Some scores of social media users have taken to their Titter handles to mark this year's 'No Bra Day'. The 'No Bra Day' is a day set aside in the month of October for women to free the boobs as part of the fight against breast cancer. In series of Tweets sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, comedian, SDK tweeted "In breast we thrust #NoBraDay" Monitoring Spirit also tweeted "I know you probably won’t retweet this because what you’re looking for is not in it, but this is the true essence of #NoBraDay . Strong women 🙏🏽" Npokua tweeted "Shata #NoBraDay #TBT 🔥🥰 Thread" Kalyjay also added "Since you are now here I'll advise you to educate everyone around you about the dangers of Breast Cancer and encourage regular screening. Breast cancer can affect both male and female. Get screened and be safe. Happy #NoBraDay ❤️" Mallam Obama tweeted "#NoBraDay May God continue to protect every woman out dere 🙏🙏;" @bnj111l also tweeted "Happy #NoBraDay🎉👏👏🤗" See screenshots below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Fans of Ace Rapper, Meek Mill are ecstatic over a flyer which has gone viral predicting an upcoming performance alongside other musicians, in Ghana in December. This big excitement was felt after the flyer had Meek Mill as the headliner for the 2022 Afro Nation event to be hosted in December. The rapper would be performing on December 30, 2022 at the Marine Drive Black Star Square, Accra, alongside artists like Stonebwoy, Davido, Asake, P Square, Rema, Black Sherif and many others. Fans within Ghana and abroad have taken to the various social media platforms to exhibit their amusement regarding this remarkable update. Story by: Stephanie Nana Yaa Anim

Management of the National Service Scheme has released the postings of the prospective national service personnel who enrolled to undertake their mandatory national service for the 2022/2023 year. This was made known through a press release issued by the Executive Director of the National Service Scheme, Osei Assibey Antwi, on Wednesday. The release implied that the potential personnel include the eligible Ghanaian graduates of 2022 from accredited tertiary institutions in the country, defaults who submitted their applications for postings and private registrants. In furtherance, the press release stated that the prospective national service personnel to log on to the scheme's website at http.//www.nss.gov.gh to check their placements. According to the release, the printing of appointment letters by service personnel and endorsement by respective user agencies can only be done from Monday, October 17, 2022. However, validation and registration at all regional centers across the country would commence on Monday, October 24, 2022 and continue till Friday, December 30,2022 to accommodate potential service personnel who are yet to complete their academic programs. From the press release, appointments would be scheduled online and whereafter, applicants would visit the validation centers on the scheduled date and time for the validation with strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocol guidelines in an attempt to reduce excessive crowding at validation centers. The management requires all soon to be service personnel who have been duly posted, accepted by their user agencies and validated by the NSS, to begin their service on Tuesday , November 1, 2022. Coming from the release, all National Service Personnel deployed are entreated to accept their postings as part of their civic obligations and contributions to national development. The release extended best wishes to all prospective personnel. Story by: Stephanie Nana Yaa Anim

Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Lands and Forestry has applauded the Paramount Chief of the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area, Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama II for his strong stands against illegal small scale mining, popularly known as "Galamsey" in the Western North Region. His comments of applauds comes after the Paramount Chief made his intentions known during the inauguration of Stool Lands Regional office that, regardless of status or position, he will from henceforth not allow any form of small scale mining operations in his region due to the wanton distruction of Lands and waterbodies in the Western North. The Deputy Minister applauded the Paramount Chief in an interview with the media on the sidelines of his working visit to the Western North Region after  inspecting some projects the OASL has undertaken with funds from revenues collected in the Western North Region. Speaking to the media at one of the sites Hon. Benito disclosed that his mission for this inspection was to ensure that the revenues collected have actually been put to good use and also to serve as a source of accountability to the people of Ghana. The Deputy Minister hoped that more projects will be embarked on and the existing ones will be maintained for the continuous development of the Region. Some of the Projects visited include the Mpomam road, which has been stabilised and scheduled to be tarred with some 22,100 cedis, a 1 unit KG school block at Bosomoiso and Sefwi Bekwai Senior High School  Administration Block, all in the Western North Region. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Further to the creation of six new regions and in line with Regulation 2 (1) of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) Regulations 2019, LI 2377, Benito Owusu-Bio, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Lands and Forestry, has on Thursday, 13th October, 2022, inaugurated a well-furnished and digitalised Regional office for the OASL at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North Region. He explained that according to the said regulations which provides that “the Minister shall, in consultation with the Administrator, establish where necessary regional and district offices in consultation with the District Chief Executives concerned”, it has become necessary to take steps and establish a Regional office of the OASL in the Western North Region. In complement to the legal basis for the office, The Deputy Minister outlined the significance of the OASL to the people in the Western North Region saying "the importance of the services of the Office to the people cannot be over emphasized. Its mandate is to, among other things; Establish Stool Lands Account for Stools, Traditional Authorities and District Assemblies into which shall be paid all stool lands revenue whether in income or capital, Collection of stool lands revenue, Disbursement of stool lands revenue and account to beneficiaries, Consultation with relevant public agencies, stools, traditional authorities, and stools and the Establishment of customary land secretariats" He applauded the OASL for the enormous efforts since inception, in optimising the mobilisation of customary land revenue to alleviate poverty in stool land-owning communities, ensuring accountability and good governance in stool land revenue collection, usage and disbursement and providing an adequate and capable workforce to support the Office's operations. Hon. Benito asserted that recent world events have amplified the need for the government to look within the country to mobilise all available revenue to achieve the Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda, notifying that for over 25 years, the OASL has been reliable in this regard. "this is evident in how the revenue raised over the years has been used by Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies in development projects such as the construction of schools, CHPS compounds, markets, and community centres, among other things" he added. He reiterated the need for stronger collaborations between traditional leaders and the OASL for revenue mobilisation as he believes collaboration helps bring the needed development in the various communities of the country. He also encouraged the Traditional leaders to liaise with the OASL for the establishment of Customary Land Secretariats (CLSs) as stipulated in the Lands Act, 2020, Act 1036 which he said  will help streamline land administration at the local level as well as ensure development. The Deputy Lands Minister urged the staff of this new office to work tirelessly to ensure that maximum revenue is collected for the benefit of the stools, and people of the Western North Region, while suggesting to the Office that leveraging  available technologies to improve operational efficiency and maintaining maximum transparency and accountability to the Stools and Government will help mitigate some of the challenges the Office is facing. Hon. Owusu-Bio in his Inaugural address made an appeal to all gathered to work together with the Goverment and the Ministry to bring down the menace of “galamsey” which he noted is currently affecting revenue mobilisation on land throughout the country. He hoped that that the current digitalisation of the operations of the OASL, will help the Office to do more with regards to their mandate and achievements and pledged the Ministry’s commitment, to support to the OASL in addressing its challenges and improving its operations. The Chairman at the event and the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Wiawso, Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama II in his submission expressed his joy and gratitude to the President and the Ministry for such honour done him with the inauguration of yet another office in his region. The Omanhene appealed to government and the Ministry to restore that the authority to watch over Forest and other resources on lands in the custody of the Traditional rulers, adding that that without that authority they are rendered handicapped and unable to wield the power they should to bring indigenes engaging in illegalities to order. "You have made us handicapped to the issues of Lands and other resources. Please let the President know that he should give us back our power to be the Overlords that we are and these issues will die off if not, we can do the best we can but nothing can come out of it because they no longer respect the stools, what they fear is the police and that is not the best. Due to the wanton distruction of Lands and waterbodies in the Region, Nana Bumagama sounded a warning that if mining companies visit the region to engage in Community Mining Scheme without his permission, even with licence, he will not allow them operate on his land" He appealed to the Administrator and hoped that the digitalisation drive will help with measures to mitigate delays in revenue collection and further disbursement to the Chiefs as he said the manual operations make officers hold on to the monies unnecessarily. In her address, the Administrator of Stool Lands, Surveyor Mrs. Maame Ama Edumadze-Acquah said upon the expansion of the regions from ten (10) to sixteen (16), her Office decided to also expand their areas of operations to create more offices in line with the expansion drive. She noted that the Western North Regional Office comes after the recent inauguration of the Ahafo Regional office making it the  9th out of the 16 Regional Offices scheduled to be Commissioned in the coming months to bring their services to the doorstep of the citizenry and also to help deepenoperations in the region as compared to the larger Western Region. Madam Maame Ama Edumadze-Acquah disclosed that the OASL currently in collaboration with GIZ is digitalizing its operations throughout the country which  entails spatial identification of property owners /lessees to facilitate the payment of rent. "This is aimed at addressing the fundamental challenges in revenue mobilisation to help achieve the “Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda”. She urged all to put shoulders to the wheel and make the Western North Region a formidable force to reckon with when it comes to stool lands administration in the country. "Together we will build a great country not just for ourselves but also for future generations" she concluded. To follow due protocol and out of reverence for the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Wiawso, Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama II, the Deputy Minister together with the Administrator for Stool Lands, the Technical Director for Lands at the Ministry and other officers from the Ministry and OASL paid a courtesy call on the Sefwi Wiawso Paramount Chief at His Palace, where the inauguration ceremony took place. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor has urged the Ghanaian media to constantly educate and sensitize the public on the adverse effects of galamsey and various diseases affecting inhabitants in mining areas. According to the Lands Minister, kidney problems and buluri ulcers are some of various diseases affecting inhabitants. Addressing Journalists in Accra on Thursday, the Minister said "I am urging the media to constantly educate and sensitize the public on the adverse effects of galamsey and various diseases such as kidney problems and buluri ulcers affecting inhabitants in the mine areas" The Lands Minister further called for change of attitudes and collaboration with all stakeholders to help win the fight against galamsey. Mr. Jinapor hinted that the Akufo-Addo gov't has concurrently deployed soldiers in the southern, central and northern sectors of the country to fight illegal small-scale mining. He noted that unlike the previous military operations which took three months, the new military campaign would be a sustained efforts until the galamsey menace is brought to a satisfactory situation. He revealed that government has allocated significant funds and logistical support for the operation being spearheaded by Operation Halt II. The Minister highlighted gamot of measures implemented by the Government so far to stop the galamsey menace including the procurement of speed boats to patrol rivers, training of river guards, forest reserves declared as "red zones" for mining and distribution of mercury free gold processing machines (gold kachas) to small-scale miners. Collaboration between the Lands Ministry and the Attorney-General's Office to prosecute illegal miners, both Ghanaians and foreigners, rolling out of Community Mining Schemes for local people, recruitment and engagement of about 80,000 people for alternative livelihood programme, frequent operations by the military (Operation Halt) to mining sites to arrest and burn excavators belonging to illegal miners and setting up of 83 district mining committees to oversee mining at the district level. Hon. Jinapor pledged the total and unflinching support of the President and the Ministry towards fighing the galamsey menace, with integrity and transparency without shielding anybody, irrespective of one's political affiliation or standing in the society. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), Godwin Armah has pledged that his outfit will take the Birim River and ensure its turbidity level is reduced. According to GNASSM, the move forms part of its effort of supporting the Akufo-Addo administration in the fight against galamsey. Addressing Journalists in Accra on Thursday, General Secretary of the Association, Godwin Armah said "We will partner all relevant stakeholders to ensure the turbidity of the River Birim is reduced to a desirable level. The group added that it has unanimously decided to adopt the Birim River as its pet-project and will initiate as well as support measures to cleanse it. "Our outfit has held positive engagements with the George Grant University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in helping out with the task ahead" In view of the arrangement, the University will continue to collect samples from the Birim River to assess progress made. On his part, Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, in charge of Mines, George Mireku Duker, said "I am happy the association has heeded to government's call for collective stakeholder participation in the fight against illegal mining in water bodies" He stressed that in the coming weeks, the first batch of River guards who are undergoing training at the Tema Naval Base will be deployed on the various water bodies to protect the waterbodies. "The security agencies have ramped up their efforts in patrolling our lands and river bodies to protect them." Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

A group calling itself Alliance for Footsoldiers Advocacy (AFFA) has called on the Former National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay to rescind his decision to represent accomplices of Aisha Huang standing trial in the ongoing galamsey case. According to AFFA, it is scandaliszed and dumbfounded by the decision of Freddie Blay. In a release sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, it said "The Alliance For Footsoldiers Advocacy (AFFA) is scandalized and dumbfounded by the decision of Freddie Blay, immediate-past National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to legally represent some suspected Chinese illegal miners standing trial" "As much as we appreciate the fact that Freddie Blay is a lawyer who has a fiduciary duty to represent clients who request for his services, we believe his decision to defend accomplices of Aisha Huang is unpopular, morally subversive, and a direct slap on the face of President Akufo-Addo's fight against illegal mining" "Freddie Blay's political status, vis-a-vis, former National Chairman of the ruling party and Board Chairman of GNPC imposes a tacit obligation of due diligence, moral reflection and principle of public perception on him, considering the level of public interest in the Aisha Huang case. AFFA says it is by the press release calling on Mr. Blay to as a matter of urgency cease holding himself as lawyer for tge suspected Chinese illegal miners. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghana Revenue Authority has embarked on an operation involving closing down retail outlets failing to adhere to their systems, centers affected include some branches of the Palace Mall. This operation took place on Thursday, October 11, 2022). This initiative by the GRA has resulted in the stoppage of commercial activities of Palace mall branches, mainly the ones situated in Spintex, Atomic roundabout, and Weija. As per the GRA, a few of the shops have failed to issue VAT invoices electronically whenever customers purchase their services. This attitude by the shops in question, according to the GRA sends forth clues of under-declaring tax. Story by: Stephanie Nana Yaa Anim

Some scores of Netizens have taking to social media to troll Ghanaian Actor, Prince David Osei for criticizingthe Akufo-Addo administration. The Netizens descended on the Actor via their Twitter handle(. s). An Instagram post made by the Actor suggested that he was going to assemble the youth of the nation and hit the streets with them if the country's economic situation does not improve by December. On the back of this, some netizens took to Twitter to react by dissing and referring him to a post he made a while ago. Meanwhile, upon comprehending the content of his recent post on Instagram, a number of youths have vowed not to assist him when he decides to hit the streets, even though he has showcased a sense of disappointment towards the doings of the incumbent government, resulting from his initial post on Twitter during the FixtheCountry era. Below are some screenshots: Story by: Stephanie Nana Yaa Anim

Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, has called on governments of African countries to put in place the needed institutional and logistical support frameworks to ensure that they collectively reap the full benefits from the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement. Speaking at the launch of the Africa Guided Trade Initiative in Accra, the Minister stressed that “at our national levels, we should have institutional structures and a programme of action for boosting intra African trade to enable entrepreneurs to produce to take advantage of the huge market provided by the agreement. We must ensure that we have the logistics support to ensure that we are able to move the goods from one country to another” According to Ghana's Trade and Industry Minister, the launch “symbolizes that AfCFTA is not just on paper but a reality. And we are moving from talk and negotiations to action. It also symbolizes that governments in Africa who have been involved in the negotiations are now giving way to the private sector to make it a reality" The guided trade initiative was launched for seven member countries. These seven countries which have signaled their readiness to start trading under AfCFTA were Tanzania, Mauritania, Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda, and Ghana. Speaking at the same event, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene said at least 96 different products from the seven countries could be freely traded under the rules of AfCFTA. Products approved to trade under AfCFTA include horticultural products, pharmaceuticals, rubber, aluminum kitchenware, sugar, steel, and wooden products. These products originating from Africa will enjoy duty-free and quota-free trading among the partnering countries. "This is the moment the founding mothers and fathers of the Organization of African Unity have longed for. We have finally honored and made reality the vision of those who liberated our continent". We are connecting East Africa to West Africa, North Africa to Southern Africa. Trade will be the driver of inclusivity, creating opportunities for young Africans. So we have taken the first journey today, and I hope in 15 years, we will have succeeded in lifting millions and millions of Africans out of poverty", said Mene. Below are some pictures: Credit: Ministry of Trade and Industry

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has sent a strong warning to the general public to desist from consuming some two Agricola Tre Vali sausage products, namely, AIA Wudy and Pavo brands. According to the FDA, its attention has been drawn to the recall the products by the Italian authorities due to the presence of listeria bacteria in these sausages made from poultry meat. The FDA added that the two (2) batches with codes 1785417 and 01810919 with expiration date November 30, 2022, have been implicated. In a release sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, it said "Considering the recall activities ongoing in Europe and other countries, the FDA has also conducted a market surveillance activity and Pavo Frankfurt sausages with expiry date November 2022 were found in Ho in the Volta Region" The statement also hinted that the products have since been detained for safe disposal. "So far, no AIA Wudy sausages have been found on our market. The FDA directs that anyone in possession of the above-mentioned products should immediately take them to either our Head Office or Regional Offices across the country" The FDA has assured that its surveillance teams will continue to monitor the markets for any of the above-mentioned products. Below are copies of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith