Former Hearts of Oak gaffer, Samuel Boadu has bid the club farewell after vacating his post as Head Coach. The 36-year-old left his role on Tuesday after management released him off his duties together with his two assistants. Boadu was appointed Hearts of Oak SC trainer in the second round of 2020/21 League season from Medeama SC where he failed to win a silverware for the Yellow and Mauve lads. However, he ended his debut season winning the league for Hearts of Oak and topped it with the FA Cup and President Cup. He missed out on the league to arch-rivals Asante Kotoko but retained the FA Cup in the 2021-2022 season. His sack came with no surprise as the Black Satellites (U-20) Coach has not won a single game after three games in the ongoing campaign, two draws against Great Olympics and Asante Kotoko and a defeat to Aduana Stars on opening day. The club has announced Auroras coach, Samuel Nii Noi as stand-in until a new trainer is announced soon. Boadu took to his official Twitter handle to say this “To a club and supporters I call family, to a chair I called father, to a mgt I called brothers and to players I called friends ..Tnx for the glorious moments we shared together…I am glad we won together and achieved the unimaginable in 2 years …see you around soon , Phobiaaaa pic” Hearts will hunt for their first win when they host debutants Nsoatreman at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, October 1. Credit: 7sportsghana

"MIAA THE BREAST,” which will ride on the back of “Breast Cancer Month” in October, would offer training to men on how to screen the breast to detect cancer lumps, address myths and misconceptions around the disease, and rally them to join advocacy on breast cancer to reduce the surge in the country. It is being spearheaded by “BabyKaafo,” a mother and child advocacy initiative, in collaboration with Impact 360 International, a non-profit organisation. In a keynote address, General Surgeon at the Nyaho Medical Centre, Dr Romeo Hussey, decried the breast cancer prevalence in the country with most cases being diagnosed in late stages due to factors including low awareness, financial constraints, lack of access to timely, affordable and effective diagnosis and treatment. He said while advocacy in the breast cancer fight had evolved in the country, prompting government intervention to enroll some chemotherapy agents unto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), a lot more could be done to support patients of breast cancer. “I will urge government to include the diagnosis of breast cancer as part of services covered by the NHIS because this will go a long way to reduce the financial burden of treating the disease.” The “MIAA THE BREAST,” according to Dr Hussey, was laudable and timely to further boost the breast cancer fight which he described as a shared responsibility. “Early detection remains the cornerstone of breast cancer care because when detected early, there is a great chance for patients to be cured and survive the disease. The idea of empowering men in this fight is laudable. It makes it a shared responsibility for men and their partners in ensuring that any changes in the breast which are suspicious are promptly investigated and a diagnosis made for the appropriate treatment to be given.” Dr Hussey added; “with increased advocacy, various interventions will be instituted nationally to improve early detection screening to save lives.” A representative of the Ministry of Health, Dr Ignatius Awinibuno, expressed the commitment of the ministry to explore partnership and support advocacy like “MIAA THE BREAST” to reduce the breast cancer prevalence in the country. “The need for behavioural change has become imperative to reducing the risk of the disease. It is an open secret that men are the second highest category of persons who handle the breast and therefore empowering them is a powerful weapon in the fight against breast cancer.” A breast cancer survivor and founder of Maud Lokko Breast Cancer Foundation, Mrs Susan Tsotsoo Malik, advised patients of breast cancer against patronising religious centres and other alternative treatments which often worsened the situation. “Don’t be deceived by these prayer centres in the name of God will heal you; drinking the blood of Jesus and all other concoctions. It is the same God that has given the doctors the knowledge to treat the condition so when you visit the health facility, take your medications and pray, you will be healed,” she advised. Every October, is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month; an annual campaign to raise awareness on the disease which is said to affect at least 1.2 million women annually and the leading cancer in the world. Story by: Abigail Annoh

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dzata Cement, Ibrahim Mahama on Tuesday, September 26, invited Master Solomon Atimbiri, a young man who hails from the Upper East Region but currently resides in Kumasi, for a mentorship session and exhibition of his invention works. Mr. Ibrahim Mahama's attention was drawn to the 17-year-old inventor’s video after it went viral on social media last weekend. The young inventor was able to build a moving excavator and other trucks by using locally available materials. Mr. Ibrahim Mahama took interest and decided to mentor young Solomon Atimbiri, by offering him the needed support in realizing his dream. He has been attached to a team of local and expatriate engineers. He will be given practical training whenever school is on break till he completes school. He will join the company permanently and will be working with a team of professional engineers after completion of school. Some of the current engineers working within Mr Ibrahim Mahama's firm were also discovered as raw talent and developed to become professional engineers. Solomon Atimbiri ll be given the best support and environment to become an accomplished professional engineer and inventor. Credit: Modern Ghana

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has told Journalists that no agreement has been reached yet with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the parameters of any debt operations. He said are in the process of completing the debt sustainability analysis. Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday September 28, he said “We simply have not reached any agreement with the Fund on the parameters of any debt operations as we are in the process of completing the debt sustainability analysis. Government shall continue to actively engage all stakeholders in a clear and transparent manner as we seek to fast-tract the IMF negotiation process” The formal negotiations for a Fund-supported programme began on Monday September 26th, 2022 and discussions are advancing smoothly, according to him. The IMF Mission, he explained, will cover a period of 10 days; and in line with the President’s dialogue with the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, negotiations will be fast-tracked to ensure that key aspects of the programme are reflected in the 2023 Annual Budget Statement in November 2022. Government is committed to ensuring that a comprehensive package is negotiated with the aim of restoring and sustaining macroeconomic stability, ensuring durable and inclusive growth and promoting social protection" “As stated in our press release dated 26th September, 2022 on the commencement of the IMF negotiations, having a sustainable debt path is a pre-requisite for the IMF programme. Therefore, the IMF/World Bank and the Ghana Team are currently undertaking a debt sustainability analysis (DSA) to inform the programme negotiations" “In addition, the IMF and Government Team are working to update the medium-term macro-fiscal framework to inform IMF programme design. Also, the Government Team and the IMF Team are discussing policy measures and structural reforms proposed in our economic programme aimed at addressing the economic challenges facing the country towards restoring and sustaining macroeconomic stability, fiscal and debt sustainability, as well as promoting durable and inclusive growth and social protection,” he said. Earlier, the Ministry said in a statement that a key prerequisite for a programme is confirmation that Ghana’s debt is on a sustainable path. This will require a comprehensive Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA), which is currently ongoing. A statement issued by the Finance Ministry on Monday September 26 said the Government of Ghana is putting together a comprehensive post Covid-19 economic programme which will form the basis for the IMF negotiations. “The programme seeks to establish a macro-fiscal path that ensures debt sustainability and macroeconomic stability underpinned by key structural reforms and social protection. “Government negotiations with respect to the IMF-supported programme is commencing this week and we are optimistic about making progress in our discussions. “Government remains committed, and shall continue to actively engage all stakeholders, both public and private, in a clear and transparent manner as we seek to fast-track this process.” Story by: 3news.com

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued a press release informing the general public that data on all mobile money loan customers are domiciled in the databases of credit bureaus. This is to warn Mobile Money loan defaulters refusing to re-register their SIM Cards with the Ghana Card to think twice. According to BoG, failure to repay such loans will attract negative repercussions on borrowers’ credit reports/history and could subsequently adversely affect any chance of obtaining loan facilities from other financial institutions and credit providers in the future. “The attention of Bank of Ghana has been drawn to some individuals who have acquired loans through mobile money platforms, but have deliberately refused to register their SIM cards under the on-going national SIM Card registration exercise, with the intention of avoiding repayment of the acquired loans. “Borrowers who have discarded their SIM Cards are advised to contact their telecommunication service providers or respective lenders, to discuss repayment arrangements to avoid adverse information on their credit reports, that could deny them access to future credit facilities,” parts of a press release issued by the Bank of Ghana on Wednesday has said. The ongoing SIM Card re-registration process is scheduled to end on Friday, September 30. With thousands of SIM Cards not registered, it is unclear whether there will be another extension of the deadline. Below is a copy of the release: Credit: Modern Ghana

Ghanaians in the diaspora have been called upon to support the country's industrialization drive by by investing in the Ghanaian economy. This is particularly important as no country has been able to develop without industrialisation as one of its strongest pillars. For industrialization to succeed, however, investment capital from the Diaspora is critical. Speaking at an awards gala organised by the Ghana Diaspora Public Affairs Collective (GHPAC) in Washington DC-USA, Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry, who made the call, said, “We are fully convinced that Ghana cannot succeed in her quest to become an industrialized country without the full support and participation of her Diaspora citizens” “Beyond the remittances, you send back home to support your families, Diasporans have increasingly become a great source of capital, creativity, entrepreneurship, technology, and knowledge transfer. Diasporans have made us proud in many ways and we intend to leverage your capabilities and networks,” he added. The Trade Minister lauded the establishment of GHPAC as an opportunity to woo diaspora investments into Ghana to propel growth and development. “Our strategic approach to harnessing the capabilities and network of Ghanaians in the diaspora is based on a number of considerations, including an improvement in the business environment; enhancing the productive capacity of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to produce for both export and local consumption; providing fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for manufacturing; and improving access to foreign markets,” he explained. The Minister used the occasion to express gratitude, especially to the United States for their relentless support and investments towards key socio-economic initiatives undertaken in Ghana over the years. He cited the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) as some examples of support offered by the US. “Currently, the United States is supporting Ghana to implement a number of projects aimed at enhancing the Ghanaian private sector operators’ productive capacities to take advantage of numerous market opportunities at home and abroad,” Alan Kyerematen said. The GHPAC is a nonpartisan, non-profit social welfare advocacy collective dedicated to empowering Ghanaians in the Diaspora. It focuses on civic and political action which is instrumental in helping Ghana achieve its industrial transformation goal. Below are some pictures: Credit: Ministry of Trade and Industry

Former Deputy Finance Minister, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey has announced his intentions to contest the position of the General Secretary for the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The Former Deputy Finance Minister made these known while speaking on Accra-based television station. He said "My platform is a platform that wants to see restoration of original ideals that you can now have much more patriotism and love for the nation" "People who fight for what is right and wants the right thing to me done are people who have to be encouraged" Responding to the strength of his competitors, Fiifi Kwetey said "That's fine. We are a democratic party so we clearly believe that all of us have things to offer so it is upon the party to choose who the best is" "Those are two wonderful comrades in the party. Elvis has been like a brother to me so clearly, respect and I honour their desire to serve the party at this level but there is always Seniority" "I feel I am the Senior of the three of them and I have been right there from the word go. Even from 1992, I was Chairman of the NDC at the University of Ghana" "I have sacrificed but I don't look at it that it is my time of sacrifice. I look at it more about you have shown it throughout this time" He added that he is confident, the party will entrust the General Secretaryship position into his hands. The Former Deputy Finance Minister added that he will work with any Chairman the party provides. Responding to whether NDC will win the 2024 Presidential Election, he said "The ultimate judge verdict is always in the hands of the people. We believe the majority of people of Ghana haven't seen what they have seen. The calamity that the NPP has been, the lies, corruption and lack of love for the country, compared to us who are not perfect but have shown that we are far more committed. The people will just give us the trust again. I believe the people of Ghana will grant us the opportunity" Mr. Fiifi Kwetey will be contesting Dr. Peter Ottuknor and Elvis Afriyie Ankrah for the position of General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Deputy Minister of Energy Dr Mohammed Amin Adam has touted investment potentials in the energy sector as one of the best in the sub region, hence the need for investors to turn their attention to Ghana. He made this call when he addressed on behalf of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, a US-Ghana EXPO Round Table B2B matching organized under the auspices of the US-Ghana Chamber of Commerce with support from Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. Dr. Amin said Ghana has a lot of untapped hydrocarbon resources, both offshore and onshore, which the sector is seeking to explore and exploit through partnerships with private companies. “In Ghana, Exploration and Production (E&P) licenses are awarded through open, transparent and competitive public tender processes. However, E&P licenses may be awarded through direct negotiations without public tender if direct negotiations represent the most efficient manner to achieve optimal exploration, development and production of petroleum resources in a defined area. Either way, prospective contractors must have the requisite technical and financial abilities to undertake petroleum activities” he said. The Karaga Member of Parliament also said Ghana aspires to become a hub for refined petroleum products in the West African sub-region and beyond, culminating in the establishment of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC). He said the hub will host infrastructure such as refineries, port terminal facilities, storage facilities, petrochemical plants as well as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals with a network of pipelines. He asked investors to capitalize on the opportunity this presents. In the power sector, the Deputy Minister highlighted the plethora of opportunities in the renewable and nuclear spaces. “The most important thing we want to do as a Ministry is to ensure the lights are for economic growth and therefore, we ask that your partner us strategically in the power value chain to ensure this” he added. These insightful Trade and Investment roundtable discussions on US-Ghana investment opportunities are part of government’s overarching strategy of boosting investments for economic growth as the country seeks recovery economically from the debilitating effects of the COVD-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, KT Hammond has lashed out at the youth after the unfriendly reception they gave to President Akufo-Addo at the Global Citizen Festival. The MP reacting to the incident described the youth as 'empty coconut heads' and said they should know their limit and learn to pay respect to the elderly. According to him, the President did not say anything bad and wasn't even on a political platform to be treated that way. He explained it is the elderly who are called to settle matters when there is an issue because of their wise counselling and not the empty-coconut heads youth. He called on the youth to exercise patience and stop raining insults on the elderly because of politics. He added that it's 'not possible for the country to be left in the hands of the youth to steer affairs' because the youth cannot run it. President Akufo-Addo on Saturday was booed when he was delivering a speech at the 2022 Global Citizen Festival at the Black Star Square in Accra. Akufo-Addo however finished his keynote address amidst jeering from the crowd. He spoke about the government of Ghana’s involvement in eradicating poverty and upholding national unity. Started off his speech with, “Ladies and gentlemen, I extend a hearty Akwaaba, our word of welcome, from a very hospitable people. To all of you, who have come from afar and wide, to our vibrant city of Accra, Ghana’s capital, to join us on this great occasion.” His Excellency addressed the impact of climate change and the Russian-Ukraine war on the economy of Ghana and the world. Watch the video below: Credit: Primenewsghana.com

Ghana’s Black Stars beat football minnows Nicaragua by a lone goal in Spain on Tuesday evening in an international friendly game. The Black Stars after a defeat to the Selacao of Brazil needed a big win and performance against the North American country in Spain. Ghana had greater share of possession in the opening 45 minutes of the match but failed to penetrate the defense line of the opposition who were organized at the back. AFC Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Mohammed Kudus was hanging onto the ball for far too long and failed to release the ball on time. Sporting CP Lisbon youngster Issahaku Abdul Fatawu broke the deadlock of the match to put Ghana 1-0 up late in the game via deflection. Mohammed Kudus scores in the second half but the goal was disallowed as the game ended 1-0 to Ghana. The Black Stars will play Switzerland in another friendly in November before the World Cup tournament in Qatar. Credit: Sportsworldghana.com

Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, has assured that Zoomlion Ghana Limited remains committed to deliver tailor-made solutions towards an integrated waste management system in the country. In view of the above, he said plans were already underway by his company to expand its recycling and composting facilities across its areas of operations from 3,000 tons a day to 10,000 tons a day. This, he maintained, will enable the country to effectively manage waste. He pledged that the private sector will continue to support the government in its efforts to improve upon sanitation in the country. According to Dr. Siaw Agyepong, the government has been instrumental in the construction of the sixteen (16) state-of-the-art integrated recycling compost plants (IRECoP) in the16 regions, all in an effort to deal with waste. He, therefore, commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for encouraging the private sector to be active players in his government and for them to contribute their quota to the development of Ghana. Dr. Siaw Agyepong was delivering a presentation at a two-day stakeholder engagement workshop organised by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR) with support from UNICEF on Friday, September 23, 2022, in Accra. In his presentation on Private Involvement in the Sanitation Sub-sector Performance 2018 -2021 and Outlook Performance for 2022-2025, he admitted that the 16 IRECoPs could not have been made possible without the “active involvement” of the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Honourable Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, He said the sanitation minister also played a crucial role in a 16-million Euro facility given to his group by Hungary which was used in the construction of waste management facilities in the 16 regions. The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources also helped in the country’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic via disinfection and distribution of one million bins, he added. However, to achieve greater results and sustain the gains made in the sector, Dr. Siaw Agyepong reiterated the need for the involvement of all stakeholders in the sanitation space. “I’ll urge each and everyone to help maintain a serene environment adding that you can’t do away with poverty if you don’t deal with water and sanitation,” he advised. The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, strongly called for the protection of the country’s water bodies. She said this was crucial, especially in the light of the fact that these water bodies serve as sources of potable water for Ghanaians. According to the minister, her ministry will build more public places of convenience across the country as part of measures to stop the practice of dislodging feaces into water bodies. “…and it is my prayer that by 2030, Ghana would be where it’s supposed to be in terms of sanitation,” she optimistically expressed. She underscored that her ministry takes the issue of water and personal hygiene very seriously. She went on to give a firm assurance that the MSWR was ready to upscale sanitation concerns nationwide, adding that measures had already been put in place to support good environmental practices in schools in the country. Waste, she said, was wealth, and therefore, urged Ghanaians to engage in recycling of waste. She also reiterated that her ministry will continue to collaborate with other sectors and institutions to make the President’s vision of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa come to fruition. She disclosed that the water policy was ready to be validated, and thus pleaded with the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to extend pipe-borne water to rural dwellers. On this score, Mrs. Dapaah heaped praises on donor partners such as UNICEF for supporting her ministry. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the booing of President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Global Citizen festival as a reflection of the mood of Ghanaian youth. A statement, signed by Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the party, said the “action of the youth reflects an overwhelming vote of no confidence” in the government. “The events of that day were unprecedented, as no sitting Ghanaian President, at least under the Fourth Republic, has ever been subjected to such ridicule and embarrassment.” The NDC also criticised attempts to blame it for the booing of the President amid the indicators like the soaring inflation that underscore the cost of living crisis. It said, “the mess” overseen by the Akufo-Addo administration will not be solved by blaming of political opponents. The opposition party said this was “not only insulting to the sensibilities of Ghanaians but also underscores the fact that this government and their hired apologists are simply oblivious of our present reality, or perhaps they are underestimating the anger of the Ghanaian people.” “The frustrations expressed by the youth on that fateful day perfectly reflect the excruciating and frustrating times Ghanaians presently find themselves,” the party added. The NDC also argued that the disaffection from the youth highlighted the need for an agenda to create sustainable and meaningful jobs. Credit: Citinewsroom