Management of Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM in the Ashanti Region has assured the public of ethical and professional journalism following its resumption of on-air activities. Comments by a guest during an interview incurred the wrath of the Kumasi Traditional Council, which consequently ordered the suspension of its operations. Management, together with the National Peace Council, the Ghana Journalist Association and other institutions, engaged the Traditional Council on behalf of the media firm, and appealed for the decision to be reversed. In an interaction with Citi News, the General Manager of Oyerepa FM/TV, Somme Tymer Otuo Acheampong said the media house will tread with caution going forward. “There wasn’t any limitation as far as I am aware. The issues are very simple. We operate as a media house, and we know we don’t malign and indict people so first of all, we have apologized with a clear understanding of traditions of the council. But we are going to be a bit more circumspect and careful with the things we say generally. However, we won’t be less critical because we will be going about our duties, but ensure that our resource persons don’t say things about people that cannot be substantiated.” The Kumasi Traditional Council pardoned Oyerepa FM and asked its management to resume operations. This was after the Chiefs took on the media house for allowing its platform to be used for some utterances against them. Some members of the Clergy, led by the former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, intervened on behalf of the management of Oyerepa FM to apologise to the Kumasi Traditional Council. Members of the Council who took their turns to address the issue refuted reports that they directed the closure of the media house and insist they rather suggested to the management of Oyerepa FM to temporarily halt operations until the matter was resolved. The Acting President of the Kumasi Traditional Council who is also the Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI, said the Council has accepted the apology and asked the management of Oyerepa FM to resume operations. Credit: Citinewsroom

The Forestry Commission has lamented the inadequate human resources running the entire premises of the Accra Zoo. The Commission on Sunday, August 28 reported the death of a middle-aged man alleged to have sneaked into the zoo. The deceased is believed to have been attacked by a lion. Following the incident, a section of the public questioned the security arrangement put in place by the commission at the zoo. In an interview with Citi News, however, the Head of Corporate Affairs and Media Relations at the Forestry Commission, Joyce Ofori Kwafo said if the commission had the adequate human capacity to man the facility, the unfortunate incident could have been prevented. “We are just making use of the few staff members that we have to do all the work. Look at how big the Achimota Forest is. The zoo alone is about 19 hectares, and we have just a handful of men who go round doing the normal patrols. We are also trying to make good use of the little resources that we have. We need more staff, not only security guards, to do the work. In as much as we try to use technology, it is still not enough because the numbers are just inadequate.” Meanwhile, the Accra Zoo has been closed down. The move by the Forestry Commission authorities is to allow for investigations into the death of the middle-aged man. Joyce Ofori Kwafo told Citi News “a staff of the Accra Zoo was going round [the facility] and noticed a lifeless body in the lion cage. He quickly drew closer to assess the situation. They quickly called in the Achimota police after which the body was conveyed to the mortuary.” She said the Commission is certain that the deceased broke into the cage. “After a closer look, we realised that the deceased intruded. He did not use the right means to enter the zoo. The zoo is situated in the Achimota Forest. Whenever we get tourists, we assign tour guides to them. The cages of the lions are a bit far away from where the rest of the animals are. The idea is to give the lions something close to their natural habitat.” “The place has been properly secured. It has an outer and inner lock. The inner wall is 20 ft high. It is evident that the man tampered with the cage. We all suspect that he went in through there.” The Forestry Commission further cleared the authorities of the zoo of any blame. “There was no security lapse. This incident beats our understanding. It has never happened before and we are all baffled,” she added. Credit: Citinewsroom

News coming in indicates that the wife of Late Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie; Madam Agnes Boakye has died in London. According to sources, Late Ages passed away on Saturday August 28 after a short illness. Late Agnes Boakye was 67-years-old. Story by: Thinknewsonline.com

Government has launched the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Hub Concept in Accra. According to government, the AFCFTA HUB Concept is aimed at promoting and enhancing digital trading. Speaking at the launch, Minister for Communications and Digitization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful said "The current twin challenges of covid aftershocks and the effects of the Russian Ukraine war on the global economy also present a unique opportunity for us to realise that our destiny is in our own hands and by looking within the continent to deepen our linkages, we can change the narrative and be truly self sufficient. All the ingredients for our success lie right in front of us and we cant afford to fail. Digital technology provides us with the means." "We are pushing forward with AfCFTA with our eyes wide open. Fully aware of past dashed hopes and the pitfalls of globalization. We are moving forward with AfCFTA knowing full well that without efforts to truly bring down the barriers obstructing integration across Africa, we will get no where. We are pressing forward with AfCFTA in the clear knowledge that trade takes capacity and know-how. And we are launching the AfCFTA Hub in Ghana today because we have carefully thought through these matters and woven together a strategy that is both history-aware and future-focused" Madam Ursula Owusu-Ekuful also explained that the AfCFTA Hub initiative brings together the AfCFTA Secretariat and strategic partners like AfroChampions working hand in hand with committed governments to create a network for accelerating the kinds of regional integration that will really drive the kind of trade that can deliver economic transformation. She noted that countries like Ghana and the six others participating in the Guided Trade pilot to fast-track AfCFTA implementation can then interlink their own systems with the AfCFTA Hub. Explaining further, the Communications Minister hinted that as a multistakeholder platform bringing together the AfCFTA Secretariat, relevant African Union Commission departments, national government agencies, AfroChampions and private sector platforms through the power and ingenuity of digital technology, the AfCFTA Hub is the principal tool for aligning Ghana’s own wide-ranging digitalization policy with the various opportunities presented by AfCFTA. The sector Minister mentioned that her Ministry, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry and Trade & Industry, together with their departments and allied agencies and institutions, are happy to present the AfCFTA Hub policy directives, implementation strategies and operational models for inputs from all relevant stakeholders. "First and foremost, Ghana as a continental leader in ICT innovation and adoption, sees it as an opportunity to export our ICT goods and services across Africa and beyond, and some of those prospects have already materialized. AfCFTA Hub should make it easier for technology startups and other producers of ICT goods and services to find markets across Africa. Our business process outsourcing landscape can be revitalized by AfCFTA as Ghana becomes a hub for call center, data processing, data science and various digital services for businesses all over the continent and beyond" "Secondly, it is absolutely imperative to use digital technology to bolster the competitiveness of all sectors of the economy to enable economic actors in those sectors to expand their markets through AfCFTA. Enhanced productivity through the adoption of tools that can be made available through the AfCFTA Hub platform represents a seismic shift from costly time ineffective traditional capacity building approaches to a new cloud-based model whose time has truly come. The role that the AfCFTA hub can play in aggregating content and tools to capacitate businesses across the country to upgrade their know-how to engage more forcefully in export markets beyond Ghana is limited only by our imagination" "Thirdly, the mechanisms of how we harness AfCFTA itself: the process of trading, financing trade, discovering our market strengths and gaps to fill’ the means of settlement, how the goods will leave our warehouses and be received on the other side; and the tools for linking our producers with consumers in other African countries and vice versa, all of these are being digitised and made available to all stakeholders through the AfCFTA Hub. Risk management is also key and the related ProPer Seals platform, currently being deployed by the FDA, plays a critical role" Madam Ursula Owusu-Ekuful noted that the three strategies underpin Ghana’s quest to make AfCFTA work for her by leveraging its strong advantage in the digital technologies that its government has been systematically developing for five years now. "It is the reality of a comprehensive end-to-end identity management system interlinked with credit management, human security, business facilitation, enhanced government administration and even the improvement of democracy itself. It is the reality of a new smart working environment across the public services enabled by productivity software and dramatically improved connectivity. It is the reality of the common platform, Ghana Card, SIM Card Registration, Smart Workplace, e-Transform, Obaatanpa, Trancop, digital addressing, fintechs and the revamp of the national fibreoptic network" Madam Ursula Owusu-Ekuful stressed that with the AfCFTA Hub operationalised, it will become even harder to ignore the massive transformation created by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s unprecedented Digital Ghana Agenda. "An agenda that when coupled with the big dreams of Pan-Africanism, as finally achieved through AfCFTA, can only launch this beloved country of ours and the entire continent into the dizzying heights of true development. This will give practical effect to our oft repeated phrase that the private sector is the engine of growth as it will propel our SMEs to another level" "As the accelerated AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative commences in pilot form with Ghana and six other proactive African countries taking charge, we shall commence onboarding young entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), startups and all digital marketplace actors across the country onto the AfCFTA Hub, where they can obtain a free AfCFTA Number" Explaining further on the AfCFTA Number, she noted that it is the powerful seed of a single continental trust-building system that will complement other AfCFTA-enabling instruments such as the PAPSS, MANSA, Digital Green Corridor and e-Tariff mechanisms developed by the AfCFTA Secretariat, African Union, the 4D Consortium and trusted partners like Afreximbank and AfroChampions. She mentioned that with the AfCFTA number, Ghanaian enterprises will obtain a sure and secure navigational tool as well as a trusted profile to speed up connections across the continent for business. "Together with the AfCFTA Common Transaction ID, the AfCFTA Number will also serve critical anti-fraud and crime-fighting purposes domestically and regionally. It will build confidence in both the entities and individuals who use their services locally and internationally that they have the requisite capability to deliver on their promised services as they would have been properly vetted and certified by the requisite regulators. It will create a true one stop shop akin to our own Amazon, EBay or Alibaba. It is doable and Ghana, the African Black Star, is blazing the trail once again" "For these and many other reasons, we are announcing directives meant to speed up the adoption of the AfCFTA Number and the AfCFTA Common Transaction ID frameworks in Ghana. Beginning immediately, all persons and enterprises engaged in the business of courier, postal, delivery, logistics, ride-sharing, e-commerce, digital trading and any enterprise of that nature are required to obtain an AfCFTA Number at no cost at www.afcfta.app, which is the AfCFTA Hub Gateway" "The regulation of such enterprises which hitherto has been a grey area will be strengthened by requiring electronic registration with Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission, the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) and the Cybersecurity Authority through the digital interface available on the AfCFTA Hub at www.afcfta.app. The various regulatory functions of reporting, complaints management, penalties and fine management, licensing, certification and the like shall be conducted electronically on this platform. As more African countries onboard, as part of the upcoming Guided Trade pilot, the emergence of a one-stop-shop for regulatory compliance across the subregion should make the lives of entrepreneurs and their customers very easy. All one needs to do to find out if any courier company, SME or e commerce entity is safe to do business with is to check their AfCFTA Number and transaction ID" Madam Ursula Owusu-Ekuful underscored that with the AfCFTA Number widely adopted and regulatory certification taking place on a unified platform, the process of validating the background of any commercial entity should become highly automated, quick, and hassle-free. She stated that it will also enable the different digital marketplaces, platforms, networks and e-commerce systems to collaborate and deliver even higher value for all Ghanaians and citizens of AfCFTA member states. "We see examples of such cross-platform connectivity currently in place in India, where the Open Network for Digital Commerce is accelerating the uptake of e-commerce by eliminating gaps and conflicts among providers. Such multistakeholder interoperable ecosystems are vital for expanding the benefits of digitalisation, e-commerce, virtual marketplaces and e-services to underserved populations in rural areas and among the urban underclasses. We see similar developments in Estonia, Turkey, and Dubai. We intend to become global pacesetters in how government, working together with an intergovernmental authority like the AfCFTA Secretariat and the private sector, can roll out smart networks that deliver benefits for all consumers, business, agencies and other critical actors. This platform is akin to the PanaBIOS initiative that enabled the safe reopening of our borders and was also the product of multi sectoral and cross continental collaboration. Ghanaian ingenuity and innovation powered both systems, I’m proud to announce" "The purpose of convening this forum, is to refine and enrich this obvious endgame. By making it mandatory for all businesses and enterprises running delivery, courier, logistics, postal, marketplace and digital commerce activities to register electronically with the right and relevant regulators, we expect online service providers such as Uber, Glovo, Bolt, Jumia, Tonaton, Yango, Amazon and others to ensure that all businesses registered on their platforms promptly secure their AfCFTA Number and start taking the necessary steps to integrate their transaction processing systems with the AfCFTA Hub. Done properly, all customers of such businesses and services will be able to verify and validate their regulatory and compliance status, thereby increasing trust in the marketplace, boosting uptake of digital services, suppressing fraud, and increasing the efficiency of doing business in Ghana and beyond" Touching on the telecom industry, she revealed that it should benefit from the related policy of deploying the AfCFTA Hub as a common fraud reporting node and blacklist database harmoniser because of this regional element. She noted that without regional solutions, criminals will exploit the gaps among countries to evade apprehension. "The NCA, the Ghana Chamber of Telecoms, the Ghana ISP Association and related bodies are strongly urged to speed up the rollout of the AfCFTA Hub across all telecom networks as a common anti-fraud engine, business directory service and AfCFTA Implementation Accelerator. This should make it more difficult for fraudsters to use online sales and mobile money payments for online transactions as a means to defraud the unsuspecting public as more trade moves online" The Sector Minister hinted that rollout of the AfCFTA Hub will ensure that Ghanaian businesses have a trusted profile beyond Ghana, to strengthen the hands of industry and regulators to fight fraudsters who will also like to use AfCFTA to regionalise their nefarious activities, and to facilitate marketplace convergence and regulatory efficiency. Taking his turn, the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry Herbert Krapa said "The African Continental Free Trade Area, the largest since the formation of the World Trade Organisation, if properly implemented, will resolve for our exporters, issues of trade finance and productive capacity, trade facilitation and trade related infrastructure, free movement of goods and persons, and very importantly, trade information" Mr. Krapa noted that it will make Africa one giant market for traders and exporters, provide an inevitable basis for value addition through the rules of origin and hence a boost in intra - African trade through better harmonisation and coordination. He also noted that it will engender economic diversification and industrialisation through regional value chains, provide jobs for Africa’s youth and improve the standard of living of all our people. It is arguably the biggest stimulus yet for an industrialised Africa. "The National Coordination Office is providing the needed technical anchor for Ghana’s implementation to be successful and the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, whose mandate it is to facilitate the development of a reliable and cost-effective world-class digital infrastructure and services for the people of Ghana, should be seen by the NCO from today, as their natural partners on all matters bordering digital trade, e-Commerce, e-market place, fintechs and the like" "Today, by the power of digital technology, no one should be left out of anything, and not the opportunities of continental trade. Selling a service to customers in Kigali or Yaoundé or Rabat, if it was before a nightmare, it is now only a button’s click away. We must take advantage of the array of digital tools and electronic platforms available to us, to deepen our trade in goods and services across the continent, and if anyone can provide the leadership in that regard, alongside other relevant stakeholders, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation is" He noted that his Ministry welcomes therefore, the implementation of the AfCFTA Hub in Ghana. Explaining further, he noted that the world has today moved to e-Commerce and digital trade, and government is alive to the responsibility of not only opening up the required infrastructure but also protecting our SMEs and Startups who utilise electronic platforms. "The AfCFTA Number and AfCFTA Common Transaction Identifier, together, constitute a bold, significant and decisive step to making AfCFTA work for our yam exporter, to by the click of a button, know where the demand is for her goods, who can provide her logistics, freight and haulage support and still be protected from the pervasive cancer of online fraud: Bringing AfCFTA Home to her" He assured that the Ministry of Trade and Industry will lend its fullest and dedicated support for the successful roll out of the AfCFTA Hub in Ghana. On his part, President of AGI, Dr. Ayim-Darke commended government for the great initiative. Dr. Ayim-Darke said "The AFCFTA dream of creating one market out 1.3 billion citizens with 55 countries with GDP growth of 33.5 Trillion is a welcoming and an ambitious project" "The hub is a welcoming opportunity which is anchored on job creation, digital trade and one market" He noted that the hub will develop structures that will aid the actualization of the said dream. "We in the AGI as well as the private sector welcoke this initiative. The AFCFTA number and the AFCFTA common transaction identifier as a tool of operation needs awareness creation, and further engagements with the private sector for a successful objective" "The expected primary outcomes from the AFCFTA Hub is encouraging to list a few. Create awareness among businesses" He stressed that the AGI appreciates and respects SMEs. National Coordinator, National Coordinating Office, AFCFTA, Dr. Fareed Arthur said "We have been able to target and audited 211 companies of which 110 has been successfully audited and prepared for training" He revealed that there is a process ongoing to help the companies get the rules of origin certification. In an interview with Thinknewsonline.com, Chair of Kwarleyz Group, Freedom Jacob Caesar commended government for the great initiative. He was optimistic that Ghana's acceptance will help deal with the issue of unemployment among the youths in the country. "These are some of the things the youths in Africa are lacking. That is why there is no hope. But I want to turn it around. I will come back and invest in the youth and help get rid or eradicate the fear in them" He also said "I really think that this is the point where Africa has to operate, manufacture and explore the mineral resources and make benefits out of it" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Forestry Commission (FC) has confirmed that one of the lions at the Accra Zoo has attacked and killed a man believed to be an intruder. According to the Forestry Commission, the deceased is believed to be in his mid 30's. In a statement sighted by Thinknewsonline.com and signed by the Forestry Commission, it said "Around 12:00 hours today, 28th August, 2022, officials of the Accra Zoo on a routine patrol noticed a middle aged man (an intruder) had jumped the security fences and entered the lions enclosure of the Zoo" The Forestry Commission also added that the motive of the deceased intruder is yet to be determined. "The intruder was attacked and injured by one of the lions, within the inner fencing of the enclosure. The intruder has been confirmed dead from the injuries sustained and the body has been conveyed to the morgue" The statement further revealed that the Accra Zoo authorities successfully coaxed the lions into a secure hold before inviting the Achimota Police to convey the body and commence investigation. It added that the lion, lioness and the two cubs are safe in their enclosure at the Accra Zoo. Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio rushed to the scene upon hearing the unfortunate incident. After receiving a briefing on the unfortunate incident, the Deputy Minister sent a message of condolence to the family of the deceased and also cautioned the public to desist from intruding the enclosure of the lion, lioness and the two cubs. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Police Ladies Association (POLAS) in conjunction with the Police Administration has held a memorable 70th Anniversary Dinner in Accra. The event was held to celebrate not only the current female officers but also the 12 gallant women who defied all odds, and worked tirelessly for the service. Speaking at the event, President of POLAS, COP Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah commended the 12 gallant women for being true pacesetters. Maame Tiwaa challenged members of POLAS not to only aim at higher positions but work tireless in order to earn the maximum respect from male counterparts. "70years ago, 12 women were enlisted into the Ghana Police Service. Whatever they did, has brought all of us this far. Bringing all of us to break bread is one of the many activities tht were lined up to celebrate 70 years of women in policing" On her part, a member of the 12 first female police officers, COP (Rtd) Jane Donkor said "We are grateful to the Lord, for seeing us through 70years. From the humble beginning of us who started 70years ago, 1 September 1952, the service was all men, they never thought of the women but Late Kwame Nkrumah being who he is thought is wise to enlist women into the service so we had the first 12 women" "The 12 women, paved the way that why we see ourselves here. 2002 when we celebrated our50th anniversary, all, 12 were alive but unfortunately as we celebrated 60 heading to 70, we are left with only 3" On his part, Former National Security Minister, COP (RTD), Francis Poku congratulated POLAS for their great contribution to the service. "We are not just celebrating the women presence, but rather we celebrate the achievements. They have come along way with wonderful achievements." "We are pleased to have women occupy big or top positions in the service. I celebrate their gentle efficiency" Taking her turn, the Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Minister for Justice, Diana Dapaah said "It's been over 120 years since women were introduced into the Police Service. It has been long coming but it was worth it. Looking into the history of Police women in Ghana, I cannot help but feel proud" "To all the women who have come this far, we are proud and as you celebrate your platinum, I wish to pay a special tribute to the 12 commissioners. Wherever the 9 deceased are, and the 3 living are, we are proud of them" "It was their resilience and tenacity and professionalism that discarded all the skepticism" "As you progress in your careers, I wish you the best. May the years ahead be as beautiful as you look" There were some presentations of sister security services to POLAS. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Lawyers for Kwabre Constituency Member of Parliament and President Nana Akufo-Addo's nominee for the role of Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Francisca Oteng-Mensah, have stated that there is absolutely no basis for allegations of conflict of interest leveled against her. It would be recalled that a resident of Nima, a suburb of Accra, Ismail Mohammed, on January 21, 2021, petitioned the anti-graft institution to look into the conduct of the MP, insisting the NYA’s ¢3 million expenses on a Covid-19 campaign in 2020 had elements of impropriety. The NYA board’s approval of the expenditure on March 31, 2020, came at a time the country had recorded more than 150 cases of COVID-19 and was girding its loins to confront the pandemic. However, in a response, the lawyers for Ms. Oteng-Mensah, Ghartey & Ghartey, told CHRAJ that the petition had “no facts that would support the belief that our client has been involved in a conflict of interest situation. There is without question no basis for the belief that there has been a conflict of interest situation.” According to the lawyers for the MP and Deputy Minister nominee, the mere fact that the NYA Board Chair was linked to Adonko Bitters, where the NYA bought hand sanitisers, did not put her in a conflict of interest situation. The lawyers in their response to CHRAJ stated: “Respectfully, our client admits that she is and remains a director and shareholder of Adonko Bitters Limited. She was also a director and shareholder of Adonko Bitters Limited during the period, a subject matter of this petition. However, she is not in any way responsible for the day-to-day management of Adonko Bitters Limited. She is not an employee or a marketing and sales executive for the company. Our client submits further that she is not an executive director of Adonko Bitters Limited." Ms. Oteng-Mensah's lawyers noted that she “never ‘participated’, ‘deliberated’ and ‘presided’ over the purchase of hand sanitisers from Adonko Bitters Limited as alleged by the petitioner”. An invoice from Adonko Bitters Limited, payment vouchers and a cheque from the NYA attached to the response to CHRAJ, according to Francisca’s lawyers, indicating that the purchase of and payment for the hand sanitisers preceded the March 31, 2020 meeting cited by the petitioner as having discussed the Covid-19 expenditure. It said NYA paid ¢68,980.58 to Adonko Bitters for the supply of 290 cartons of hand sanitisers on March 29, 2020. A petitioner alleged that the NYA bought GHc700,000 worth of hand sanitisers from Adonko Credit: KESMI FM. The attached documents show that the invoice from Adonko Bitters and the Bank of Ghana cheque for payment is dated March 29, 2020. The cheque payment voucher from the NYA to the Bank of Ghana is, however, dated March 27, 2020, two days before the invoice was received. But the lawyers stated that the amount was within the Public Procurement Authority’s threshold that the CEO of the NYA could approve without seeking the board’s approval, a reason the board was not involved in the deal. They told CHRAJ that the petitioner did not produce any evidence that links the board chair to the transaction. CHRAJ’s “delay” and Francisca’s deputy ministerial nomination Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan and Senior Partner at Ghartey and Ghartey, Joe Ghartey, has observed that CHRAJ’s investigation into the allegation had been unduly delayed. According to him, this was a straightforward matter and that his client had provided all the necessary documents and evidence to enable CHRAJ to arrive at a conclusion. He says this was not a case that should travel over a year. He strongly believes the MP and board chair is innocent and that the delay amounts to justice being denied her. On the deputy ministerial nomination of Francisca Oteng-Mensah, Joe Ghartey, who is a former minister of Justice and Attorney-General, believes the current probe by CHRAJ should not impede her appointment. He says the law only bars persons that have been found guilty by commissions of enquiry and not the mere fact that an allegation has been levelled against someone and that allegation is being investigated. According to him, if allegations and investigations are used to stop people from holding office, anybody could be paid to make allegations against a person nominated to serve a public office in order to stop them. He says Francisca Oteng-Mensah is innocent and wants CHRAJ to expedite its investigation and come out with a conclusion. Story by: Thinknewsonline.com

Some scores of Twitter users have expressed mixed reactions over the much-talked-about Odike-Manhyia-Oyerepa Fm brouhaha. According to some Twitter users, they are disappointed in Manhyia over its actions taken again the 2020 Flagbearer of UPP, Mr. Odike and Oyerepa Fm, a radio station based in the Ashanti Region. In series of tweets sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, Ghana Yesu tweeted "The man didn't say anything bad about Asantehene so why he closed Oyerepa Fm? I think Otumfuo has agenda against them already. Joe Felix Akroku tweeted "I'm not surprised. Cos ebe this same app some kumasi people come talk say otumfuo get power pass the president. why close a radio station because they criticized you" Albert Nat Hyde also tweeted "Otumfuo is a typical authoritarian African leader. Despite his failures, he hates being called out, criticised or questioned. His poor area needs transformation and better leadership, not the chasing of critics (Oyerepa FM). All hail the egoistic king who has offered nothing!" Mr Pressdent further added "The most powerful man in Ashanti Region and probably even powerful than the president is Otumfuo. You can argue with your keyboard !" Nungua Burna tweeted "What Manhyia did to Oyerepa reminds me of this Idi Amin’s quote “There is freedom of speech,but I can’t guarantee freedom after speech.” If you don’t agree, go to Otumfuo simple 😂😭" Below are some tweets: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Drugs Laboratory at the Centre for Laboratory Services and Research (CLSR) of the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has been awarded a WHO-Prequalified Quality Control Laboratory (QCL) Status. By this achievement, the FDA is now the only food and drugs regulatory agency within the ECOWAS subregion to be recognized internationally as a competent institution that can test medicines and medical products under WHO auspices. The results of medicines tested by the FDA will therefore henceforth become acceptable to all countries. The benefits of the new status of the FDA reveals that the Laboratory will serve as a Regional Centre of Excellence and  train other National Drug Regulatory Agencies in the sub region; The FDA can fully participate in international tenders to analyse products that are to be procured by UN agencies, such as UNICEF and the Global Fund. It is emerging that the Certificate of Analysis for locally manufactured medicines in Ghana shall receive international recognition and thereby boost their permeation into the international market. With the prequalified lab in Ghana, the African Continental Free Trade Area provides additional opportunity to Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies within the Africa market. The FDA’s Laboratory has by this feat become a key international player in the testing and verifying of Finished Pharmaceutical Products to ensure that they meet international standards of safety, quality, and efficacy, and will therefore require all the necessary support to maintain this new status. Additionally, it is to be noted that, once the FDA’s Laboratory has become a prequalified QCL, the FDA may be invited to participate in WHO prequalification monitoring projects that are undertaken periodically to assess the quality of medicines procured by UN agencies. With this accomplishment by the FDA’s laboratory as the only WHO-prequalified laboratory in the ECOWAS subregion, the Authority is in readiness and poised to provide effective regulation to support the national vaccine manufacturing agenda, and ensure access to quality, safe and efficacious vaccines and medicines for the nation and the African Continent. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Kumasi Traditional Council has asked management of Kumasi-based radio station Oyerepa FM to halt its operations effective Friday August 26 until further notice. Acting President of the Council Baffuor Amankwatia VI, who also doubles as Bantamahene, announced this when a delegation from Oyerepa FM and TV appeared before the Traditional Council to render an apology over comments made by Akwasi Addai Odike against Manhyia on their network. Odike, who was a guest of a political show on Oyerepa FM, lashed out at the traditional leaders in Ashanti Region for failing to clamp down on illegal mining. He accused the chiefs of engaging in galamsey since they appear to be looking on unconcerned as water bodies and forests are destroyed. The businessman-cum-politician threatened to stage a massive demonstration against Manhyia if the galamsey menace continues. This comment angered the Traditional Council, claiming it is a form of rebellion against the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Baffuor Amankwatia VI stated: “You gave Odike the platform to say all that he said without caution. If you want us to accept your apology and show remorse, then announce to your listeners that you’ve erred and apologize. “Again, if you want Manhyia to give you hearing, then you have to close down your radio station from Friday, August 26 until the pending issue is resolved. If not, we won’t take it lightly when you appear before us again.” Story by: Ibrahim Abubakar

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Banda, in the Bono Region, Emmanuel Akoneh has given a strong indication of his preparedness to establish businesses for the people living with disabilities (PwDs) in his area, hence the donation of items to the PwDs as part of the share of common fund from the government. The items includes 19 deep freezers, 8 Spraying machines, cosmetics, 2 fufu pounding machines, Farm inputs (walenting boots, insecticides, weedicides, etc.) aimed at equipping them to earn a living despite the challenges happening with some undisclosed amount of money received by others for their school tuitions. At the ceremony to hand over the items to the beneficiaries at the Banda district assembly auditorium, Hon. Akoneh disclosed that purpose was in line with support from the government and was in conviction it will go a long way to improve the living conditions of the disabilities. Speaking with Appiah Kubi, the Anopa Nkommo show host at Tain FM, the DCE noted that will help the disabled people to acquire skills that the items will help them to be self-sufficient and prevent them from begging for survival. Additionally, he had paid seven peoples living with disabilities in universities tuitions and urged to equip them with their needed requests. The District Disability Fund Management Committee provided twenty seven (27) persons with disabilities within the area for received items. Hon. Akoneh disclosed that previously it was given to them in cash instead of using it to buy items for them to do their own businesses, they just spend the money and sometimes they even sell the items given to them. He therefore warned the beneficiaries of specific economic items and business inputs to re-affirmed government's commitment to continue to offer support to the PwDs, therefore urged them to take proper care of the items to enhance their businesses. He advised the able-bodied people not to discriminate or stigmatize against the persons with disabilities and added that able-bodied people could be like them (PWDs), "Disability is not inability", rather such persons are special in their own way, he said. On his part, the President of Banda Federation of Disabilities, Mr. Richard Kumi Fofie thanked the DCE and the District Assembly for the kind gesture. He also advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the items and urged those who couldn't benefit from the items to remain calm as he and his executives working with the Assembly to supply them in due course. He, therefore, seized the opportunity to encourage his colleague PWDs not to look down on themselves but strive to develop their talents for their own benefit. Story by: Appiah Kubi

President of the Bhim Nation Family, Livingstone Etse Satekla known in showbiz as Stonebwoy has embarked on a massive clean-up exercise in the Ashaiman Municipality. In a video sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, the celebrated Musician was captured with a shovel, destilling some gutters. Stonebwoy was accompanied by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ashaiman, Albert Boakye Okyere. The massive drive to clean-up the town is in line with this year's Ashaiman To The World Festival. Watch the videos below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith