Some scores of commercial tricycle riders popularly known as 'Pragya riders' have stage protest against the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) over restrictions against their business. According to the Pragya riders, they disagree with the restrictions adding once implemented with hinder their business. Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that the protest on Thursday morning in Kumasi caused a huge traffic leaving other motorists and commuters stranded. The tricycle riders mostly made up of male youths in a viral video were also captured destroying road signs. It is emerging that the Member of Parliament for Asewase constituency, Muntaka Mubarak has successfully convinced the protesters to move to Aboabo park. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is heavily respected outside Ghana but it has been committing several mistakes, a renowned economist Kwame Pianim has said. In the view of Mr Pianim, officials of the Bank should have held meetings with members of the Finance Committee of Parliament to explain to them the dire situation that the country found itself in and also made available to them the measures outlined to resolve the problems. If this meeting had been done, he said, there would not have been this hullabaloo around the support that the Bank gave to the government. The Bank of Ghana is respected outside but they are making mistakes, he said.” he said. He added, “They should have alerted the entire committee of the chair about the challenges and that we are going to print money.” Mr Pianim further indicated that Ghana is in a deep crisis. “Where we are now is difficult, we have never been there before, we need to sit up now and, we are not on the road yet we haven’t turned the corner,” he said. It is recalled that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta told Parliament that the government had turned the corner relative to the economic challenges. He said during the presentation of the 2023 mid-year budget review on Monday, July 31 that with a lot of effort, the government managed to avoid empty shop shelves for medicines and other essentials the country has seen no shortages of food; “We have been spared the frustrating spectre of long queues for fuel at our filling stations; and, we have managed, in spite of all the challenges, to keep the lights on,” he said. “Indeed, as the Psalmist said (in Psalm 118:23) this is the LORD’s doing; and it is marvellous in our eyes. “This ‘turning the corner’ is underpinned by the investments and sacrifices we have collectively made during this difficult period since March 2020,” he added. Credit: 3news.com

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is one of the institutions that have to be protected, a professor at the University of Ghana Business School, Godfred Bokpin has said. He said the BoG needs to be protected. “One of the institutions we want to protect is the Bank of Ghana, you don’t do politics with the Bank of Ghana,” he said, speaking at the 3Business Ghana’s Economic Forum Agenda held on Wednesday, August 9. He earlier alleged that the BoG intentionally compromised its independence and sold its birthright to the government by exposing itself too much to provide financial assistance to the latter. Prof Bokpin attributed the current financial difficulties that the central bank is facing, to the over-exposure to the government. He stated that the financial challenges that the central bank is facing are undermining confidence in the financial sector. To him, the Governor, Dr Ernest Addison should have resigned by now. “We are undermining confidence in our financial system. Remember the central bank could become solvent but that doesn’t restore total confidence in our system. If you look at what has happened to the banks, many of them have had to revise their line of credit in terms of consumer banking.” “In any serious society, I believe that maybe the Governor would have advised himself and resigned by now. Even though they find themselves in the situation, I think the central bank intentionally compromised its independence, sold its birthright to the government,” he said in an earlier recorded interview with Alfred Ocansey which was aired on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 on Tuesday, August 8. The Minority in Parliament has also demanded the resignation of the Governor and his two deputies – Dr Maxwell Opoku-Afari and Elsie Addo Awadzi. This was after the Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said Dr Addison is spending $250million to build a new head office for the central bank at a time the Bank is in financial difficulties. Dr Forson accused the Governor of printing money to finance this project because the BoG has no money. “The Bank of Ghana does not have money but spending GHS250million for a new head office, which means he is printing additional money to finance this project,” Dr Forson said. He further gave the Governor and his two deputies up to 21 days starting today Tuesday, August 8 to resign after indicating that the governor just prints cash to support the government’s spending. “We have to get this Governor out and let us have a new Governor. If we allow him to stay in the office, we will set bad precedence for future managers to do the same,” he said at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, August 8. Dr Forson stressed, “He has messed us so much that we cannot wait to see his back.” “We demand the immediate resignation of the Governor and his deputies within 21 days. We will march to occupy the central bank to save the Bank of Ghana if he fails to reign. The March will ensure accountability,” he said. Dr Forson’s comments follow the GHS60.8billion loss made by the BoG. The Bank said this is due to the impairment of the Government of Ghana’s securities holdings of ¢48.45 billion, impairment of loans and advances granted to quasi-government and financial institutions amounting to ¢6.12 billion and the depreciation of the local currency resulting in net exchange loss of ¢5.27 billion. The loss was occasioned by the Government of Ghana Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. According to the BoG, its Board of Directors and Management assessed the policy solvency implications arising out of the negative net worth position and the group’s ability to continue to generate enough income to cover its monetary policy operations and other operational costs. In the view of the directors, the Central Bank will continue to operate on a going concern basis due to a variety of factors underpinned by expectations of an improved macroeconomic situation and policy actions specifically targeted at improving its balance sheet. In its Annual Report, the Central Bank, outlined these measures which it believed would help it recover. These include: Retention of profits to help rebuild capital until equity firmly returns to positive region. Refraining from monetary financing of the Government of Ghana’s budget. In this respect, action has already been taken with a Memorandum of Understanding on zero financing of the budget signed between the Bank of Ghana and the Ministry of Finance on 26 April, 2023; Taking immediate steps to optimise the Bank of Ghana’s investment portfolio and operating cost mix to bolster efficiency and profits; and assessing the potential need for recapitalisation support by the government in the medium-to-long term. It furthered that the Board of Directors and Management are of the view that, “continued efforts at restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability in addition to long-term efforts at building reserves, provide enough basis for continued operational policy efficiency existence for the foreseeable future” Credit: 3news.com

Debo Adebayo, also known as Mr. Macaroni, a well-known social activist and comedian, has urged Nigerians to cease “twerking” for politicians, saying those who do so are the least patriotic of all Nigerians. The creator of skits said in a post on his social media account that he has now gained independence and is now fully aware that holding public office is not a favor to the citizens. The politicians should rather consider themselves favored to be serving the people. “Some of us have since emancipated ourselves and are fully aware that politicians are not doing the people any favors by holding public office. Instead, it is the politicians that are so favored and privileged to serve the people. "Stop twerking for politicians. Liberate your minds and free yourself from political slavery. You deserve better as a Nigerian. So hold your leaders accountable. To make Nigeria work, we all have a part to play,” he wrote. Mr. Macaroni further added that, people who have chosen to be loyal to politicians instead of the country are the unpatriotic ones. He noted that, it is not wrong to commend a politician for a good job done. Also, it is equally important to call them to order when they do the wrong things. “The most unpatriotic Nigerians are those of you that have chosen to be loyal to politicians instead of the Country especially when the decisions they make affect the people negatively. “Do well to commend them when they do well but also be the first to call them to order when they do wrong by the people. Now listen to a voice of reason and raise your heads up from their behinds and start doing better,” he added. Source: Daily Post

Erico who emerged winner of the third edition of the TV3’s Mentor Show has opened up on when he decided to go into acting. Speaking on Nana Ama McBrown’s show “Onua Showtime”, the musician recounted his experience with the host on a movie set. According to him, he received three slaps from Nana Ama McBrown on a movie set, and that defined his life. The slaps made him come to terms with the fact that acting is not his calling. In a jovial manner, Erico mentioned that it is difficult to forget the slaps he received that day. Well, if those slaps turned your life around, how can you forget of them. Erico with all humility and happiness thanked Nana Ama McBrown for the exposure she gave him. “I was moving into acting but you (Nana Ama McBrown) did something to me that made me opt out. You slapped me about three times that I can never forget. I was like when I come on here, I’ll say it for us to laugh. “That day when you slapped me, I realized that acting is not for me. It’s not my field. I got discouraged and said I will not act again but God bless you because at the time, you gave me exposure,” he recounted. Erico also mentioned that since his time at TV3 Mentor, he continues to do his music. And he has a song titled ‘Aseda’ coming out on August 20. According to him the launch of the song will take place at New Life Kingdom Chapel at Santa Maria at 4pm, and there will be free entry. He acknowledged that, though not everyone hears or listens to his music, the people who listen are touched one way or the other. And he is happy with the help and support he is receiving from some men of God. “I’ve been doing music ever since I left Mentor and up until now, I still am. God willing, on August 20, I’m launching a new one called, “Aseda” which will take place at New Life Kingdom Chapel at Santa Maria at 4pm. The launching comes with free entry, “Some people hear my music whilst some others don’t but by the grace of God, I have about 3 pastors who are rallying behind me and pushing me little by little. When I sing “Aseda”, so many people want to cry,” Erico disclosed. Source: 3news

For the first time, the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, has seen the introduction of an Afrobeats category. The Afrobeats genre of music has been making waves for sometime now. One will say it is long overdue to see the category in the VMA’s this year. Afrobeats music has high presence in West Africa, and is often created to the Nigerian music industry. There a number of reasons that could have necessitated the introduction of the Afrobeats category in this year’s Music Awards. Ranging from the international tours by Burna Boy, Davido, Rema, just to mention a few to the song that set the internet ablaze ‘Calm Down’. Rema and Selena Gomez’s ‘Calm Down’ became an internet sensation. The song has help Rema to dominate the music scene and music charts for sometime. It is therefore, not a surprise to see the new Afrobeats category being dominated by Nigerian Musicians. Apart from the Cameroonian-American singer in the midst, the Nigerians stole the category. Below are the nominations for the Afrobeats category: Best Afrobeats Ayra Starr – “Rush” – Mavin Global Holdings Burna Boy – “It’s Plenty” – Atlantic Records / Spaceship Entertainment Ltd Davido ft. Musa Keys – “UNAVAILABLE” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA Records Fireboy DML & Asake – “Bandana” – Empire Distribution Libianca – “People” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA Records Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records Wizkid ft Ayra Starr– “2 Sugar” – Starboy / RCA Records Rema and Selena Gomez’s ‘Calm Down’ also appeared in two other categories as indicated below; Song of the Year Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit” – L-M Records / RCA Records SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records Records Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records Best Collaboration David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – “I’m Good (Blue)” – Warner Records Post Malone, Doja Cat – “I Like You (A Happier Song)” – Mercury Records / Republic Records Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On” – Motown Records KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG” – Universal Music Latino Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)” – Boominati / Republic Records Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records Credit: themovietrain.com

Member of Parliament (MP), Krowor Constituency, Agnes Momo Lartey has offered special prayers for candidates partaking in this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in her constituency. The MP asked for God's guidance for the candidates as they write the BECE. She also prayed for retentive memory for the children. Honourable Agnes Momo Lartey also charged the candidates to take away fear and approach each question with confidence. She further prayed again the spirit of examination malpractices on the part of the candidates. She added that she was hopeful that the candidates in her constituency will come out with flying colours. The Member of Parliament also donated mathematical set to the students adding that her embossed picture will challenge the children to study hard to become like or more than her in future. She toured some various schools in her constituency. The 2023 BECE exams which commenced on August 7 has entered its third day. A total of 600,714 school and private candidates are sitting this year’s examinations. The schools exams will be held at 2,137 centers while 15 centers have been designated for the private exams. The MP was accompanied by the Director of Education, Krowor Municipal Assembly, Madam Justina Djaba among others. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Aspiring Parliamentary Candidate for Abuakwa North Constituency on the ticket of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah says he will cover educational expenses of top 6 students who obtains single digit score in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in his constituency. According to him, the move will foster quality education within the constituency and motivate students to achieve academic excellence. The costs to be covered by Dr. Boakye Danquah will encompass everything outside the ambit of the Free SHS policy, which includes the transport fees of the students, all necessary expenses for the schools, as well as all items on the students' prospectus list. The BECE, he says, is a significant milestone for junior high school students, considering that it is the standard prerequisite for admission to senior high school. Dr. Boakye Danquah strongly believes that by investing in these talented students, he will not only provide financial assistance, but empower them with the necessary resources and opportunities. He stressed that the gesture will empower the students to excel academically and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that the Accra Girls Senior High School has deboardinised about nine (9) final year students after some mobile phones were found and seized from them. According to reliable sources, a search at the dormitory of the girls led to the seizure of the mobile phones. It is emerging that the girls were sent to the Disciplinary Committee of which the action was taken. Sources further revealed that the students have, however, been asked to come to school from their homes to write their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). In a secret filming by Thinknewsonline.com, Municipal Director of Education at the school, Mr Philip Aidoo confirmed the incident to the news team. He, however, denied allegations that some parents had come for their wards from the school after the action was taken. He further charged the affected parents of the students to formally petition the PTA and School Authorities before the students are taken back into the school as boarders. "The parents should petition the school authorities, headmistress. The petition must be written not oral. The problem is solvable not that it can't be solve. We only followed measures" he said. Further checks reveal that some of the affected students were writing their final papers. Mother of one of the deboardinised girls (Name withheld) in telephone interview with Thinknewsonline.com said "I was called yesterday and asked to come to the school. I had already attended a PTA on Saturday in the same school so I was wondering what had happened and thus had to rush to the school with my husband" "We were then told that a mobile phone had been found on my daughter and due to that they were going to deboardinise her and few others due to school rules. She is a WASSCE candidate. We apologized to the house mistress to allow our ward stay for the night but she said no and asked us to take her together with her belongings" "My husband interrogated my daughter and she explained that the phone belong to one, Diamond Appiah who is also a student. We had no money on us and we had to pack her things into a Trotro and journeyed home" "I had to comfort my daughter and ask her to go to school today to write her paper. Headmistress of Accra Girls Senior High School, Mrs. Gifty Andoh when contacted, declined to speak on the issue. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey has expressed his party’s commitment to working closely with the media in building Ghana. Mr. Kwetey made this pledge when he led a delegation of party executives to pay a courtesy call on the management of Citi TV/Citi FM. The national executives of the NDC ahead of the 2024 elections embarked on the media tour to engage and strengthen the relationship between the party and the media. Mr Kwetey was accompanied by NDC Director of International Relations, Alex Segbefia, Deputy Communications Officer, Ako Gunn among others. The leadership of the two institutions discussed a myriad of issues, with the General Secretary of the NDC pledging the party’s commitment to work with the media to ensure the desired development being sought by Ghanaians is met. “The aim is simply to re-establish the beautiful rapport that we have always had with the media, but beyond that, to signal that we have been on this journey for 31 years, and it is important for the critical actors to start meeting and having a conversation.” Speaking on behalf of the management of Citi TV/Citi FM, the Managing Director of the company Samuel Attah-Mensah pledged to collaborate with any political party which is ready to push the Ghana agenda. “As for us, where we sit, we like to focus on the Ghana Agenda so any political party or government that decides to take on the Ghana Project, we give our full support and that is why people try to label us which is okay, but I will always say, judge me by what I do, and we are not in a hurry to let people believe we are here, or we are not here.” “What I keep telling my colleagues is that today we are in the media and have the microphone and will not be in the media tomorrow and so how we help shape opinions and policy decisions, one day when we are out of here, we will now be subjects of those policies.” On his part General Manager of Citi TV/ Citi FM, Bernard Avle asked the NDC to intimately manage the relationship with the media with the advent of social media and its complexities. Credit: Citinewsroom

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a call for the resignation of Dr. Ernest Addison, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), as well as his deputies. Amid concerns over the fiscal performance and management of the central bank, the NDC has set forth a demand for accountability. At a press conference held under the banner of the NDC's "Moment of Truth" series on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, accused Dr. Addison of overseeing the mismanagement of the Bank of Ghana, which allegedly led to a staggering loss of GH¢60.8 billion during the 2022 fiscal year. The party's response has been to threaten a march to the Bank of Ghana premises to forcibly remove Dr. Addison and his deputies if they do not voluntarily resign within the next 21 days. “In this regard, we call for the resignation of the Governor of the Central Bank and his deputies within 21 days from today," Dr. Forson said. "We are resolved to embark on popular action to occupy the Central Bank and drive out the team of inept, callous and criminal mismanagers of the finances of this country and save the Bank of Ghana. The March to Ensure Accountability will begin in 21 days if the Governor of the Bank of Ghana does not do the needful and pack bag and baggage out of that sacred institution that he has so desecrated. Dr Ernest Addisson Must Go! There has to be an end to impunity and it is NOW!” Dr. Forson outlined the NDC's perspective during the press conference, asserting, "We are resolved to embark on popular action to occupy the Central Bank and drive out the team of inept, callous and criminal mismanagers of the finances of this country and save the Bank of Ghana." He underlined the party's intention to hold the leadership accountable, stressing that their demand is a call to end perceived impunity and fiscal mismanagement. The opposition party contends that the Bank of Ghana has become a scene of financial mismanagement, attributing the alleged losses to the actions of its administrators. The NDC has expressed concern about the consequences of what they perceive as reckless management, particularly in the context of a significant fiscal loss. According to the NDC, the Governor and his team's purported mismanagement have raised questions about their fitness to lead the central bank. “The NDC party is on record to have informed Ghanaians on countless occasions that the Bank of Ghana has been on a dangerous trajectory, and indeed, it has now become a crime scene with dire consequences for all of us. Beyond the mismanagement of the economy and our finances, the spectacular recklessness and ineptitude of the Governor and his team has called into question the wisdom of leaving him at the helm of affairs of the Central Bank,” he stressed. Credit: Graphiconline.com

National Democratic Congress (NDC) has given the governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mr. Ernest Addison, a 21-days-ultimatum to resign or face their wrath. According to the NDC, it is capable of deploying options that will get him out of office by force. Addressing Journalists in Accra on Tuesday, Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza said “What will we do after the 21 days? They shouldn't try us? We have options like we always see our options in our head. They should not try because we are capable of deploying options that will get him out of office by force. If you refuse to go within 21 days and we are telling him he should not they ask because we have the capability of turning out of the office with your support” Mr. Agbodza also added that the NDC is disappointed in the Akufo-Addo administration following the construction of a new headquarters for the Bank of Ghana. But which of you here believes that Godfred Dame is going to prosecute any member of President Akufo-Addo’s government. It is not going to happen? But I can assure you that apart from the fact that the governor is appearing before Parliament, he doesn't even like appearing before the finance committee or parliament” “He thinks he's only accountable to present and the last time we needed to remind him that even the finance minister upon all his escapades is false sometimes to appear before Parliament” “So if the finance minister is bigger than you, how dare you not be able to appear before Parliament let him understand? He's accountable to Parliament. And the 21 days is a long grace period” “The Bank of Ghana in this level of crisis, self inflicted, will be building a $250 million new headquarters. In fact, those of you who know Ridge hospital when President Mahama had the opportunity to leave his country, he built Ridge and opposite of that hospital on the right hand side is Bank of Ghana new headquarters as if something is wrong with their own headquarters” “You have actually collapse the economy. The next thing you will do is to award a $250 million project and guess what? That project is one of the fastest growing projects in this country.” “Not education projects, not road project. The fastest growing project in this country is the construction of Bank of Ghana. So how can you tell us that the country is broke when the headquarters of Bank of Ghana is going on? A speed of light? It means that this is deliberate.” Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith