Hello everyone, we are still in the New Year, and a few thoughts flashed through my mind when I was on my usual walk a few days ago. This life! Like everyone else, I have suffered my fair share of disappointment, frustration, sadness and even depression. Other times, I have been discouraged even by the very people who should be encouraging me. But oh, I have tasted the love of God, his faithfulness, and his full glory many times. In fact, I have enjoyed the love and joy of family, pure joy, and happiness like never before. 2023 has just begun and yes, I am 50 and counting and looking forward to enjoying even more of the glory of God. The secret has always been happiness! Exercising keeps me healthy, happy, and motivated. Learning keeps me curious; teaching me new skills. Reinventing and revitalizing myself is also keeping me busy. This year, I will be very intentional about my life, about my family, about work. In the face of the present economic challenges and difficulties, it is time to find a new business line, something exciting and rewarding! Also, a new chapter, a new network, move on from negative stereotypes and move forward. Mine is a life of many lessons, a life of love, fear, opportunity, passion, and learning. No matter what challenges we may face or encounter, the good Lord will always meet us at our point of need and difficulty. I leave you with some nuggets from my favorite book of life- start afresh; learn to forgive; never stop learning; never stop loving and listening. Each time you feel tempted, let down or unfulfilled, remember the glory of God. All through life, I have been thankful and grateful for all that I have and able to do. Thank you, Lord. Please have faith, and work hard no matter what happens, no matter how much failure or heartache. Remember that there is always light shining bright at the end of the tunnel. Happy New Year from me, Joyce B. Mogtari. Credit: Joyce Bawa Mogtari, Former Aide to Former President John Mahama

The Accra Circuit Court has fined artiste manager, Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, aka Bulldog, GH¢48,000 for saying on tv that President Akufo-Addo will not finish his second term if he does not pay customers of Menzgold. Failure to pay the fine will land Bulldog 40 days in prison.Bulldog had pleaded not guilty to offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace. He was however found guilty today after two years of trial by the court, presided over by Evelyn Asamoah. On January 9, 2021, Bulldog was part of panelists that appeared on an entertainment programme on United Television (UTV). When the issue of Menzgold came up for discussion on the show, Bulldog said, “the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will not finish his four year tenure if he failed to pay Menzgold customers.” In his defence, the artiste manager cum entertainment critic said he never intended to threaten the President or breach the peace. Rather, he said he wanted to appeal to the President’s conscience to help the customers of Menzgold. However, in her sentence, the judge was of the considered opinion Bulldog could not had intended to appeal to the conscience of the President due to the gravity of his statement. The judge said the statement clearly threatened the President and was meant to incite people against the First Gentleman of the land. “What he said could have serious security implications as it put the President in danger,” the judge said. Facts The facts as presented by prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Apiosornu, were that the complainants in the case are citizens and regular viewers of UTV programme dubbed “United Showbiz,” hosted by Nana Ama Agyemang Mcbrown, which is live every Saturday between the hours of 9pm and midnight. The prosecution said on January 9, 2019, the programme was aired on UTV as usual and Bulldog was one of the panelists who appeared on the show. Chief Inspector Apiorsornu said during the programme, the issue of Menzgold was raised and Hanson quickly responded that “The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo will not finish his four year tenure if he failed to pay Menzgold customers.” The Prosecution said on January 11, this year, the Police intercepted the said video recording on the face book page of UTV, which attracted many comments from viewers who watched and heard the accused making those “unguided” comments. The prosecution said on January 12, this year, Hanson was handed over to the Police by the National Intelligence Bureau for investigations. He said in the course of the investigations, the Police requested for the original video recording from UTV and it was played to the accused and he admitted having made those comments. The Prosecution said the original video, which was in Twi and English language was forwarded to the Ghana Institute of Languages for transcription and same was transcribed into English language. Credit: graphiconline.com

The Akwamuhene of Akyem Awisa in the Eastern Region, Nana Yaw Barima Twum Sarkodie I, has entreated Ghanaians to be united and support leaders in the country including chiefs and those in government to bring about development. He underlined that unity means being together for one another in “thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions,” especially “once we are united, we share the same feelings, sympathy, ideas, tangible and intangible resources.” Nana Yaw Barima Twum Sarkodie I, was speaking as the Guest of Honour, at the grand durbar of Adehyedae Kɛse Festival 2022, at the forecourt of Anum Ampene Kotoko Ahenefie, Asamankese. The festival, which was used to raise funds in aid of palace projects, was on the theme “3 Years of Exceptional Leadership; Uniting the Citizens for Development.” Unity, he stressed, is strength, adding that “it is in this strength that we support each other to achieve development. "To develop in unity would mean that we support our chiefs, elders and leaders in society in their development agenda. We must eschew individualism and respect each other’s view whiles we take our time to state our positive positions devoid of insults, emotions, sentiments and insinuations,” he advised. According to Nana Yaw Barima Twum Sarkodie I, the objective of modern-day chieftaincy is to bring development to the people. He said this can only be realised through the total support in unity of the same people “we intend the development for.” “Development starts from the mind; let us therefore begin from today to change our mindset towards development in unity and the rest would be history. You are fortunate enough to have a chief whose quest for the development of his people and society is unmatched,” he charged. He told his people that all that needed from them was their support in unity. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Hugo Lloris has confirmed he has decided to call it a day for the France team after the World Cup in Qatar. WHAT HAPPENED? Lloris has confirmed he has retired from international football after more than 14 years playing for the France team. The goalkeeper won the World Cup in 2018 with Les Bleus and the Nations League in 2020-21. He also captained the team to the final in 2022 in Qatar where France were eventually beaten by Argentina on penalties. THE BIGGER PICTURE: Lloris departs as France's most-capped player after making 145 appearances for his country during his career. The skipper announced the news in an interview where he also named Milan's Mike Maignan as the man to replace him in the national team. WHAT THEY SAID?: "There comes a time when you have to know how to pass the hand," he told L'Equipe. "I don't want to make it my own, I've always said and repeated that the France team doesn't belong to anyone, and we all have to make sure that's the case, me first. I think that behind [me], the team is ready to continue, there is also a goalkeeper who is ready [Maignan]." AND WHAT'S MORE: The 36-year-old also admitted that family considerations were also in his mind when he made his decision to retire from international duty. "I prefer to go out being at the top than to wait for a drop in speed, or too much competition," he added. "There is also a family choice, I feel the need to spend more time with my wife and my children." WHAT NEXT? Coach Didier Deschamps must now decide who will succeed Lloris and be his No.1 goalkeeper. Les Bleus are set to return to action on 24 March against the Netherlands in qualifying for Euro 2024. Credit: Goal.com

The Ada-East District Nutrition Officer, Mr. Raphael Kwasi Angmortey, has cautioned the public, especially pregnant women, against mixing alcohol with milk to improve blood circulation. According to him, such practices are mere misconceptions that rather lead to deformities. “It is also false that a mixture of coca cola with a tin of tomatoes increases the formation of blood during pregnancy,” he told the GNA in an interview at Ada in the Greater Accra Region. He advised pregnant women to desist from such acts because they were unsafe for the mother and fetus. He said alcohol intake during pregnancy must be avoided as it affected the placenta and the featus’ development including its intellectual ability. Mr. Angmortey said women nursing pregnancies rather needed more iron to enhance blood formation adding that iron deficiency was the main cause of anaemia. He said good nutrition through eating balanced diets could prevent anaemia and mentioned oyster, fish, turkeybury, and beans among others as rich sources of iron. Pineapples, mangoes, and oranges are also rich in vitamins and must be added to the meal, he said, and advised pregnant women to visit health facilities for the appropriate guidance. Credit: GNA

News of the enstoolment of Ghanaian rapper, Lousika, as the queen mother of Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region has been well received by fans and well-wishers who have sent out their congratulatory messages. The stool name, Nana Nyarko Aboraa Sika, has been conferred on the popular business woman and musician in a beautiful traditional ceremony. Photos from the event have been widely shared across social media pages and fans are reacting to it. Lousika, the mother of two is the granddaughter of the late Omanhemaa of Manso Nkwanta, Nana Nyarko Aboraa II. The rapper who went on a long hiatus from the music, is famed for songs like 'Hands Up', 'Dedeede' and 'Opampam' which featured Shatta Wale. Credit: ghanaweb

The 2023 academic year for first and second-cycle schools across the country has commenced today. Being the commencement of the first semester for second-cycle schools, it is also serving as the first term for basic schools. This is the third year in a row in which the academic year is commencing from January, after it was jolted by the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from March 2020, during which schools were forced to close down. Previously, the academic year began in September every year Per the provisional 2023 academic calendar released by the Ministry of Education and the GES to heads of institutions, there will not be double track at any level, and that only two year groups of the three cohorts of students in senior high school (SHS) are to be in school at any given time for the academic year. "In the transitional option, two of the three year groups must be in school at a given time,” it said. According to the GES, the decision was to prevent congestion, as well as maintain social distancing to prevent COVID-19.T The first semester under the transitional calendar for SHS Three students will be from January 10 to February 17, 2023. Students will then break from February 18 to March 12 and go back to school from March 13 to June 2 to end the first semester. They will break from June 3 to 18 and then go back to school for the second semester from June 19 to September 28, 2023. In the case of SHS Two students, they will be in school (first semester) from January 10 to March 9, this year and then break from March 10 to April 21. They will go back to school from April 24 to June 2 and then break from June 3 to August 6, 2023 for the first semester vacation. The second semester will be from August 7 to December 22, this year. For SHS One students, the calendar said they would report to school for the first semester from February 20 to April 21, 2023 and then break from April 22 to June 18, 2023. The students will return to school from June 19 to August 4 to wrap up the semester and then break from August 5 to October 1, 2023. The second semester will commence from October 2 to December 22, 2023. For single track schools, the calendar for SHS One to Three students will cover 34 weeks, comprising 1,360 contact hours. The SHS Three students will report to school (boarders) from January 10 to May 11, 2023 and then go on break from May 12 to June 2, 2023. They will report to school from June 5 to September 29 to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). SHS Two students will also be in school from January 10 to May 11, 2023, break from May 12 to June 2 and then go back to school for the second semester from June 5 to October 9, 2023. For first-year students, they will be in school from January 20, 2023 to May 11, 2023, break from May 12 to June 2 and return to school for the second semester from June 5 to November 10, 2023. At the basic school level, pupils will go to school for the first term from January 10 to April 20, 2023 (14 weeks) and break from April 21 to May 1, 2023. The second term resumes from May 2 to August 9, 2023 and then break from August 10 to August 21, 2023. The third term will be from August 22 to November 16, 2023. Responding to why two cohorts of students must be in school at a time, the Chairman of the GES Council, Michael Nsowah, who emphasised that the calendar was a provisional one, told the Daily Graphic that there had been an increase in student population in a good number of schools and so allowing all the three cohorts at a time could bring about congestion and its consequences. Allowing two cohorts to be in school at a time, he said, did not mean that students would be short-changed, and that by that system they would be doing more hours. He said it would also lessen the pressure on teachers to enable them to handle the number of students in school at any particular time. He reminded parents and guardians that no timetable was final, and that changes could be made to the timetable in the event of a development like, for instance, the COVID-19. Mr. Nsowah said ,for instance, that if something happened and schoolchildren were asked to stay at home for a week, it would change, but the GES hoped that nothing would happen to bring about a change. "All things being equal, this is how it is going to be; if anything happens, that will call for a change,” he said. Explaining the transitional calendar, he said it made room for the few schools which were running the double track because of the large numbers of students. Timetable Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng, told the Daily Graphic that the provisional timetable out was at the finalisation stage. He said although it was already out, it was possible there would be some changes “because the Cabinet has to approve it”. “Hopefully, it will be approved in the coming days, but a lot may not change,” he said. On when this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results would be released, Mr Kwarteng said they would be out on January 19, 2023. “Once the results are out, the process for the placement of candidates into SHSs and technical institutions will begin,” he said Credit: businessghana.com

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that the Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Akoto Afriyie is expected to tender in his resignation by the close of Tuesday, January 10. His resignation comes days after Trade and Minister, Alan Kyerematen also resigned. It is emerging that Dr. Akoto Afriyie's resignation will give his ample time to prepare for his bid as Presidential candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming 2024 Presidential elections. Think News will update its readers on new developments. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Newly Elected National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has stressed that God has given his children choices to have control over what they choose, however, their choices come along with consequences. The Newly Elected National Chairman made these remarks while addressing congregants of Perez Chapel and Ghanaians during a Thanksgiving Service held by the party at the Perez Chapel International in Accra. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said "God has given us choices to have control over what we choose, but our choices come along with consequences and God has not given us the power to determine the consequences of our bad choices" "So there are times when you make a bad choice, you must suffer bad consequences and that is where people will say you got the government that you deserve" "And so we must pray that God will give us a government that we need and not a government that we deserve because of our wrong choices.” Mr. Asiedu Nketia hinted that the NDC party needs the intervention of the Almighty God as it prepares towards its election of the flagbearer and the 2024 General election. “We want to continue to plead with the Archbishop and the congregation to continue to pray for us so that we can get through the next phase of the exercise and to pray again, not for the NDC to come to power but to pray for the country to get the right government.” He also thanked the General Overseer of Perez Chapel International, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare for transforming NDC's bad boy, Sam George, MP for Ningo Prampram Constituency into a good man. "It is important for the general population to pray for God’s intervention in electing the right leaders and government because bad electoral choices often come with bad consequences" On his party, Founder of the Perez Chapel International Church, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare said "As leaders, you have to endeavour to protect the public purse if elected into power“ "Those of you who gain political power must not use it to amass wealth for yourselves and your loved ones. You must exorcise the perception that Ghanaian politicians go into public service to steal from the public purse and not to do service to the nation.” “As agents of development, political parties must make sure they implement sound social and economic policies to improve the living conditions of citizens.” “As we move into major campaign activities toward the 2024 elections, all parties must endeavour to maintain the peace of the country.” General Secretary, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, Former and incumbent Members of Parliament, other bigwigs and some supporters of the party also graced the occasion. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy says debating the weakness of Ghana's constitution does not mean its democracy is fundamentally flawed and should be jettisoned. According to the NCCE Boss, democracy is a journey and not an event. Addressing Journalists at the commemoration of Constitution Day in Accra on Saturday, Madam Addy said "NCCE and many other organisations have undertaken a number of activities designed to discuss these weaknesses and suggests areas for reform" "It is however important to note that debating the weaknesses of our constitution does not mean that our democracy is fundamentally flawed and should be jettisoned" She added that a continuous commitment to democratic ideals is required for its successful implementation. The NCCE Boss also mentioned that democracy is the most difficult form of government to sustain however a democracy where citizens actively participate in its governance provides the best chance to build a just society. Madam Addy said "In the coming weeks, we will unveil all the activities we will be undertaking, including collaborations with other Institutions" "Ladies and gentlemen, the last 30 years represent an unprecedented period of political stability in Ghana. None of our previous efforts at multi-party democracy lasted anywhere near three decades" "The 1969 and 1979 Constitutions lasted approximately two and a half years, whereas Multi-party democracy was removed from the 1960 Constitution after only four years." She noted that there has been improvement in Ghana's economic performance in the last thirty years of Multi-party democracy, as compared to 30 years pprior to 1993. "According to World Bank data, our GDP has grown from approximately  $6Billion to almost $77Billion during this period" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has called on the various Religious Leaders and general public to pray for the ruling party, New Patriotic Party (NPP) saying its governance is bizarre. The Chairman of the NDC made these known when he and his Executives joined some Muslims observe Jummah Mubarak at the National Mosque in Kanda, Accra on Friday. Speaking at the event, he said "We dont' want you to pray for NDC to come to power, pray for help on behalf of the government that is bizarre" He added that the NDC and Ghanaians are today fighting to win independence from domestic domination. "We want to thank Allah that at the end of all these, we have been able to hold our party. We are still seeking the face of Allah and that the exercise is not completed yet" "We are trying to convince everyone that the exercise is not an acceptance of few and rejection by others. It is an exercise of assigning responsibilities of individuals depending on their capabilities." "The times and situations and challenges we have require those who will give their support at this time. We will have patience for the Leadership to do what it has to do so we secure power in 2024. "We see our responsibilities not towards only NDC but we see that there is a national assignment that we have to tackle" Speaking to Journalists, General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifi Kwetey charged the media to disregard news circulating in relation to a meeting held by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. He said "NEC is not the final Authority and until my office comes out with a formal announce, disregard anything that is circulating on the airwaves. Member of Parliament (MP), Tamale North Constituency, Northern Region, Alhassan Suhuyini on his part called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to rally behind the new Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia and General Secretary, Fiifi Kwetey to secure victory for the party in the upcoming 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. "We are not afraid to ask our men of God to pray for what is best for the country. He is charging the Imams not to necessarily pray for the NDC but pray for Ghana and pray for the best party to lead Ghana. We believe that we have the best set of ideas and set of men and women to serve the country and serve the country that we all want" The Tamale North MP also described the ruling NPP as clannish saying they are only interest in what will benefit them and not the country. He charged all new NDC Executives to support Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia as the party prepares for the 2024 elections. Below are some videos Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Minister of Trade and Industry Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has tendered in his resignation from government, 3news.com has gathered. Mr Kyerematen is said to have tendered in his resignation on Thursday, January 5 to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The resignation letter was accepted by the President, 3news.com gathered. Mr. Kyerematen has, in the past, contested the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership race, losing on all occasions to Nana Akufo-Addo. In 2007, he had to concede defeat, preventing a third round of voting at the University of Ghana, Legon, where the infamous 17 candidates including then Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama contested the race. Mr Kyerematen’s fortunes have since dwindled as his votes keep reducing at each attempt, failing to contest at all when nominations closed in 2020. The former Ghana Ambassador to the US is, however, tipped to return to the race and begin his campaign for the primaries later this year as the ruling party is set to nominate a new candidate for the 2024 polls. President Akufo-Addo finishes his mandatory eight-year term. Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will be his greatest rival as many party big wigs have tipped him to be the new face for the NPP on the ballot paper. However, the likes of Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and Kwabena Agyei Agyepong have declared intentions to contest the 2023 presidential primaries. On the fringes are former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and former Mampong lawmaker Francis Addai Nimoh. Credit: 3news.com