The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation and Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, is urging Ghanaians to strongly consider keeping experienced Members of Parliament in office during the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries and the general elections. Ursula noted that the resignation of a significant number of seasoned MPs from both political parties could pose substantial challenges for the next administration in Parliament. She highlighted the essential role played by experienced MPs in educating and mentoring new legislators. The Ablekuma West stressed that knowledge transfer from veteran parliamentarians is crucial for the effective functioning of the legislative body. “Next Parliament will suffer. The majority of the MPs bowing out are very experienced.” Drawing on her own experience, Ursula cited OB Amoah as an example of how seasoned MPs contribute to the development of their colleagues. She mentioned how OB Amoah provided guidance and mentorship to her when she first assumed office. Recognizing the demanding nature of parliamentary work, Ursula underscored the importance of prioritizing the education of new MPs to ensure their effective participation in legislative processes. “So we, the experienced ones who have decided to continue the race, I’ll urge the delegates to consider that and retain us.” The Ablekuma West MP made the remarks in an interview on Accra-based UTV. So far 18 NPP MPs have decided not to seek re-election. Credit: Citinewsroom

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has tasked the new Offinsomanhene, Nana Dwamena Akenten II, to look for a new candidate to replace Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, the current Queen mother of Offinso. The Asantehene said he wants a candidate who can smoothly work with the newly enstooled Omanhene, such that, she will be willing to cooperate and respond to summons from the Manhyia Palace without offering unsubstantiated excuses. This pronouncement by the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace means he has ended the reign of Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, the current Queen mother of the Offinso Traditional Area in Asanteman. The Asantehene said this on Thursday, January 11, 2024, during the inaugural meeting of the Asanteman Council for 2024. The newly enstooled chief of Offinso, Nana Dwamena Akenten II, appeared before the Asanteman Council, headed by the Asantehene, to swear his oath of allegiance. The destoolment by the Asantehene is grounded on gross insubordination, primarily stemming from the Offinsohemaa’s refusal to appear before Otumfuo following several summons and other reported offences. Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko had proposed Dr K. K. Sarpong, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) as a candidate to fill the then-vacant Offinsomanhene stool. Still, the Asantehene raised issues with the candidate because he was not qualified in line with the maternal lineage and tasked the Queen mother to go and do the right thing. After that, the Queen mother failed to heed all other summons by the Asantehene. On some occasions, she cited ill health as her inability to appear before Otumfuo. The matter dragged on until the Asantehene tasked the head of family to take over and look for a candidate, The proposed candidate, Nana Amoako Poku was accepted by the royal family and the Manhyia Palace and he was subsequently enstooled with the stool name, Nana Dwamena Akenten II. He takes over from the late Nana Wiafe Akenten III. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II addressing Asanteman on Thursday, told the new Offinsomanhene that he was delivering Offinsoman into his care alone without a queen mother. He tasked him to find a new queen mother to help him undertake his mandate when he settles down. Otumfuo said Offinso needs a queen mother who will be present at Manhyia when he needs her. Source: Graphic.com.gh

The Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has launched a scathing attack on the incumbent MP for the Bantama constituency, Francis Asenso-Boakye, accusing him of corruption and urging delegates to vote him out in the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries. Mr. Agyapong, known for his outspoken nature, made the accusations during a meeting with Bantama delegates in Kumasi. He claimed that Mr. Asenso-Boakye, who is also the Minister of Works and Housing, engaged in corrupt activities during his tenure at the Presidency and should not be re-elected. However, he did not provide any concrete evidence to support his claims. Mr. Agyapong further hinted at potentially explosive revelations about Mr. Asenso-Boakye’s alleged corruption, stating that he would disclose them if delegates re-elected the incumbent MP. He framed this as a conditional offer, suggesting that their decision would determine whether he remains silent or exposes the alleged wrongdoing. “If you make a mistake and vote for Asenso, you will all bear witness to the revelations I will unveil. It is a condition,” Mr. Agyapong stated. “If you don’t want me to talk, vote against him. If you want me to talk, vote for him because we will not allow them to destroy Ghana.” Mr. Agyapong is campaigning in Bantama for his brother, Ralph Kwame Agyapong, who is also vying for the Bantama seat in the upcoming primaries. NPP delegates will elect parliamentary aspirants on Saturday, January 27, in constituencies with sitting MPs. Credit: Citinewsroom

According to the power distribution company, the incidents of bushfires are affecting the stable power supply, and increasing the cost of maintenance. Speaking to the media in Ho, the General Manager of ECG in the Volta/Oti Regions, Christina Jatoe- Kaleo explained the unfortunate incident also hampers the effective execution of extension projects in underserved areas. She further indicated that when the poles are burnt, businesses are affected as power goes off, leading to the loss of productive hours and revenue. She disclosed that ten electricity poles were burnt between December 2023 and 10th January 2024 in her jurisdiction, which would cost her outfit about GH₵‎ 70,000 to replace the affected poles. “Some of the communities that do not have power, or they have but people have extended to new sites and they are requesting for us to extend services to them. These poles that should have been used to extend services to them have to be used to replace what have been destroyed by the bushfires”, she lamented. She, however, indicated that ECG employed some measures to mitigate the impact of bushfires by clearing trees along ECG transmission lines, creating fire belts around the poles, and applying fire-retardant paint while replacing wooden poles with metallic ones in fire-prone areas. She encouraged community members to form watchdog communities to protect the installations of ECG and act as ambassadors to preach against bushfires. She lauded the Fire Service, Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), and other institutions that have embarked on campaigns to curb the incidents of bush fire. “Especially, our brothers and sisters who are farming, when you set fire to burn your bushes, please ensure that it is completely put off before you leave for your homes”, she advised. She warned against people burning rubbish around ECG poles, and called for a collective effort towards curbing bushfires to protect ECG poles and urged the citizenry to contact his outfit through the call center in case of any fire emergency. “Please let us come together and minimize the number of electricity poles that get burnt during every harmattan”, she called out. Source: www.myjoyonline.com

The Deputy Director of  Diaspora Affairs Directorate at the Office of the President, Dr Nadia Adongo Fynn, has explained why ‘The Convention’, a Pan African event, which was to take place on January 7 at the Black Star Square in Accra, Ghana was cancelled. According to her, the decision to withdraw the permission granted for hosting the event was necessitated by an “unforeseen” state event scheduled to take place at the same venue. In a press release, Dr Fynn stated, “We write to revoke immediately the permission granted per our letter No.OP/PH/02 dated November 11, 2024, which approved your request to use the Black Star Square for the above event. “This decision has been necessitated by an unforeseen State Event scheduled to take place at the venue.” Late evening on January 7, the New Africa Foundation, organisers of  the event, announced that the programme had been cancelled. A press release issued by the organisers said the event, themed, ‘Igniting the voices of Africa,’ was stopped by the Government. “We regret to inform you that the Government has cancelled the above Pan African Event which was to take place today at the Independence square in Accra, Ghana" All the special guests have arrived and thousands of people have come from all over Ghana as well as around the globe for this historic event We have just been informed of the cancellation of this event a couple of hours before its commencement. This event was approved by the Government in November of 2023. This came as a shock to us and a devastation to our dignitaries and special guests who flew in from around the world,” the statement said. Credit: 3news

Indeed God is Great. The Year 2024 has started on a positive note for TV3 Presenter Berlinda Addardey, popularly known as Berla Mundi as she has officially tied the knot with one fine, young and handsome man. The ceremony happened today at a ‘No Phones Allowed’ Marriage Ceremony. The event saw the families of both couples in attendance and some top media names graced the occasion in style. The strict rule of not sharing photos or videos from the wedding ceremony has made it difficult to get hold of footage from the grounds. The scarcity of visual documentation from the ground has only heightened the intrigue surrounding the private ceremony. However, TV3’s social media platforms have extended their congratulations to Berla Mundi, acknowledging her new marital journey and wishing her the best in her new home. Meet Reginald Ofosuhene Adjei: The husband of Chef Faila Abdul-Razak supporting her cook-a-thon Amidst a flood of congratulatory messages, emerging details about Berla Mundi’s marital union are gradually coming to light. Recent revelations indicate that she has entered into matrimony with David Tabi, a gentleman linked to a prosperous Ghanaian family deeply involved in the mining industry. Barbex is a leading Ghanaian multi-business operator founded in 1990 with roots in mining, agriculture, and technology. For over three decades, they have built our business on the foundations of integrity and excellence. Berla Mundi Husband Photos of a young handsome-looking man who’s currently the operations manager of Barbex Group has surfaced online – And it’s strongly believed that he’s the David Tabi Berla has just married. According to David’s LinkedIn profile, he had his college education at Lincoln School in London, a renowned institution known for its commitment to academic excellence. It was there that he honed his intellectual skills and developed a global outlook that would serve him well in his future endeavours. Continuing his pursuit of knowledge, he ventured across the Atlantic to Wilfred Laurier University in Canada, where he earned his first degree. The educational experience in Canada undoubtedly provided him with a multicultural and diverse environment, contributing to the development of a well-rounded skill set. For the past 12 years, he has served as the operations manager for Barbex Group, a role that has allowed him to showcase his skills in managing and optimizing business operations. The operations manager’s tenure with Barbex Group has been marked by a commitment to excellence and a strategic approach to operational efficiency. His leadership has been instrumental in steering the company through dynamic market conditions, ensuring its continued growth and success. This revelation about the groom’s background introduces an intriguing facet to the union, suggesting the diverse and unique trajectories that love can navigate. Credit: GHPage

The Food and Drugs Authority has suspended the services of the Yellow Sisi Waakye joint at Oyibi which led to the death of one person and left over 40 hospitalised. According to the FDA, an environmental assessment of the food preparation site located at Malejor and the three vending sites at Bush Canteen, Prison Joint and Sharp Curve Joint revealed poor food handling practices could have resulted in the contamination of the food, leading to the foodborne disease outbreak. The FDA said in line with the Food Safety Emergency Response Plan, a joint investigation with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) commenced immediately after the incident came to their attention. “Investigations revealed that a total of fifty-three (53) people experienced symptoms of the foodborne disease after consuming waakye or plain rice and tomato stew from a food vendor called Yellow Sisi located at Bush Canteen, a suburb of Oyibi. So far one (1) person has been reported dead, but the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed.” The victims including the waakye seller, popularly known as Yellow Sisi, and some of her family members were rushed to the Valley View Hospital, Oyibi Hospital, Dodowa Hospital and other facilities when they complained of severe stomach-ache after they had eaten the food last week Friday. The Yellow Sisi Waakye joint is considered to be one of the popular food joints at Oyibi Bush Canteen. Below is the full statement by the FDA: FDA CONDUCTS INVESTIGATIONS INTO FOOD-BORNE DISEASE OUTBREAK IN OYIBI, ACCRA The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) received notification through its Food Safety Alert System on Sunday, 22nd January 2023, on a suspected foodborne disease outbreak which was reported to have occurred at Oyibi, within the Adenta Municipality, in the Greater Accra Region. In line with the Food Safety Emergency Response Plan, a joint investigation with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) started immediately. Investigations revealed that a total of fifty-three (53) people experienced symptoms of foodborne disease after consuming waakye or plain rice and tomato stew from a food vendor called Yellow Sisi located at Bush Canteen, a suburb of Oyibi. So far one (1) person has been reported dead, but the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed. Environmental assessment of the food preparation site located at Malejor and the three vending sites at Bush Canteen, Prison Joint and Sharp Curve Joint revealed poor food handling practices which could have resulted in the contamination of the food, leading to the foodborne disease outbreak. The FDA has suspended the operations of Yellow Sisi until measures have been put in place to ensure that their activities are brought into compliance to prevent future occurrences. The FDA launched its Street Food Vending Scheme in November 2021, in conjunction with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. The Scheme, which was developed under the FAO Healthy Street Food Incentive Project, aims at issuing compliant vendors with a Street Food Vending Permit. Consumers must therefore insist on seeing these permits in their favourite eateries before patronizing their services. We strongly urge street food vendors to apply for the Permit. Credit: Citinewsroom

Popular Waakye Seller, Auntie Muni has died. Auntie Muni,72, had been briefly ill and took her last breath on January 3, 2024, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre in Accra. The son of the popular Waakye Seller, Arafat confirmed the news in an interview on Asaase Radio. “Mummy fell ill, expressing pain, leading us to seek medical attention at the SSNIT Hospital. However, complications arose, prompting her to request discharge,” Arafat recounded. “Two days post-discharge, her health did not improve. Hence, we urgently transported her to the University of Ghana Medical Centre, where she succumbed at 3 am this morning.” Arafat said. Beloved by all, Auntie Muni’s waakye drew in everyone, from ordinary folks to the highest office of the land. Even former President Mahama couldn’t resist her Sunday special. She passed away at a time when the culinary spirit of Ghana was shining brightly, with a Ghanaian chef, Faila aiming to break the Guinness World Record cook-a-thon. Credit: Citinewsroom

President Akufo Addo has directed KPMG to conduct audit into the GRA/Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML) and present the report back to him. The President has consequently Suspended the performance of the contract pending the report. This was contained a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Eugene Arhin. One of the terms of reference is to Conduct audit to ascertain the rationale behind the contract. Credit: News Flash Africa

Former South Sudanese Ambassador to the United States of America (USA), H. E. Philip Jada Natana has expressed worry over the halt in trade between the States and South Sudan following conflicts in some regions in the country. According to him, there are conversation ongoing with authorities in the USA to rescind their decisions of leaving since not all areas have been affected by the conflict. In an interview monitored by Thinknewsonline.com, he said "There are many areas in South Sudan that are peaceful, you can mention of 10 communities" "Western Equatorial and south sudan is been mostly relatively peaceful, that is an agricultural area; thick forests with Equatorial climate so you can go there and start investing in agricultural so that other people in other areas who have got conflict with south sudan will know that there is something good" Sharing his thoughts on humanitarian assistance, he said "Humanitarian assistance is what it is, it is an assistance. So if I always give you something, there is no partnership" "The relationship is between a person who is dependent and a person who is giving" "After a short time, there is no respect. If you trade with someone, you know that there is something that comes of benefit to you and equally goes there" He stressed that for the world to be a fairer place, counties ought to treat others with respect and call one another partners. He hammered that it will also depend on what will be brought to the table. Speaking on exploring south sudan, a promising future beyond conflict, he further added "We should really have investment in trade between Africa and the united states. What we have been told is that doing trade or business is left with the individual and is not directed by government" "But what we encounter is, we have all these travel advisories which is political" "For south sudan, because of conflict and all of that; there is an advisory that it is not safe for americans to travel so I think that this is paradox for us whe we see things like that" "For the American businessmen and women, when they advised against traveling back to south sudan or any part of the continent, they take the adise of the host government service and stay back and that sometimes really hampers the way we do business" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Vice President Dr Mahamudia, on Monday afternoon, joined Ghanaians at the Akwaaba Village in Accra, to extend support to Afua Asantewaa, the Ghanaian singer seeking to break the Guinness World Record for the longest singing marathon. Asantewaa kicked off her daring attempt at midnight on Christmas Eve, and she is aiming to sing continuously to break the current record, held by Indian Sunil Waghmare, who sang for 105 hours in 2012. Dr Bawumia made a surprise appearance at the Akwaaba Village and joined many young Ghanaians cheering Asantewaa on, as she gets closer to the 48th hour. With a miniature Ghanaian flag, Dr. Bawumia stood with the crowd and cheered on Afia, who performed a mix of gospel and highlife songs. After spending some time cheering her on, Dr. Bawumia exchanged pleasantries with the crowd, who were excited to interact with him. He expressed optimism that Asantewaa would be able to break the record, and called on all Ghanaians to encourage and support her until she breaks the record. "She has shown much passion and determination. It is possible for Afua to break this record," Dr. Bawumia said. This comes after the Vice President in a Facebook Post already sent good wishes to Afua Asantewaa expressing optimism about her success. Credit: Myjoyonline

History was made on Friday, 22 December 2023, as iconic Afro-Reggae/Dancehall artist Stonebwoy staged his monumental Bhim Nation-5th Dimension concert at the Accra Sports Stadium. The 40,000-capacity stadium overflowed with fervent Bhim Nation soldiers. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and a noticeable energy coursed through the fans in the stands. And then the legend himself materialised. Stonebwoy, resplendent in a vibrant Bhim Nation outfit, swaggered onto the stage, and the stadium erupted. The cheers were deafening, a wave of adoration washing over the artist. His infectious grin mirrored the joy of the crowd, and as the first beats of a familiar track dropped, the Bhim Nation roared. For over 10 hours, the Accra Sports Stadium became a sacred space for the Bhim Nation. Artists like Epixode, Larusso, Ras Kuuku, Kofi Kinaata, and Sefa took turns igniting the crowd with their diverse talents, each act adding a unique flavour to the musical gumbo. The fans also showed massive love to Jamaican artists 10TIK and Jahmiel whose presence on stage brought some memorable and inspirational moments for some fans. But all roads led to Stonebwoy. His live band performance was pure fire. Each strum of the guitar and each beat of the drum sent vibrations through the crowd, their bodies swaying in unison. Beyond the music, the “Bhim Concert-5th Dimension concert was a celebration of unity and pride. It was a family reunion for the Bhim Nation, transcending borders and generations. Credit: Asaase