Renowned Nigerian artiste, Ahmed Oloade, popularly known as Asake has revealed that poverty pushed him tp take a career in music. The 24-year-old said he was originally a dancer but added singing because dancing couldn’t fetch him enough money. He revealed this in a recent interview with ABC News. The ‘Mr Money with the Vibe’ crooner said his early exposure to music by his dad also made him develop an interest in singing. He said, “My parents used to play me a lot of classical Songs. They love listening to songs. The kind of father I have is the one that will wake up in the morning and have one cigarette then loud music" “At the end of the day, I feel like I can actually sing. Then I added music to it. Maybe because I know how to dance then I know how to bounce on music. I actually don’t want to be a musician in the first place. I just wanted to dance. It feels like water. I love everything that comes with dancing" “But at the end of the day, after dancing I fell in love with having money too. Then I started thinking about it, is dance going to give me the kind of money I want?” Credit: Graphiconline.com

Ghanaian Reggae, Afro- Dancehall Musician and Poducer, Bright Homenya popularly known in showbiz circles as Article Wan has described as sad and shameful how most people celebrate the dead over the living. The Musician took to his Twitter handle to pour his heart out. In a tweet sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, he said "It's very sad and a SHAME why most of us show much love and celebrate the dead than the living hmmm" Article Wan added that Ghanaians must learn to support each other to go far away. "Let's support each other to go #FarAway NOW because the dead won't even respond to the HEAVY support we show after. "R.I.P Rudebwoy Ranking 🕊 🕊 🕊 " Below is a screenshot of tweet: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghanaian Reggae/Dancehall Artiste, Mustapha Rahman known in showbiz as Rudebwoy Ranking has passed away. Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that the late Reggae and Dancehall Artiste passed away in the early hours of Monday, April 24, 2023 at the Ridge Hospital in Accra. It is emerging that he was receiving treatment at the health facility. The late Artiste was once managed by Bullgod. Some songs he would be remembered for include; ‘Jah Over Dem’, ‘No Drama’, ‘Yaro’, ‘Level Up’, ‘My Time’, among others. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

News coming in indicates that Paris Saint Germain forward, Leo Messi has been spotted in Barcelona, Spain. According to sources, his arrival in Barcelona seems not to be an ordinary visit. He was as usual surrounded by lots security personnel. Leo Messi is said to have arrived in Barcelona with 15 suitcases! More details to follow soon..... Story by: Thinknewsonline.com

The Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has expressed “utter disappointment” in former Minister for Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, for naming him in a damning report on illegal mining popularly known as galamsey. A 37-page report authored by the former Minister for Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng who was Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (ICIM) accused the Ofoase-Ayirebi MP of holding a secret meeting to destroy him. But in a response, Oppong Nkrumah described the allegations as completely false adding that despite being utterly disappointed by the claims he forgives the former minister. “Over the years, I had nothing but great admiration for Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s public-spirited works and as an inspirational citizen. I feel gravely offended over the false claims he has made and the hurtful conclusions he has sought to exact about me precisely because of the great esteem in which I have held him. “I trust that in the coming months and years, he will reflect deeply upon his own actions and comments which have led to his challenges. He should kindly leave me out of his personal fights. I am utterly disappointed but I forgive him.” According to Oppong Nkrumah, he only attended a PRINPAG (Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana) event, jointly organised with the Bank of Ghana on financial reporting and never held any meeting to oust anybody from the government. “Indeed, the facts are that it was Prof Frimpong-Boateng himself who wrote to the Ghana Police Service in January 2020 reporting the loss of some excavators and calling for an investigation. It was Prof. Frimpong-Boateng himself who in subsequent media interviews mentioned that the number of excavators missing was about 500. Again on or around February 20, 2020, it was Prof Frimpong-Boateng himself who at Parliament House (During interviews on the SONA) engaged in exchanges with the media about the said excavators and promised that they will be recovered” “For the record, these are the matters that occasioned the media reports about Prof Frimpong-Boateng and the said excavators. Further, it was Prof. Frimpong-Boateng himself who was later to be seen in a video making comments about the anti-galamsey fight and the release of excavators" “I, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah was not responsible for his initial police report, his subsequent interviews, or any of the claims he made. To be clear, it was Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s own reports, interviews and videos that generated his media challenges around the time. I am thus disappointed that he would, in this document, seek to blame me for the media reports" Credit: Citinewsroom

The Jospong Group of Companies has donated 100 bags of rice, boxes of oil and an undisclosed amount of money to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu. The donation which is done annually by the company is meant to support the Chief Imam to put a smile on his family and the Muslim Ummah around him during the Eid-ul-Fitr to climax the 30 days of Ramadan. The acting Director of Communication and Corporate Affairs for the Group, Mr. Daniel Ohene Obeng, presented the items to the National Chief Imam at his residence in Accra on Friday April 21, 2023. He said Jospong Group and the entire nation were appreciative of the efforts of Sheikh Dr. Sharubutu in handling national issues and Ramadan (fasting) was an important religious duty on Muslims which must be climaxed with peace and happiness. “In this regard, Dr. Siaw-Agyepong and the entire Jospong Group are giving the items as their token to the National Chief Imam to celebrate with his family and the people around him”. He also used the opportunity to wish the national Chief Imam, who will be 104 years old on Sunday April 23, happy birthday in advance. Sheikh Dr. Sharubutu expressed gratitude to the Company and it's Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw-Agyepong for the gesture and prayed for God's elevation and protection for the company and its Executive Chairman. "May God honour him and his steps and may He continue to pour His blessings on him" the national Chief Imam prayed. Sheikh Dr. Sharubutu also prayed for Ghana and asked for God's protection on the land. He made a special mention of Bawku and prayed for peace in the town and other neighbouring countries. He was grateful to God for the peace and harmony that Ghana enjoys as different religious bodies are able to live in peace and in unity. He noted that religious diversity is not for war because they all originated from a common source; God. He said putting a smile on another person’s face was a blessing, adding, “if you put a smile on another person’s face, you will never lack from God.” Sheikh Sharubutu noted that the donation would support their efforts at sharing with the vulnerable and needy families and thanked the company and its Executive Chairman Dr. Siaw-Agyepong and the entire Jospong Group for the gesture. Ramadan is a month of sharing, and also instills discipline on the Muslim Ummah. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Asian African Consortium (AAC), a subsidiary of Jospong Group of Companies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to undertake research to boost rice, maize and soya production in the country. The objectives of this partnership are to identify common areas of collaboration to address the overall mandate of the parties, develop a plan for collaborative operations and detail the scope and principles of engagement between the parties, while aiming at achieving food efficiency in the country. The CEO of the AAC, Mrs. Adelaide Araba Siaw Agyepong, at the signing ceremony in Accra on Thursday April 20, 2023, noted that the agreement will facilitate ACC’s collaboration with the UCC research institutes across Ghana to depeen research and development for social change deal with challenges for economic growth and development. She further added that it will also facilitate the establishment of a research and development consortium comprising of business, crop science, technology, agriculture engineering, chemical engineering as a standing committee to advise on the full value chain in rice, maize, soya and the production of other staples. “Again, this arrangement will facilitate the establishment of a seedling centre for the commercial production of seedlings for sale to farmers,” she hinted. She emphasized that “the ACC’s integrated rice project is to make Ghana self-sufficient in rice production resulting in significant economic benefit for the country” The AAC CEO noted that the partnership is crucial for increasing collaboration and boosting Ghana’s economy. Mrs. Siaw Ageypong, who was particularly pleased with the arrangement between the two institutions, was hopeful that this MoU will pave way for many other collaborations between the two institutions. Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong - Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, reiterated that the University has a specialized training for students to become entrepreneurs and self-sufficient and also can create jobs for others. “We also focus on empowering our students with competences to succeed in life” he added. He lamented that with Ghana’s abundant resources and arable land, it still imports food, which it can produce locally. “It is very sad that Ghanaians have to import from other countries to feed ourselves yet there are countries with no arable lands who have found ways to produce food locally and even export” he lamented. He therefore stressed that the University is fully behind the project, noting that the University in its small way of complementing efforts to curb importation has acquired a 450 acre of land for agricultural purposes. Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, in a brief remarks noted that agriculture and research must go hand in hand to ensure that the country derives its full benefits. He noted that rice is now a staple food in Ghana and initiatives must be taken to produce quality and the needed quantity backed by research and this cannot be achieved without the academia. He encouraged the University to ensure that they come up with seedlings that can withstand the Ghanaian conditions as well as produce the needed yields for maximum benefits. “We have the knowledge and resources to see this through, therefore you have no excuse not to perform” he reminded the academia. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Workspace Global, a tech-enabled creative services platform which provides custom-made designs, websites, and other creative work online, has announced its Africa-focused mission to empower African businesses to compete better in the global market by building their brand. Led by Forbes-recognized entrepreneur Sydney Scott Sam, Workspace Global aims to transform the way creative work is done in Africa and create millions of remote work opportunities for creative talent in the region. Workspace Global offers businesses of all sizes the ability to place orders in minutes, with high-quality work delivered to their inbox in a few days. Prices and delivery timelines are fixed, upfront, and transparent, enabling businesses to plan ahead. With over 8 years of operations, Workspace Global has supported over 500 brands and offers a free project manager and brand growth advice once a business signs on. "We are thrilled to launch our Africa-focused mission with Workspace Global," said Sydney Scott Sam, Founder and CEO of Workspace Global. "Our goal is to empower African businesses with convenient, affordable, and reliable creative support and create remote work opportunities for talented creatives in Africa. We believe Workspace Global will be a game-changer in the creative services industry in Africa, surpassing traditional creative agencies, freelance networks, and DIY software." Workspace Global invites businesses of all sizes to trial the platform this year in their quest to sign on their next 1000 customers. projects on Workspace Global start as low as GHS 500 and can be delivered to the inbox in as little as 3 days for small projects. The platform also offers monthly payouts for creative talent who sign up as contractors, creating opportunities for remote work in Africa. By providing African businesses with access to affordable, high-quality creative services, Workspace Global aims to help these businesses build their brands and compete effectively in the global marketplace. This, in turn, will create millions of remote work opportunities for talented creatives in Africa. To learn more about Workspace Global and its mission to empower African businesses, visit their website at workspaceglobal.com. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Deputy Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Godwin Ako Gunn says the party will join Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) if the National Peace Council (NPC) is able to address concerns tabled before them. He made these remarks while interacting with an Accra-based radio station. The Deputy Communications Officer said "NDC is ready to be part of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) if the National Peace Council (NPC) is able to resolve our concerns tabled before them" "We wrote to the NPC on some concerns about the posture of the Electoral Commission (EC) but the NPC has not made any attempt to resolve them" It will be recalled that the National Peace Council called a meeting in Accra to speak to all the political parties. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Fast-rising Ghanaian actor and comedian, Bismark Ofori known in showbiz as Kyekyeku has rendered an apology to the youth of Pakyi, a community in the Ashanti Region over his comments in the series, Akacalito. According to Kyekyeku, he is sorry for his utterances. In a video sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, he said "Oh family, I am an Ashanti and can never disrespect my people. I am sorry if my utterances in the series did not sit down well with the people of Pakyi. I am sorry" The Akacalito series since its release few days ago has received lots of views on YouTube. Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Aisha Modi has bared her teeth at Ghanaian Hiplife legend, Obrafour after he dragged Canadian rapper Drake to court over copyright infringement in his 2022 song ‘Calling My Name’ off his ‘Honestly, Nevermind’ album. The court document, cited by 3news.com, revealed that Drake’s team reached out to Obrafour for the use of his song ‘Oye Ohene’ remix which features Tinny and although he denied the request, Drake still went on with his move. Obrafour, real named Michael Elliot Kwabena Okyere Darko, who through his lawyers filed the case in the Southern District of New York, is seeking “at least $10 million in damages” from Drake. When news of the lawsuit became public, Ghanaian social media users shared their opinion with a pledge to follow the case which is of interest to many. However, Aisha Modi has been triggered by the reports to call out Obrafour to pay back every penny she spent on his career. It would recall that in 2020, Aisha Modi revealed in an exclusive interview on the Delay Show that she single-handedly pumped an amount of $45,000 into Obrafour’s famous “Kasiebo” album which he dropped a decade ago but got nothing in return. Fast forward to 2023, marking 13 years ago since the fruitless investment, Aisha Modi wants Obrafour to do the needful before he considers suing Drake for using his intellectual property. Speaking in the interview, Aisha Modi said: “I produced Obrafour’s ‘Kasiebo’. I invested close to $45k but I didn’t even get GHS1 from the song. I did this investment at a time when I didn’t even have a plot of land or a house.” However, Obrafour claims all that Aisha said during the interview were calculated lies aimed at tarnishing his hard-won reputation. The rapper’s management team subsequently sued Aisha for defamation but the outcome of the case remains unknown till date. Credit: myinfogh

President Akufo-Addo has charged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ministry of Interior, Lands Commission, and private developer, Unique Development Company Limited to work in earnest towards completing second phase of the ultra-modern Police barracks project in the Dome Kwabenya Constituency. He made these remarks while commissioning the phase of an ultra-modern police barracks on Wednesday. Speaking at the ceremony, President Akufo-Addo said "I urge the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Unique Development Company to work in earnest towards the completion the second phase of the Project, which is made up of one hundred and ninety-two (192) housing units, together with other amenities" This, he noted, will bring the total housing units for the Ghana Police Service to Five Hundred and Fourteen (514). "The growing population of the country requires that we develop innovative solutions to the demand for housing, infrastructure and public services in our major cities" Explaining further, President Akufo-Addo noted the Urban Redevelopment Scheme was introduced to redevelop major areas of our cities with modern infrastructure. "The completion of the first phase of the Barracks complex will facilitate the easy relocation of the Ghana Police Service for the Aviation City redevelopment to commence" President Akufo-Addo stressed that the police barracks falls in line with government’s commitment to provide decent accommodation for security personnel in the country. He also mentioned that it will improve their welfare, and enhance capacity to serve the nation more effectively. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, showered praises to President Akufo-Addo for his vision to modernise urban cities through the Urban Redevelopment Scheme. "Through this Programme, Government is redeveloping public lands in cities which are being underutilised to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country and give a facelift to our cities" "The Urban Redevelopment Scheme is being implemented in areas such as Kumasi Sector 18, which comprises of Ridge, Danyame and Nhyiaeso Residential areas, Old Tamale Airport, Ridge Sectors 1, 2 and 3 Residential Areas in Cape Coast, and the Aviation City in Accra" Mr. Jinapor noted that the move will pave way for the redevelopment of the Aviation City of which the new barracks and other projects have been constructed. "In addition to the barracks, similar projects are being constructed to relocate all the other agencies in the Aviation City enclave, including the Ghana Armed Forces, the West African Examination Council (WAEC), the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), and the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA)" "I want to thank Unique Development Company Limited for partnering with Government to make the project possible" Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery thanked all who partook in the completion of the first phase of the project. He also called for a speedy completion of the second phase of the project. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akufo Dampare assured the President that the service will take good care of the facility. He assured President Akufo-Addo that the barrack will be used for its intended purpose. Present at the ceremony were Minister for National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah, Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, Chairman, Executive Secretary and Members of the Lands Commission as well as Members of the Police Management Board. The new barracks complex was constructed through a public private partnership between the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Interior, the Lands Commission, and a private developer, Unique Development Company Limited. This was to pave way for the relocation of the police barracks adjacent Airport City. It was also aimed at freeing the land for a redevelopment into an Aviation City. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith