Event Guide Africa, Africa Event Awards in partnership with Ghana Tourism Authority, Ministry of Tourism Art & Culture, Kaya Tours, Advance Media, and various stakeholders, has recently released its annual list of top 50 Events. The list comprises the most popular, innovative impactful events that took place in Ghana throughout the year 2022. The objective of the list is to showcase the diverse and dynamic events industry in Ghana and to highlight the organizers of events and their contributions to the country's economy and culture. In a statement by the CEO of Event Guide Africa, Kelvin Kenneth, he said, "The events industry in Ghana continues to thrive and grow, and we are proud to be at the forefront of promoting and celebrating the best events in the country. This year's list features a wide range of events, from large-scale music festivals to intimate theatre perform hand we are honored to recognize their achievements." Board Member and Spokesperson of Africa Event Awards, Prince Akpah also noted that event organizers must continue to work hard and strive for excellence in order to be recognized in the future. He also stated, "We encourage organizers to raise the bar and bring their best to the table. The events industry is highly competitive, and it is up to each individual to make sure that their events stand out and leave a lasting impression on attendees." The 2022 Top 50 Events list is a testament to the vibrant and thriving events industry in Ghana and serves as a source of inspiration for event organizers to continue to push the boundaries and bring the best events to the country. For more information on the 2022 Top 50 Events in Ghana and to see the full list below in alphabetical order or visit the Event Guide Africa website. www.eventguideafricanews.com Source: Peacefmonline.com

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that President Akufo-Addo has accepted the resignation of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ahanta West Constituency in the Western Region. In a release signed by the Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin, he noted that the resignation letter was submitted to the President on 3rd February, 2023. Mr. Arhin said " President Akufo-Addo thanked him for his services to the Government and to the country and wished him well in his future endeavours" "The President has asked the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Hon. Dan Botwe, MP, to act as caretaker Minister at the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, until a substantive replacement is made" Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

President Akufo-Addo has revealed that Ghana will soon sart the process of establishing a War Command College. The Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces revealed on February 1, 2023 that he had tasked the Military High Command to activate processes towards that goal within this year. “The government will not relent in its effort to transform the Ghana Armed Forces into a formidable modern force and will continue to help enhance the capacity and capability of the Armed Forces towards the development of our nation" “I have tasked the Ministry of Defense and the Military High Command to begin the process of establishing a War College in Ghana this year. The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has been tasked to provide the seed capital,” he added. The president was speaking at the 2023 West Africa Soldier’s Socialization Activities (WASSA) of the Ghana Armed Forces, at Burma Camp in Accra. “The government and the people of Ghana continue to appreciate the sacrifices of the Ghana Armed Forces Forces towards ensuring peace and security both internally and externally," he stressed. February 1, busy day for CIC President Akufo-Addo had a busy day aside from the WASSA, inagurating critical facilities for the military and donating equipment for their operations. He wrote on his Facebook wall: "As part of Government’s effort towards addressing the accommodation deficit of the Armed Forces, this morning, I commissioned a newly constructed 300 Bed capacity Joseph Siaw Agyepong Young Soldiers’ Block at the 37 Military Hospital, which will accommodate newly posted young soldiers to commence their basic training in medical care." "I also handed over the UN Level IV COVID-19 Field Hospital located near the Air Force Base, Accra, to the military High Command. I familiarised myself with the operations of DIKMAC Ltd, which is an armoured vehicle assembly plant located in Burma Camp, and also handed over a fleet of vehicles (175 in total) to the Headquarters 15 Armoured Brigade." "Commissioning the ultra-modern CDS office complex was one of the highlights of the day, for it is an edifice befitting the CDS and his staff." "I also cut the sod for the construction of a General Headquarters Office Complex for GHQ, and also for the construction of two thousand (2,000) housing units for the Navy," the post accompanied by pictures of his engagement concluded. Story by: Thinknewsonline.com

An elderly man and his daughter died on the spot after the Mercedes Benz bus they were travelling in collided with a Tipper truck on the outskirts of Onwe on the Ejisu-Kuntenase road. Kwame Mensah, 80, and Sarfo Emmanuella, 23, paid the ultimate price while a Seventh-Day Adventist Church pastor sustained severe injuries. The pastor who is in critical condition is receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The accident occurred on Monday, January 31, at about 11 a.m. According to reports, the bus with registration GW 7329-X with three other passengers onboard from the Onwi to Achina direction veered off into the lane of an oncoming Tipper truck whilst negotiating a curve. Police sources say the accident occurred less than two minutes after Pastor Obeng picked up Mr Mensah and his daughter who stood by the roadside waiting for transportation. The two had visited the Onwe Health Centre. Mr. Mensah and his daughter died on the spot, while Mr Obeng and another victim who survived the accident were transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The mangled Benz bus and the Tipper truck have since been towed away. The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at a nearby morgue. Credit: Tellusghana.com

President Akufo-Addo, has named a new Aide-De-Camp in the person of Colonel Isaac Amponsah. He replaces Bismark Onuonah, who has been promoted to the rank of Major General after six years as the President’s ADC. Major General Onuonah has been assigned to the Army Headquarters as Commandant of the Training and Doctrine Command at the Ghana Armed Forces. The new ADC, Colonel Isaac Amponsah until his appointment was the Chief Instructor at the Military Training Academy and served at the Defense Intelligence Unit at the General Headquarters. The 52-year-old Col is from Kumasi and is married with two children. Credit: gbcghanaonline.com

How much was needed to revive Bonsa tyres in the Western region? A company that could have easily supplied Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo with beautiful car tyres even with his name embossed on them. I listen and sometimes watch some communicators of the NPP trying to justify this madness and I can only appreciate the words of the lizard 🦎, when it said, the one throwing stones at it, is not as annoying as the one saying your accuracy rate is low. I have placed myself in a vantage position just to see the kind of rubber that carries our president around. Whether it is the same car tyres we all use or a Gold plated rubber, or probably a hand woven tyre? What rubbish !!! I am sure as you read this, a gentleman has taken his bath, polished up heading towards a TV or radio station to justify how Covid really affected our economy. This amount could have revived the tyre factory to employ our teeming youth who are struggling to be employed. This story is just unfolding, so I will come back to other aspects of this nonsense. Keep calm and know that these corruptions will not go unpunished. Spending this money at a time the president was even working from home. He only comes out at night to greet us with the popular phrase "fellow Ghanaians" and goes back to bed. Where did he travel to? Let's keep hope alive, as long as we have life, we will see the better days ahead. *Kun Fa Yakun* Credit: Godwin Ako Gunn, National Deputy Communication Officer, NDC and President, Kunfa Yakun Movement DISCLAIMER: The views, comments, opinions, contributions and statements made by the author on this platform do not represent the views or policy of Think News Online.

Bishop Stephen Kwasi Appiah, popularly known as Jesus Ahoufe, has taken a swipe at his fellow man of God, Osofo Kyiri Abosom for cheating on his wife. Jesus Ahoufe in an interview on an Accra-based radio station condemned the actor saying it is a taboo. He said it is not right for a pastor to do such a thing. Jesus Ahuofe said "It is taboo for the leader and founder of the Life Assembly Worship Centre to cheat on his wife and declare it publicly" The popular prophet asserted that satan is using Kyiri Abosom to damage God’s work. He maintained that this is a manifestation of a prophecy he gave some time ago. Jesus Ahoufe added that a lot of marriages will collapse this year. His remark comes after it was widely reported that the wife of Osofo Kyiri Abosom quit their marriage after he had a child with a different woman. Credit: Thinknewsonline.com

The Gwira Tradi­tional Council has petitioned the Min­istry of Lands and Natural Resources to probe activities of Okobeng Mining Company Limited and uphold its decision to ban the company from undertak­ing mining activities in their area. A three-member delegation from the council yesterday called on the ministry where they lament­ed the impact of alleged illegal mining activities of Okobeng Mining company in the area. According to the chiefs, the affected communities had resolved to ban Okobeng Mining from undertaking any activities in their areas and needed the approval from the Ministry and Minerals Commission to enforce their decision. The chiefs declared their support for government’s illegal mining fight and expressed their readiness to collaborate with relevant agencies to stamp out the menace in the area. They asserted that a number of companies were undertaking mining operations without the required licence and that the chiefs had made moves to stop them but would need backing from the Ministry. Aside the illegal mining activi­ties, the chiefs have also observed that the owner of Okobeng Mining Company and his co­horts had allegedly been carrying out activities which had security implications with the potential of degenerating into a full-scale crisis if preventive measures were not expeditiously instituted. The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, George Mireku Duker, on behalf of the sector Minister assured that the ministry through the Minerals Commission and allied agencies would probe the concerns by the chiefs and take necessary actions to curb the situation. He promised that the sector Minister, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor, would be briefed on issues raised and that drastic measures would be put into action to address the issues. Mr Duker also appealed to the Gwira Traditional Council to petition the Ghana Police Service and Interior Ministry to take up the matter and restore calm in the area. “I promise to follow up the issues and investigate them. The situation with Okobeng is a major concern for everyone in the country. There have been shooting incidents, among other things so I’m glad you are now taking action against Okobeng. Ghanaians must be concerned with what is going on with Okobeng.“ "I also believe that you must inform the IGP and Interior Minister about the situation for the necessary measures to be taken. Just as you petitioned us, kindly petition the Ghana Police Service and Interior. We’ll investigate the issues relative to the licences but the security issues are to be direct­ed to the police so petition them,” Mr Duker said to the chiefs. Source: Ghanaian Times

The Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG’s debt to Bui Power Authority has increased significantly to 614 million dollars as at the end of 2022, from 386 million dollars at the end of 2019. This was revealed when officials of the Bui Power Authority appeared before the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament. The Committee is scrutinising the 2020 Report of the Auditor-General. Deputy CEO, in charge of Finance and Service at the Bui Power Authority, Dr George Tettey told the Committee that the collection of receivables from ECG is one of the Authority’s major challenges. Questioning the pricing of power to ECG in dollars, Energy Minister Dr. Mathew Opoku-Prempeh said the issue of dollarization in the Energy sector is the bane to Government’s debt to IPPs despite Bank of Ghana’s effort to curb dollarization. Dr. Mathew Opoku-Prempeh said his Ministry is working with the Ministry of Finance to find a way out of the situation. Reacting to the Debt owed Bui Power Authority, ECG said it is ensuring that the company improves on its revenue mobilization to help pay the necessary debt owed Bui Power Authority. Source: gbcghanaonline.com

Ghanaian reggae artist, Blakk Rasta has replied celebrated female singer Efya Nokturnal saying the she has allowed drugs to destroy her soul. According to Blakk Rasta, Efya should allow herself to be healed. His comments came after Efya had said he did not know who Blakk Rasta was when she was speaking during an interview on GhOne TV. Efya Nokturnal, even after he was helped to recognize Blakk Rasta, went on to describe him as the “funny musician who did funny songs.” “I don’t know who Blakk Rasta is. Is he the radio journalist that does funny music ? Journalist say what they want but Ghanaian musicians don’t care” These words did not sit well with Blakk Rasta, who decided to berate Efya and tell her to desist from the use and abuse of drugs, which could have clouded her knowledge of him. In a quick rebuttal, Blakk Rasta wrote: Sad what DRUGS can do to a beautiful soul. Be delivered and healed, in JESUS name! Background Blakk Rssta on his show on 3FM had described Sarkodie’s latest work with Bob Marley as a desecration of the Reggae genre. According to him, the rapper was not the right fit for the project. “What Sarkodie was nothing but a desecration of the legacy of Bob Marley. It is so shameful. What Sarkodie did is nothing but a desecration of the holy music of Bob Marley. It is like a king has been buried and you go and dig him up and steal his gold and diamonds that he’s been buried with. Urinate right into the grave and walk away laughing like a mad man on heat. Sarkodie allowed himself to be used to desecrate the legacy of Bob Marley. What is special about what he did, the one way rap which has been on all these years. What Sarkodie does is one-way rap”, Blakk Rasta fumed. These words obviously did not sit well with Efya who denied knowledge of him which has resulted in Blakk Rasta attacking him and calling her names. Watch the video: Credit: GhPage

The Ghana Police Service says it has arrested twelve members of an organized crime syndicate for their involvement in a series of carjacking and robbery incidents. The suspects are – Prince Opuni, Kwabena Kyei Barfour, Jeffrey Dwomoh alias Jeff, Clifford Opoku alias Spider, Samuel Adom, William Ansah, Bernard Adu Gyamfi, Anthony Tawiah alias Wizzy, Andrew Kwame Owusu, Musah Sulley, Yaw Acheampong, Charles Lotherford. The Police in a press release issued on Wednesday, February 1, said the suspects operate with guns, attack their victims and take over their cars which they then sell to others. “The Police have arrested twelve people who are members of an organized crime syndicate involved in a series of carjacking, robbery and murder incidents across three regions of the country." “The arrests follow a sustained, intelligence-led operation by a special Police team which mounted surveillance on the activities of the gang between July 2022 and January 2023 in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern regions,” excerpts of the statement read. The Police also added that its investigations has revealed that one of the suspects has shot and killed one of his victims. “Investigations into the activities of the syndicate revealed that suspect, Jeffery Dwomoh, shot and killed one of his victims,  during one of the carjacking expeditions at Brofoyedru near Ahenema Kokoben.” According to the release by the Police, an amount of GH¢10,010 was retrieved from the suspects. “During the operation, the police recovered ten (10) vehicles, believed to have been snatched by the gang from their victims. “The Police also retrieved two foreign pistols, one revolver with ten (10) rounds of 38 special ammunition and a Rugger foreign pistol with eleven (11) rounds of 9mm ammunition, together with a cash sum of Ten Thousand and Ten Ghana Cedis (GH₵10,010.00),” the statement from the Police added. The statement concluded that “all twelve (12) suspects are in Police custody and efforts are underway to arrest one other suspect who, Police have reason to believe, facilitates double vehicle documentation for the syndicate. Source: tellusghana.com

The Kasoa and Achimota branch managers of the popular retail shop, Melcom, have been arrested by the revenue protection taskforce from the Ghana Revenue Authority over failure to issue VAT invoices on some items sold to customers. They were arrested on Wednesday, February 1. Their arrest brings to nine, the number of shop managers arrested on the third day of the operation by the compliance unit of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The GRA rolled out the Electronic VAT Invoicing system in 2022 in its quest to track taxes paid on goods purchased. With the current Value Added Tax rate at about 25%, some shops have adopted schemes to bypass the system in order to keep a low price rate to attract customers. According to the GRA, shop managers have found a smart way of directing purchases through other systems other than the customs-approved system. The suspected shop managers will be arraigned according to the GRA after their statements are taken. On Tuesday, the Managers of the East Legon branch of Max Mart shopping centre, Community 25 branch of Palace shopping mall, and Second Cup Coffee shop at Dzorwulu were arrested and detained by the Ghana Revenue Authority for non-compliance with tax laws and bypassing the Electronic VAT Invoicing system. The three managers are made up of two foreigners and a Ghanaian. According to GRA, the managers of the respective malls deliberately outsmarted the Electronic VAT Invoicing system by recording multiple sales of items under one unit. Credit: Tellusghana.com