Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and a corporate and investment lawyer, Joe Ghartey has launched Youth Investment Summit (YIS in Accra on November 24th 2022. The Youth Investment Summit (YIS) is organized bi-annually to bring young entrepreneurs, business people, seasoned entrepreneurs and investors to participate in sharing business, investment, and networking opportunities. It’s mission is to empower the youth and create expanded opportunities for their growth as business leaders and innovative entrepreneurs. "Our mission is to empower the youth and create expanded opportunities for their growth as business leaders and innovative entrepreneurs," says Hon. Ghartey. The Youth Investment Summit is organised bi-annually to bring young entrepreneurs, business people, seasoned entrepreneurs and investors to participate in sharing business, investment and networking opportunities. "We exist to help in solving the chronic graduate and youth unemployment challenge across the African continent, by pioneering an innovative continental business and investment summit to inspire and support the youth to develop and own businesses for wealth, employment and social impact," Hon. Ghartey added. YIS will facilitate and enhance business growth – hence dubbed "Business Factory Initiative for Africa" It is expected to develop and invest in one thousand (1,000) businesses with a minimum total investment of $50 million in the next 5 years across different African countries. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that President Akufo-Addo will be joining some Ghanaian supporters in Qatar to watch the Black Stars play against Portugal in the ongoing World Cup. According to sources, President Akufo-Addo who touched down about four hours ago will be having a pep-talk with the players before they get onto the pitch. The arrival of President Akufo-Addo will not only serve as a support but a morale booster for the players. Ghana will later today open its Group H campaign by facing Portugal. It is emerging that there is no tension likewise injuries in camp. The Black Stars says it is confident of securing the three maximum points against Portugal. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram Constituency, Sam George has taken a swipe at Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia over his recent video wishing Black Stars good luck ahead of their Qatar 2022 World Cup journey. According to the Ningo-Prampram MP, the Vice President was sold to Ghana as an Economic Wizkid not Black Stars captain. In a tweet sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, the MP tweeted "Fix the economy @MBawumia You were sold to us as an Economic Wizkid not Black Stars captain. Abufus3m! 🦁😡" He also hit hard on the Vice President saying saying Ghana's economy is in the KVIP and while the currency is toilet paper value. "When the head of the EMT is showing football skills at a time our economy is in the KVIP and our currency is toilet paper value, you know we have a major issue" It will be recalled that a video capturing Ghana's Vice president, Dr. Bawumia sharing a goodwill message to the Senior National Team ahead went viral. The video captured the Vice President showcasing his football skills. The said video received mixed reactions as some social media users hailed the Vice President while other hit hard at him. Ghana will later today open its campaign of the World Cup against Portugal. Below is a screenshot of Sam George's tweet: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghanaian singer, Francisca Gawuga, popularly known as Sista Afia says she will go naked should the Senior National Team, Black Stars beat Portugal by three goals in the opening Group H fixture. She took to her Twitter handle to make the post. She tweeted "If Ghana score 3-0 against Portugal, on Thursday I will go NAKED and drop my self in a pool ON LIVE 😂😂😂 so God help me 🙏🙏🙏" Black Stars will open their World Cup account on Thursday as they clash with Portugal. See screenshot below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Chairperson, Governing Board of Minerals Commission of Ghana, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi led a high powered delegation from the Minerals Commission of Ghana to Prestea in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of Western Region to engage the people on Small Scale Mining with emphasis on Community Mining and other related activities. The delegation included Hon Barbara Oteng-Gyasi and seven members of the Board namely, Hon Charles Acheampong, Hon Dakoa Newman,Torgbui Awusu III, Emmanuel Vincent, Judy N Crayem, Alhaji Iddrisu Suleman a, James K. Ataki, and joined by the MCE for Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Assembly, Hon. Isaac Dasmani (PhD). Madam Barbara Oteng-Gyasi during the engagement reiterated that Government through the Commission is poised to ensure the good people of Prestea benefit from the gold mining business by establishing the Community Mining scheme in various Communities in the Prestea enclave for the teeming youth to mine responsibly to protect the environment and generate personal income. She indicated that, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Commission are negotiating with Future Global Resources(FGR), a mining company in Prestea to release portions of their concession to facilitate the setting up of Community Mining and currently about four (4) sites have been identified to initiate the scheme. She encouraged all persons interested in mining to register their concessions with the Commission to ensure extension of support by the various offices of the Commission spread across the country especially regarding the allocation of the 'Gold Katcha' processing equipment introduced by the Commission to eradicate the use of mercury by Small Scate Miners. It was also intimated that to ensure responsible mining through effective monitoring, the Commission is planing to build an office complex in Prestea next year to boost the activities of the satellite office in Prestea. Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) at Prestea, Isaac Dasmani (PhD) thanked the delegation for the good step being taken to roll out Community Mining scheme in Prestea and entreated the miners to work hand in hand with the Commission, Traditional Authorities and the Municipal Assembly to register their concessions to ensure responsible and peaceful mining operations. The Representative of the Small Scale Mining Association emphasized that their members do not mine in Water Bodies and Forest Reserves and were committed to collaborating with the Commission and Government to flush out illegal activity in these Red Zones. Divisional Chief of Himan/Prestea, Nana Nteboah Prah IV lauded the delegation for the engagement and encouraged them to push forward for the scheme to be launched to reduce unemployment rates and mining illigalities in Prestea and it's enclave. He admonished the youth to comply with the directives of the Commission and move from illegal mining to Community Mining and also proposed that Government reduce the Concession allocations to Large Scale Mining Companies to ensure land was available for Small Scale Mining. Other Dignitaries present were Nana Kwasi Sompre II, Chief of Bogoso, Members of Prestea Huni-Valley Small Scale Miners Association, Executives of the New Patriotic Party led by Chairman Abbiam Kuntu Danso and the general public of Prestea Township. Below are some pictures: Story by: Thinknewsonline.com

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Lands and Forestry, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio says government is fully committed to ensuring that mineral deposits discovered in the Oti Region are exploited and utilised for the benefit of the people of Oti in particular, and Ghanaians in general. The Deputy Minister made this declaration  on the floor of Parliament when he was answering questions on behalf of the Sector Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor on Wednesday, 23rd, November, 2022. Hon. Benito in his answer on steps being taken by the Ministry to operationalize mining of minerals discovered in the Oti Region, said government is still at the exploratory stage of the mining value chain of the iron ore mineral. "Currently, the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC), the statutory body responsible for the promotion and development of an integrated iron and steel industry in the country, is undertaking mineral resource estimation at one of the seven blocks in the Gyamurume and Wawaso areas" he added. He continued that Satellite scans have been completed, and mapping and geophysical surveys are underway which he said is expected to be completed within a year and half, noting that so far, ten (10) people from the local community have been employed. In addition to iron ore, he allueded that the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) is carrying out geological investigations into limestone deposits to define and quantify their economic potential for exploitation. He assured the House that before any serious mining activities begin in the Region, the Ministry will ensure that all the necessary measures are put in place to forestall any illegalities that will negetively impact the environment as seen elsewhere. Still on the mining sector, Hon. Benito touted a number of measures government has put in place to mitigate the illegal mining menace, noting that these measure can also pass as progress goverment has made in the fight against the menace. "Government has implemented several policies and programmes aimed at coming to grips with this canker. We declared river bodies as red zones for mining, banned reconnaissance, prospecting and/or exploration in Forest Reserves, launched Operation Halt II to rid river bodies and forest reserves of illegal mining activities, introduced speed boats and river guards to patrol and protect our river bodies, banned the manufacture, sale and/or use of the floating platform, popularly referred to as Changfan, enhanced the punishment regime for persons involved in illegal mining, revamped Community Mining Schemes and developed an Operational Manual to regulate their operations." Answering the questions of disposal of government Lands, he reiterate that, as has been the case in all governments under the Fourth Republic, government has disposed of some landed properties since 2017. He was however quick to add that as to the number of transactions, the beneficiaries, and value of those transactions, he will rely wholly, on previous answers given on 3rd February, 7th June, and 28th June, 2022, as captured in the Hansard for those days. He also made it clear that when the Lands Commission, who are the repository of these information, finishes compiling the records, including those relating to previous years already requested by the House, he will furnish the House with the information. On the question of why government issued an Executive Instrument (E.I. 144) to declassify 40% of Achimota Forest Reserve and how Lands in these Reserve area were already demarcated and sold out to individuals, the Deputy Minister gave a historic background to the matter and stressed that Achimota Forest is an integral part of Government’s plan for the protection of our forest cover and our agenda for aggressive afforestation and reforestation, and the Government of President Akufo-Addo, remains fully committed to its protection and proper management. He therefore gave an assurance to the House that Government will act on any improper acquisition of public lands, regardless of how it was procured, whether now or in the past, and the Achimota Forest Lands will not be an exception. Hon. Owusu-Bio stressed emphatically that Public lands are not for sale and for that matter the Akufo-Addo government has not sold lands to any institutions, groups of people or private individuals. Speaking to the question of quantity and whereabouts of the confiscated rosewood which is said to have been donated to National Cathedral, he said as announced on 30th July 2022 by the sector Minister that all Rosewood confiscated will be donated towards the construction of the National Cathedral, "since this date, twelve point five (12.5) containers, containing an estimated wood volume of Two Hundred and Fifty cubic metres (250m3) of Rosewood, have been confiscated and donated to the National Cathedral Project and this includes the five containers impounded on 17th June, 2021 at Tema Port. He implored the house that for security reasons, all Rosewood donated to the National Cathedral Project are stored at the Forestry Commission Depot, in Achimota, stating that as and when the Project requires wood, they will make use of these confiscated wood. The Deputy Minister assured the House, and the good people of Ghana, that "our management of the natural resources of our country, including Rosewood, will continue to be anchored on the highest standards of transparency, integrity and candour for the benefit of the Ghanaian people, the owners of these resources" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The favourite clubs to sign forward Cristiano Ronaldo in the January transfer window after Manchester United terminated his contract have been revealed. Recall that Man United ended Ronaldo’s deal after the Portugal captain slammed the club, and their manager Erik ten Hag, among others, during his explosive interview with Piers Morgan last week. Ronaldo’s remaining seven months’ contract with Man United was terminated, meaning the 37-year-old is now free to join a new club after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. According to Betfair, Chelsea are among the bookies’ frontrunners to sign Ronaldo after Manchester United terminated his contract on Tuesday. Chelsea explored the possibility of signing Ronaldo in the summer, with the club’s chairman, Todd Boehly, keen on the idea, but their former manager Thomas Tuchel turned down the opportunity to bring the five-time Ballon d’Or winner into his squad. Tuchel has since been fired and replaced by Graham Potter, which could open the door for the Blues to make a fresh move for Ronaldo. The report added that Sporting CP are currently the favourite to sign Ronaldo, who played for the club in the past. Other favourite clubs to sign Ronaldo include Newcastle United, Roma, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and any MLS club. Credit: Daily Post

Finance Minister, Kenneth Ofori-Atta will be delivering the 2023 Annual Budget Statement in Parliament on Thursday 24th November, 2022. The 2023 Budget will focus on Government's strategies to restore and stabilize the macro economy, build resilience, and promote inclusive growth and value creation. In a statement sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, it said "In accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) the Minister for Finance will, on behalf of the President, lay before Parliament the 2023 Annual Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government on Thursday, 24th November, 2022. The 2023 Budget will also feature prominent matters including providing an update on Ghana's engagement with the IMF on an IMF-supported Programme, Climate Change strategies, the YouStart initiative under the Ghana CARES Programme, year-to-date macro-fiscal performance of the economy, fiscal measures and debt management strategies to ensure debt, and fiscal sustainability and promote growth. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Players of the Saudi Arabia are set to be gifted with a Rolls Royce Phantom each, after mamaging to beat Argentina in their opening fixture in the ongoing Qatar 2022 World Cup. According to sources, MBS is said to be doing the give-away. In a tweet sighted by Thinknewsonline.com Awab Alvi tweeted "BREAKING: MBS has announced a Rols Royce Phantom to each team member having defeated ARG" Some Twitter tweepers are asking, what will the @blackstarsofghana_ 🇬🇭 receive should they beat @portugal 🇵🇹 on Thursday? See screenshot below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghanaian Actress, Juliet Ibrahim has appealed to the Senior National Team, Black Stars to make Ghana proud as they prepare to partake in the ongoing Qatar 2022 World Cup. Juliet Ibrahim took to her Facebook page to make the post. In a post sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, she wrote "Hey #blackstars I wish you all the best at the #Worldcup! Make us proud! Photographer #Ghana #worldcup #worldcup2022 #africa" The Senior National Team, Black Stars will open their campaign against Portugal on Thursday. The Stars are poised for their opening game. See the post below Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Cristiano Ronaldo has been sacked by Manchester United. They’re officially calling it an exit by “mutual agreement”, but we can all recognize a sacking when we see one after plenty of “mutual agreement” departures of Chelsea managers over the years.(It’s “mutual” since there is no payoff or severence.) United’s statement is barely longer than when Chelsea sacked Antonio Conte, underlining just how badly their relationship had deteriorated, with the 37-year-old’s interview with Piers Morgan last week the final straw. "Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.“ The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future. "Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch.”-Manchester United statement. That last line is perhaps most instructive about the situation, and is one that hopefully Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is paying attention to and will heed before making some drastic and disastrous decision. He apparently still “sees the appeal” of the player who almost sabotaged United’s season. Cristiano Ronaldo may be “free” now, but he will come at a very high cost. Boehly reportedly clashed with former head coach Thomas Tuchel over this idea in the summer, and while Graham Potter is said to share Tuchel’s sensibilities in this regard, he may not have the clout or the determination to oppose the owner, should he choose to meddle.Listen to everyone else, Todd said. Credit: David Pasztor

Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has sent a goodwill message to the Senior National Team, Black Stars ahead of the Group H opener against Portugal in the ongoing Qatar 2022 World Cup. According to Dr. Bawumia, he is confident that the Black Stars will not only make the nation proud but progress to the finals and lift the ultimate trophy. In a video sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, he said "The moment has come for the Black Stars to take on the world. We have a group of talented players who have been settled and they cannot be intimated by anyone" He urged the Black Stars to go and play their hearts out. "Go Black Stars Go" Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith