kwara state, as “reckless, shocking, and abominable”, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has vowed that the authorities would catch those responsible. Police say a manhunt is underway. They have also promised the local community they will set up a police outpost. Nigeria is home to hundreds of traditional rulers who have no constitutional role but are respected in community life. They are often called upon to settle disputes between local people and lead cultural activities.Spate of kidnappings Earlier this week, kidnappers seized five schoolchildren and four teachers in nearby Ekiti state, demanding a ransom of 100m naira ($110,000; £87,500) for their release. A senior government official was kidnapped on Wednesday night in the Bwari suburb of the capital, Abuja, not far from the home of six sisters who were abducted for ransom last month with their father. One of the girls was shot dead due to a delay in paying the ransom, in a case that prompted public outcry. Elsewhere, two girls were also recently kidnapped in the Chikakorie area of Kubwa, another suburb of Abuja. Their abductors have demanded about $25,000 for their release. Kidnapping for ransom has worsened in Nigeria in recent years with armed gangs targeting road travellers, students as well as residents in rural and urban areas across the country. Credit: BBC

Following the tragic death of Dr Grace Boadu of Grace Gift Herbal Clinic – Nana Agradaa aka Evangelist Mama Pat has shared a testimony of how she survived after slipping and falling inside her bathroom. According to the founder of Heaven Way Ministries, Evangelist Patricia Asiedu, formerly known as Nana Agradaa, she suffered the same fate just like the late Grace Boadu. While recounting the traumatic experience, Nana Agradaa detailed that she fell and collapsed while she was bathing and luckily for her – There were people around to rush her to the hospital. Consequently, she went unconscious for 7 days but God being so great and merciful, she survived and was brought back to life. Nana Agradaa also disclosed how her family nearly prevented her from Angel Asiamah. As alleged by her, some of her family members tried to destroy her marriage with Angel Asiamh hence she has sacked all of them from her house. Ending her testimony, Nana Agradaa advised unmarried successful women to be very careful about their family members because most of them are pathetic jealous lots. Watch the video below to know more… Source: Thinknewsroom

The University of Environment Sustainable Development (UESD) is set to make history as it gears up to host a lecture-thon on March 10, 2024, with the ambitious goal of breaking the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive hours of lectures in a single venue. Dr. Michael Appiah Karikari, a member of the academic community, has been granted approval by Guinness World Records for this extraordinary endeavor. In an unprecedented display of academic excellence and innovative spirit, Dr. Karikari has chosen the captivating theme, “Research Methodology in Behavioural Sciences” for his Guinness World Record attempt. The marathon lecture, spanning over one hundred and fifty hours, aims not only to surpass the existing record, but to do so without the use of PowerPoint slides, electronic devices, books, or any external aids – delivering the lecture extemporaneously. The Public Relations and Communication Committee (PRCC) of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) – UESD chapter, expressed their excitement about the upcoming event. “This impressive endeavor is an affirmation of the academic strength ingrained in our university’s culture,” a representative from the PRCC stated. The lecture-thon is expected to be a significant event for various reasons, including academic collaboration, student and community engagement, and extensive media coverage. Dr. Appiah Karikari’s lecture is structured to cover a comprehensive range of topics, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration and showcasing the university’s commitment to academic excellence, the stated added. “This event provides an exceptional opportunity for students to witness dedication and perseverance, aligning with the UESD HOPE Agenda,” the press release indicated. The university is anticipating extensive engagement with local, national, and international media outlets, highlighting the importance of this event not only for the UESD community but for the broader academic and research communities. Below is the release Credit: Ghanaweb