Harry Maguire's proposed transfer to West Ham United has collapsed, 90min understands. After telling Maguire he is free to leave Old Trafford this summer, Manchester United initially rejected a £30m bid from West Ham amid concerns over their ability to satisfy the centre-back's wage demands, only to eventually agree to the offer on the table. West Ham have since completed the signings of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse but talks over Maguire continued to drag on as they sought to thrash out a wage agreement with both the defender and United. 90min understands that Maguire had agreed the terms of a reduced contract with West Ham but sought a pay-off from United to compensate him for the loss in salary over the remaining two years of his deal at Old Trafford. Sources have now confirmed that no agreement was reached between Maguire and United, forcing West Ham to accept defeat in their pursuit of the centre-back. United had been preparing for Maguire's exit by speaking with Bayern Munich over French defender Benjamin Pavard but, as 90min revealed earlier this summer, the Red Devils fear they do not have the financial room to sign another defender with Maguire's high wages still on the books. There has been tentative interest in Maguire from elsewhere but United are not expecting more bids for the 30-year-old, who appears set to remain at Old Trafford beyond this summer. Manager, Erik ten Hag is known to be happy to continue working with Maguire as a backup to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, but he recently warned the England international that he is in for a fight for minutes if he chooses to stay. Maguire remains under contract at United until 2025, with the club holding the option to extend his deal by a further 12 months. Credit: 90mins

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expelled its Women’s Organiser in the Kumawu Constituency in the Ashanti Region. Madam Akua Afriyie has been sacked for openly declaring her support for Alan Kojo Kyeremanten, a flagbearer aspirant of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). According to her, her dismissal came shortly after the video of her declaration of support for Alan went viral during the Kumawu by-election. She had told the whole world that though she was an NDC member if the NPP presented Alan as their flagbearer in the 2024 elections, she will gladly vote for him. She stated then that Alan had a vision that could save this country and give the teeming youth hope. Akua Afriyie says she is now a floating voter having been served with a dismissal letter. “I am currently not a member of the NDC or a member of the NPP but l am a strong supporter of Mr. Kyerematen.” She has cautioned that if the NPP denies Mr Kyerematen the opportunity to lead the party, she Akua will simply stay clear of the 2024 elections. Relatedly, Alan Kyeremanten has disclosed that he will get the NPP two million votes in the Ashanti Region if elected as flagbearer. He said the party will need two million votes from the Ashanti Region alone in order to retain power during the 2024 elections and the person who could help the party to secure such votes is himself. He said failure to make him the flagbearer of the NPP going into the 2024 elections will cause the party a lot as Ghanaians prefer him to other candidates in the flagbearer race. Credit: Pulse Ghana

Ghanaian rapper, Trigmatic is advising fellow musicians to consider pursuing higher education to help them maintain their success. He shared this advice during a recent interview with Graphic Showbiz. Trigmatic explained that education was a crucial component of every artiste’s life since it will them to properly understand how to present their profession. “I believe that if you are a rising star, you should demonstrate an equal desire to develop yourself. Enroll and show interest in courses that can help you have a better understanding of how even your craft can be projected" “Don't just give up on education because you believe your music career is succeeding at the moment. Our industry is rapidly changing and highly competitive and anything can happen. “That’s the reason for which I have huge admiration for the likes of Samini and Okyeame Kwame who still pursued higher learning despite their music success. “As I said earlier, things are fast changing and it will get to a time that artistes will need more than talent and hard work to maintain their fame and success,” he said. Trigmatic added that Ghanaian artistes could gain global recognition and make a lot of good money too if they explored other markets other than making Nigeria their benchmark for success. “I think the comparison between Ghanaian and Nigerian musicians is just too much and it is high time we stopped. Ghanaian musicians have to find their target audience beyond Ghana and make it an effort to introduce themselves and their music to their new fans in other countries,” he said. The rapper is known for songs such as Gye Nyame, Akwantuo and Something Dey. Credit: Pulse Ghana

Four farmers at Galinkpegu, a community in the Tolon District in the Northern Region met their untimely death when a canoe capsized in the Golinga irrigation dam over the weekend. Reports stated that the farmers were returning from their farm when the incident occurred around 3 pm. Credit: Pulse Ghana

The management of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has justified why they invested $250 million in the construction of a new building to serve as its new headquarters in Accra. In a statement on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, the central bank explained that a structural integrity assessment it conducted revealed that its current Head Office building is no longer "fit for purpose" and could not stand any major earth tremors. According to the Bank of Ghana, unlike its current BoG Head Office building, built by the Nkrumah Government in the early 1960s, the new Head Office can stand major earth tremors. It said "The outcome of the structural integrity work was that the main building does not satisfy the full complement of excess strength required for a building to be considered safe for usage. This means that in the case of a worst-case gravity and wind loading scenario, for example, unusually strong wind, the building may be significantly affected" "The building also does not have the required strength to withstand the expected imposed significant earthquake loads that would be expected to occur in the Accra area. Based on the above, and looking at the strategic objective of positioning Ghana as the financial hub of the sub-region, with prospects of a potential Headquarters for a future regional Central Bank" "The Board and Management of the Bank considered a new Head Office building as the most important priority project to support the operational efficiency of the Bank, and also position the Bank of Ghana in a very good position to be the host of the regional Central Bank as we currently host the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) of the sub-region." Earlier, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) accused the Bank of Ghana, of claiming the construction of a new head office at an alleged cost of $250 million. The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, said it the money blown has taken a toll on Ghana's economic stability, exacerbating the living conditions of its citizens. Speaking during the NDC's Moment of Truth series on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, he asserted that a new central bank headquarters was allegedly being erected in the Ridge area of Accra adding that their stance reflected a sentiment of disappointment with the Bank of Ghana's handling of financial matters, branding the institution as insensitive to the nation's plight. Credit: Pulse Ghana

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has disclosed that it found huge sums of monies in the accounts of former Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation, Cecilia Dapaah. In an exclusive report by Accra-based Joy News, the OSP is quoted as saying amounts of five million dollars and 48 million Ghana cedis were found in a Prudential Bank account owned by the former minister. Also, it found ¢1 million cedis in investments and ¢700,000 in cash in her Societe General account. Details from Kissi Agyebeng’s Office have revealed that a cash amount of $590,000 was discovered during the search at her Abelemkpe home. At the same residence, a sum of ¢2,730,000 in cash was found. Joy News understands the former Minister’s cedi and dollar accounts have been frozen by OSP pending further investigations. The OSP on July 26 arrested Cecilia Abena Dapaah and conducted a search in her official residence as sector Minister at Cantonments. Her private residence at Abelemkpe in Accra, where the said theft reportedly took place between July and October 2022, was also searched. Sources tell Joy News the OSP has filed a motion to confirm seized money it retrieved from the former MInister’s residence and to also confirm the frozen bank accounts. Relatedly, two more people have been apprehended in the case of the former Minister where some domestic staff stole a million dollars from her home in Accra. During a hearing at the Accra Circuit Court presided over by Judge Afia Owusu Appiah on August 2, the case prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye, revealed that two more suspects have been arrested in connection with the alleged theft of valuable items and money from the residence of former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and her husband, Mr. Daniel Osei Kuffour. Already, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei had been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing in relation to the case. Additionally, three others, Benjamin Sowah, Kwaku Botwe, and Malik Dauda, were facing charges of dishonestly receiving the alleged stolen money. The primary suspects, Patience Botwe and Sarah Agyei, were accused of stealing personal effects belonging to Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah. The stolen items included assorted clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry worth US$95,000. Furthermore, Ms. Botwe was alleged to have stolen six pieces of Kente cloth valued at GH¢90,000 and six sets of men's suits worth US$3,000, which belonged to the former minister's husband. Credit: Pulse GH

Kwaku Asante-Boateng, the Deputy Minister for Railway Development has refuted media reports that he was disrespected by the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. He said he declared his support for Alan Kyeremanten but never said the Vice President snubbed him. Mr Asante-Boateng clarified that his intention to support former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen was clear, and he criticised the media for distorting his statement. According to the Deputy Railway Minister, the manner in which some members of the camp snubbed him during a campaign visit to constituencies in the Asante Akyem area leaves much to be desired. During the campaign visit, the Deputy Minister said that “when Vice President Dr. Bawumia came to Asankare, we decided to go welcome him and some members of his team, none of them greeted me when I extended a hand.” On the back of this, the Asante Akim South Constituency MP emphasised that his criticism was aimed at certain members of the team and not directed at the vice president himself. He clarified that his relationship with Dr. Bawumia has been respectful and positive over the years. “I wish to put on record that I never said the Vice President disrespected me. Rather, I bemoaned the continuous disrespect shown to me by some members of his team. “I wish to state categorically that I have a very good relationship with His Excellency the Vice President, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, and that His Excellency has on no occasion, shown any sign of disrespect to me, both in government and as a member of the NPP, throughout the period of my association with him, spanning from 2007 to date,” he stated. To this end, the Deputy Railway Minister apologised to Dr. Bawumia for any harm caused by the media misrepresentation of his statements and urged fellow New Patriotic Party members and Ghanaians to disregard these false reports. Credit: Pulse Ghana

Marie-Claire Rupio, the widow of deceased Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu, has opened up on the moment she informed her children that their father was no more. According to her, the confusion surrounding the whereabouts of Atsu took a toll on the entire family and it wasn’t easy telling the kids that their father was dead. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Rupio said she couldn’t even cry when her husband was confirmed dead, adding that her body just shut down. "I couldn't really cry because I was in shock. I didn't want to believe [it was true]. I think my body just shut down,” she said. "The next morning the children had football and I didn't want to take that from them. After [that] I had to sit them down and explain it to them. It's not easy. It's not something you would wish on anybody." Atsu passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2023, after his lifeless body was pulled out of the rubble in the wake of the earthquake in Turkey. This followed days of intense search following the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria in mid-February. Christian Atsu, his wife and their children The ex-Chelsea and Newcastle United winger was subsequently laid to rest on Friday, March 17, 2022, in his hometown in Ada. Atsu and Rupio had three children together and the widow is hoping his good name will forever be remembered. "For me, it's very important that his name is still there, especially for the children, that he was known, that he was loved by everybody. I just hope that his name will never go away,” she added. Credit: Pulse Ghana

The Minority Chief Whip Kwame Agbodza has told renowned economist and former Rector of the Ghana Institue of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Professor Stephen Adei that the Minority would not sit down and allow incompetent people to destroy the economy. This comes after Prof Adei said the Minority did not know what they were talking about when they called for the resignation of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BG) Dr Ernest Addison for the GHS60.8 billion loss the central bank witnessed in 2022. Prof Adei had said “First of all, they don’t know what they are talking about,” Adei said. “If the BoG governor and the deputies resign today, the impact on us will be gargantuan.” “Do you know the impact on the depreciation of the currency and the total external confidence on our system? There are certain things you can say only in opposition. But this is irresponsible opposition…,” Prof. Adei also added that causing the total destruction of an economy that is already in shambles is one reason the country’s development has issues. “You can’t say I will sink the ship and take its pranks to build my house. Ghanaians think that anything you will do to bring the government down is acceptable, this is one of the greatest menaces to our development,” Adei said. In a statement eractin to this, Mr Kwame gubda who is also lawmaker for Adaklu said that “Prof. Adei strangely believes that the resignation of the BoG Governor and his team that has caused this bankruptcy and contributed largely to the untold hardships Ghanaians are experiencing, will bring a “gargantuan problem” to our currency and lower confidence in our economy" "For his information, the worse has already happened no thanks to the clueless mis-managers at the Bank of Ghana, led by Governor Addison who have aided and abeted the destruction of the Ghanaian economy by this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government." “What Prof. Adei fails to address his mind to is the fact that we are already in a gargantuan mess, and the most reckless and irresponsible thing to do is to keep quiet and allow the architects of this crass incompetence and mismanagement to remain at post. This will be the greatest disservice to our nation!" “The likes of Prof. Adei are not interested in saving the collapse of the country, but are more interested in saving their political party. That is most unfortunate and self-serving.” Below is Agbodza’s full statement… RE: BoG LOSSES – YOU ARE A RECKLESS AND IRRESPONSIBLE OPPOSITION – PROF. ADEI TO NDC It is rather sad that people like Prof. Stephen Adei have constantly chosen to be part of the problems of our nation and not the solution. Time and again, Prof. Adei has demonstrated through his hypocritical and lopsided positions and commentary on critical national issues, that all he cares about is his political affiliation and loyalty to his friends in government. A short trip down memory lane proves that Prof. Adei is always on the wrong side of history. Not long ago, this same Prof. Adei addressed teachers as criminals: This same Prof. Adei is on record to have also lauded Ken Ofori-Atta’s so-called integrity, despite overwhelming evidence of conflict of interest on the part of the Minister and reckless mishandling of Ghana’s economy: While Prof. Adei agrees entirely with the NDC Minority on our position that it is utterly reckless, unjustified and nation-wrecking for the Bank of Ghana to commit as much as $250 million into an unconscionable new Head Office building at a time the Bank has recorded huge losses amidst all our economic challenges, the good-old Professor shockingly posits that it is “reckless and irresponsible” for the Minority to demand the immediate resignation of the people who have so crassly mismanaged and run down our Central Bank, the economy and the livelihoods of Ghanaians. Prof. Adei strangely believes that the resignation of the BoG Governor and his team that has caused this bankruptcy and contributed largely to the untold hardships Ghanaians are experiencing, will bring a “gargantuan problem” to our currency and lower confidence in our economy. For his information, the worse has already happened no thanks to the clueless mis-managers at the Bank of Ghana, led by Governor Addison who have aided and abeted the destruction of the Ghanaian economy by this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government. What Prof. Adei fails to address his mind to is the fact that we are already in a gargantuan mess, and the most reckless and irresponsible thing to do is to keep quiet and allow the architects of this crass incompetence and mismanagement to remain at post. This will be the greatest disservice to our nation! The likes of Prof. Adei are not interested in saving the collapse of the country, but are more interested in saving their political party. That is most unfortunate and self-serving. Credit: 3news.com

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has told the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to stop the warmongering attitude relative to its measures to tackle the coup situation in Niger. He rather wants the regional body to adopt a diplomatic and constructive dialogue approach to resolving the issues. “ECOWAS leaders ought to stop the warmongering and give diplomacy and constructive dialogue a chance. The Niger crisis can be resolved without violence and bloodshed, he tweeted. "PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO MUST IMMEDIATELY STOP HIS MOBILIZATION OF GHANAIAN SOLDIERS FOR AN ECOWAS WAR IN NIGER. HE MUST SUBMIT HIS NIGER POLICY TO PARLIAMENT FOR SCRUTINY. WAR & BLOODSHED CANNOT BE THE SOLUTION; DIPLOMACY & CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE IS. AFRICA NEEDS A NEW LEADERSHIP." — SAM OKUDZETO ABLAKWA (@S_OKUDZETOABLAK) AUGUST 13, 2023 The Authority of Heads of State and Governments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened an Extraordinary Session in Abuja, Nigeria on 10th August 2023, under the chairmanship of H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chair of the ECOWAS Authority. The Extraordinary Summit was convened as a sequel to the recent one held on 30th July 2023, following the illegal detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by members of the Presidential Guard in the Republic of Niger on 26th July 2023. During the meeting, ECOWAS reiterated its condemnation of the “attempted coup d’état and the continued illegal detention of President Mohamed BAZOUM, his family, and members of his government.” The body further condemned the condition in which President Bazoum is being detained and hold the CNSP fully and solely responsible for the safety, security and physical integrity of President Bazoum and members of his family and Government. In a communique issued after the meeting, ECOWAS said they uphold “all measures and principles agreed upon by extraordinary summit held on Niger on 30th July 2023.” They have decided to “Enforce all measures, in particular, border closure, and strict travel bans and asset freeze on all persons, or groups of individuals whose actions hinder all peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring the smooth and complete restoration of constitutional order" “Warn member states who, by their action directly or indirectly, hinder the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger about the consequences for their action before the Community; Call on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by ECOWAS on the situation in Niger" “Further call on all partner countries and institutions, including the United Nations, to support ECOWAS in its efforts to ensure a quick restoration of constitutional order, in conformity with its normative instruments;Direct the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of the sanctions" “Direct the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to immediately activate the ECOWAS Standby Force with all its elements" “Order the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger; Underscore its continued commitment to the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means.” Credit: 3news.com

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has justified her action against some officers of the passport officers. She sacked the officers for aiding middlemen (Goro boys) to charge between GHS2000 and GHS3000 for passports. This is in spite of the fact that standard and expedited services for passport acquisition cost GHS100, and GHS150 cedis respectively. She noted that the issue of ‘Goro boys’ in the passport acquisition process has become rife as reported in the media. To that end, she embarked on an unannounced visit to the passport office in Accra on Monday, August 14. After the visit, she told the press that “This particular visit has become very necessary because of some reports that I have. Reports that officers …are involved in illegal activities. “When I say illegal activities we all know. Just two days ago the reports in the Daily Guide newspaper that the issue of goro people involved in our passport acquisition process has become rife. “It is wrong. How can One Hundred Ghana Cedis for standard service to acquire a passport and One Hundred and Fifty Cedis for expedited service be bumped up to GHS2000 and GHS3000, it is wrong. “The goro boys are outside the passport office, they need somebody inside to work with, they cannot do it on their own. People are paying GHS2000, or GHS3000 to acquire a passport? Why should this be so?” Credit: 3news.com

Christian Atsu’s partner Marie-Claire Rupio says she “hopes his name will never go away”, six months after his tragic death. In an exclusive interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Rupio has spoken about the former Newcastle United and Ghana midfielder, who lost his life in the earthquakes that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria. The earthquakes claimed more than 50,000 lives with Atsu, 31, found dead under the rubble of his home in Antakya on 18 February, almost two weeks after the quakes. He and Rupio had three children together, aged nine, six and three at the time of his loss. “For me, it’s very important that his name is still there, especially for the children, that he was known, that he was loved by everybody,” she says. “I just hope that his name will never go away.” Speaking to media for the first time since his passing, Rubio describes the confusion over whether Atsu was safe, hearing about developments on the radio and the impact his death has had on her and their children. ‘I was shocked, it was hard to believe’ Atsu was in Turkey having signed for Hatayspor last September, while his family remained in Newcastle. Rupio last spoke with him on Saturday, 4 February, and because his team were playing Kasimpasa the next day, he planned to speak with her again on the Monday. Atsu scored the game’s only goal in stoppage time and his wife messaged to congratulate him. His reply to thank her would be the last contact they had. On the Monday, Rupio heard about the earthquake on the radio while driving. “I didn’t believe that it could happen in a place [where] he would be,” she said. “As a human being, you think this can’t happen to you or anybody you love. “I was like ‘he’s fine and he will call’. But then after a while his sister called and told me that his building had totally collapsed. I was shocked, it was hard to believe.” Subsequent news reports created confusion over what had happened with Atsu, who made 121 appearances for Newcastle between 2016 and 2021. On 7 February his club’s vice-president said he had been “removed from the wreckage with injuries”. However, the following day his agent Nana Sechere said that his whereabouts were yet to be confirmed. Rupio then told BBC News she believed her husband was still alive and appealed for more equipment to clear the rubble. “I didn’t really read any news,” said Rupio. “I relied on his agent, Nana, and his sister. “Our children heard from their school that he has been found and then they came home and heard on the radio again that he hasn’t been found. It wasn’t nice, but I told them he might be found because you still want to believe [in] the positive outcome.” Being ‘the rock’ for their children Christian Atsu was known as ‘father’ by some of the children he supported in his native GhanaSechere was in the Hatay province to monitor the search for Atsu and later confirmed he had been found dead, after calling Rupio in the early hours of the morning to inform her. “I couldn’t really cry because I was in shock,” she said. “I didn’t want to believe [it was true]. I think my body just shut down. “The next morning the children had football and I didn’t want to take that from them. After [that] I had to sit them down and explain it to them." “It’s not easy. It’s not something you would wish on anybody.” The pair met while Atsu was playing for Porto and he earned a move to Chelsea in 2013, although he did not make a first-team appearance for the Blues. He had loan spells with Everton and Bournemouth before joining Newcastle, who Rupio said have “helped me in every single way they could help”, for which she is “very grateful”. She added that the Professional Footballers’ Association have helped her find a therapist while her eldest son has had counselling at his school. Rupio said that “he is the main one who is struggling because he has more memories” and is “not really ready to talk about it”. Her younger son has talked about his father more and has been asking questions that “sometimes are very hard to answer” Their daughter recently turned four and on her birthday “she asked when her dad is calling”. “You have to be strong,” she added. “You’re allowed to show emotions, obviously, but you can’t fall down" “You have to be the rock now for everybody. I do break down a lot of times, so it’s not easy to balance everything.” ‘He wasn’t just talented, he’s been a good person as well’ Atsu made his international debut in 2012 and went on to win 65 caps for Ghana, helping the Black Stars reach the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final. Ghana’s all-time record goalscorer Asamoah Gyan was among the many to pay tribute to his former team-mate, and he is remembered for what he did off the field as much as he did on it. Atsu supported an orphanage called Becky’s Foundation, helping to turn a children’s home in the Ghanaian coastal town of Senya Beraku into a school, and he was also a regular visitor, with some of the children calling him “father”. A traditional week-long period of mourning was held after his body was returned to Ghana and he was honoured with a state funeral in the capital Accra, with Ghana’s president among hundreds of people who paid their last respects. “He helped a lot of charities, even in the UK,” said his widow. “He’s helped a lot of people in Ghana. You can’t really talk just about [his] talent, he’s been a good person as well." “The people who are close do know that, even from the outside as well, they have seen it." “He’s built a school for children in Ghana and that’s something that not everybody would do, if they have money.” Source: BBC