Former Black Stars captain, has reacted to claims by a self-acclaimed soothsayer that he had a hand in the disappearance of music icon Theophilus Tagoe popularly known as Castro. Asamoah Gyan, who was a close friend of Castro and was with the musician when he disappeared was accused by the soothsayer with the name "Daughter of Maame Water" as the one who was behind the disappearance of the musician. "Daughter of Maame Water" claimed in a viral video that Asamoah Gyan knows about the sudden departure of Castro because he has benefited from his friend's disappearance. Reacting to these claims by the soothsayer, Asamoah Gyan in a reply on his Tiktok page warned the soothsayer to tread carefully because she might not like what will happen if he diced to take her on. "I can see you want my attention but if I descend on you..... They’ve tried this since 2003 but it did not work,” he said in the video sighted by GhanaWeb. He added that 'Daughter of Maame Water' might be making these allegations against him in the media space because he is frustrated in life. "When you’re frustrated in life it’s normal. Even me when I get frustrated I don’t speak sense so it’s normal," he added. Credit: Ghanaweb

Ghana Premier League Fixtures Released; Kotoko To Host Hearts In First Super Clash Ghana Premier League champions Asante Kotoko will host Hearts of Oak in the first Super Clash of the upcoming season on matchday 3. This was revealed on Thursday evening, when the Ghana Football Association (GFA) released the fixtures for the 2022/23 Premier League season. The game will be played at Kumasi’s Baba Yara Stadium, where the Porcupine Warriors won 1-0 last season on their way to a record-extending 24th title. The first meeting in Accra ended 0-0. The GFA has only released the first round fixtures for the league, which will begin on September 9, 2022. “Due to Television broadcast schedules, Match dates for the respective fixtures would be made public in due course,” the GFA stated. Kotoko will begin their title defence against newly promoted Nsoatreman FC in Kumasi, while Hearts of Oak will face Aduana Stars in Dormaa in their first match. However, Kotoko’s first game is expected to be rescheduled because their Caf Champions League campaign starts the same weekend as the league. Kotoko will face Burkinabe champions Rail Club de Kadiogo in the preliminary round. The league recently secured a headline sponsor, betPawa. Credit: 3news.com

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is appealing to the general public to patronize only registered sachet and bottled water manufactured in Ghana that bears its product registration numbers. The FDA made the call through a press statement following the recently much-spoken-about sachet water brouhaha. In a statement sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, it said "The public is strongly advised to patronized only registered sachet and bottled water manufactured in Ghana that bear the FDA product registration numbers" The statement also called on the public to report any registered sachet and bottled water at the nearest FDA office. "The Authority wants to remind the public of its responsibility to protect consumers, as mandated by the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851). With regard to packaged water (bottled and sachet), the FDA ensures this through the licensing of the manufacturing premises and the registration of these products" The statement stressed that the premises of the manufacturing facilities are regularly inspected using the Authority's Guidelines, FDA/FDI/GL-FPF/2020/02. The FDA added that the inspection covers the starting material (water) and packaging materials to ensure that they meet their respective Ghana Standards; and the finished products to meet the requirement of GS175-1:2002(for drinking water) and GS20:2014 (for mineral water). The statement added that all inspections are done in accordance with the current codes of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) where end products are released in accordance with the above-stated specifications. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on residents of the Upper East Region to pay their water bills on time to help maintain water infrastructure in the region. “Maintaining this new infrastructure means, also, paying your bills on time. Through that, it will ensure the general well-being and health of all the respective communities,” he said. The President made the call when he commissioned a newly constructed water treatment plant at Tono in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Region. He said in January 2018, the government through the Ministry of Finance, secured funding to the tune of 37, 683, 226.00 Euros, which consisted of a 12 million Euro grant from the Netherlands government and a 25 million Euros facility form the ING Bank, also in the Netherlands to implement the water project. President Akufo-Addo said the project was structured into two phases with the aim to increase the design horizon to make adequate provision for future demand in line with Government’s policy to construct water projects taking into consideration future population growth. He indicated that the water supply system would provide the people of Navrongo, Bolgatanga, Paga and its environs with 20,500 cubic metres of water per day, explaining that, “This is approximately four and half million gallons of water per day, making a threefold increase from the 1.5million gallons per day which was currently available to residents in the Region,” he added. He said a total of 347,446 people would be served with potable water, and mentioned communities such as Zuarungu, Zaare, Sumbrungu, Kalbeo, Gambibgo, Winkogo, Bongo, Yorogo and Tindonmologu among others as additional beneficiary communities. “The execution and completion of the Upper East Water Supply project falls in line with the programme of government to achieve a target set under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number six of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” he said. President Akufo-Addo said Government was working diligently to provide funds to improve the water supply situation in other parts of the country with the objective to ensure equity and improved quality of life to all communities in the country. Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the Minister of Water Resources, Works, and Housing, described the project as a welcome initiative, which would proof the water-for-all agenda of the Akufo-Addo-led-government, to ensure universal access to water for all by the year 2030. She recalled that during the sod cutting ceremony in 2019, it was observed that one severe bottleneck that hindered water supply in the Region was the limitation of the distribution network, and said the project would resolve that challenge through expansion of the distribution network. Pe Denis Aneakwoa Balinia Adda Asagpaare II, the Paramount Chief of the Navrongo Traditional Area in his address, expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for the water supply system and appealed to him to complete the Navrongo Youth Resource Centre, which he said was a concern to residents. Credit: Ghanaweb

Residents of Senya Electoral Area in the Ayawaso North Municipality of the Greater Accra Region continue to leave in fear of a demolition threat being emitted to them daily by the Municipal Chief Executive, MCE, Hon. Aminu Mohammed Zakari. History has it that in the early 1960s, the then Accra Municipal Council now the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) authorized the release of a portion of land now known as the Kasoa Kuda to private developers for the building of market stores. With the increasing population in Accra and Ghana’s current housing deficit being in excess of 1.2 million, some portions of stores privately constructed by individuals were converted into residences which the Municipal Assembly collects monthly Levies/Rents from their residents, who are their tenants. All meetings by the leadership of the Senya Electoral Area in the Ayawaso North Municipality led by Hon. Wisdom Boateng, the Assembly Member for the Area with the MCE, Hon. Aminu Mohammed Zakari and MP, Hon. Yussif Jajah Issaka, evidence that the Assembly has no future plans for the residents after the demolition. Discussions on the possible relocation of over 7,000 residents or the compensation of private individuals who the Accra Metropolitan Assembly gave the authorisation to enable them to embark on the construction of the stores in the area, which the Assembly continues to take rent have been thrown into the dustbin. It is alleged that the MCE, Hon. Aminu Mohammed Zakari is recorded on tape trying to bribe some leaders of the Senya Electoral Area to accept an undisclosed amount of money to sign documents to give way for the demolition of a fully occupied 7.29 hectares (72,866.08 m²) parcel of land. Ghana, in the past, welcomed Liberians and other African refugees and accommodated them for almost 20 years. Are the citizens of Maamobi Kasoa Kuda Residents lesser human beings than the Refugees we accommodated in the past? With the current economic situation in the country, notifying a community of over 7, 000 Ghanaians to relocate within 21 days with a notification just on 21st July 2022, morally, humanly, and constitutionally right? "Are the citizens of Maamobi Kasoa Kuda Scatters? Do Scatters pay rents for occupying state land? Do the Municipal Assembly have legal right to demolish private properties built with the authorization of the AMA as far back as the 1960s without compensation to property owners?" The posture of the MCE, Hon. Aminu Mohammed Zakari is a clear violation of the United Nation Commission on Human Rights, Resolution 1993/77, which states, “The practice of forced eviction constitutes a gross violation of human rights, in particular the right to adequate housing”, and must be brought to order by the president of the republic. A letter indicated that the Maamobi Kasoa Kuda residents in the Ayawaso North Municipality have petitioned the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo but are yet to receive any response from Mr. President. The Assembly Member, Hon. Wisdom Boateng called on the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, The Chairman of the Christain Council of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, The Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the United Nations on Human Rights office, and all Ghanaians to come to their aid before this gross injustice and human rights abuse is carried out. Credit: Newsghana

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) says it will start using drones to read meters in various households across the country. According to the GWCL, the new move will help tackle challenges some of its staff go through when deployed to do their jobs. Speaking at an event in Accra, the Managing Director of Ghana Water Company, Ing. Dr. Clifford Abdallah Braimah said "I am happy to also announce that we have just piloted the drone-metric system. Sometimes, when there is flood, you are unable to go and read. When there are other disruptions, you are unable to go to read, and we will use the drone to take the metres and the record is fantastic. Within 15 minutes, we are able to read 500 metres" "So what it means is that if they are widely deployed, we will be more efficient and then the customers will have their bills as quickly as possible so that so that they can plan to pay." The MD also said "The new system will significantly reduce the time between customer meter reading and customer billing, eliminate arm-chair meter reading, effectively reduce human errors inherent in the current billing system, link customer billing to customer location, allow for bill payment anywhere in the world, enable online service connection application and reduce new service connection time" Ing Dr. Braimah ceased on the opportunity and appealed to the State's National Security to treat as urgent the illegal connection of water as a critical national security threat. "When someone does an illegal connection; the person is threatening the lives of Ghanaians" Ing. Abdallah Braimah further charged the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to ensure that all adhesives used to connect the pipes in households are certified. He begged the public to do well and point out all manner of persons involved in illegal water connections. Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Lands and Forestry Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio has cautioned officers of the newly inaugurated Lands Commission Regional office in the North East Region not to make the mistakes their predecessors made in the administration of Lands which has breeded a number of issues for the Commission. He added that they are privileged with the advantage and opportunity to start on a fresh slate and therefore urged them to begin with better planning inorder not to repeat the mistakes of offices in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and other places. Hon. Benito said this when he lead a team from the Ministry and the Lands Commission to the North East Region on Tuesday, 9th August, 2022 to inaugurate the fifth out of six regional Lands Commission Offices scheduled to be inaugurated in the newly created regions of the country. Hon. Owusu-Bio said the move to establish regional offices for the Lands Commission is in furtherance to article 260(1) of the 1992 constitution which provides "that Lands Commission shall have a branch in each region to be known as Regional Lands Commission for the performance of functions specified in article 258 of this constitution". He further highlighted some key importance of the Lands Commission in the region saying "Lands Commission here, on behalf of the government, shall manage public lands and any other lands vested in the President by the constitution or by any other law and any lands vested in the commission, advise the government, local authorities and traditional authorities on the policy framework for the development of particular areas of the country, to ensure the development of individual pieces of land coordinated with the relevant development plan for the area concerned, among other important services". He then opined that the provision of formal land administration services is at the core of every sector of the economy, adding that land administration services including survey and mapping, valuation of property, rating state land acquisition, among others are all critical services that help propel the socio-economic growth of the country. Hon. Benito believes that the decentralisation agenda of the Lands Commission will ensure that efficient land administration services delivery is brought to the doorstep of every Ghanaian. He noted that " What is unique about the establishment of offices in the new regions is that the offices will operate in a fully digital environment" which he said will help achieve speed and reduce the usual delays associated with processing of documents in a manual environment. "The era when applicants have to travel for hours from Walewale, Bunkpurugu, Chereponi, Yagaba etc to access land administration services in Tamale has become a thing of the past thus the unofficial cost associated with land administration services will now reduce drastically" On behalf of the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area of the North East Region, Na Bohagu Mahami Abduli Sheriga, the spokesperson person at the Palace, Chief Tarana, John Wuni Grumah appealed to the Board of the Lands Commission and officers of the newly inaugurated regional office to be diligent in their service delivery and let their work stand out. Chief Grumah added that the staff should be committed to their work, exhibiting their best performance to make the Lands Commission office in the region, one of the best in the North and in Ghana. He also appealed to these officers to be gentle with the people and Chiefs of the region with regards to collaboration in work. "The Nayiri said you should please be patient and gentle with our people. If they happen not to understand anything, please take your time and explain to them so we can all work together peaceful and collaboratively" He assured the Commission of his unflinching support and requested that in the process of selection for new employees for the office, his subjects who meet all requirements are also given the opportunity to work. The North East Regional Minister, and Chairman at the event, Hon. Yidana Zakariah described the importance of land as a valuable asset of every community and nation and therefore expressed his joy to see such development in his community  submitted to the Chiefs and the people of the Nalerigu to come together and work collaboratively with the new officers of the Commission for the development of the entire North East Region. The Regional Minister appealed to the Regional Lands Commission Board officers not to see themselves as owners of any land but rather work in sync with the traditional leaders to properly demarcate all stool lands and avoid double land sale which is the major problem most regions face with regards to Land administration. He also expressed his sincerest gratitude to the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for keeping his promise to equipment the new regions with all necessary tools to function. The National Chairman of the Lands Commission, Mr. Alex Quaynor in his remarks said  per the New Land Act, Act 1036, government requires that all land owners register their Lands through the proper process and therefore hoped that the residents of Nalerigu and for that matter North East Region will take advantage of this opportunity and do the needful for utmost development. "We owe it to ourselves as Ghanaians to do what is right. We owe it to ourselves to be disciplined and we owe it to ourselves to maintain good records at all times so let us do the right thing" He added that as most lands in the country are owned by skins, stools and families, it is important that the administration of lands is properly and efficiently carried out at that level, adding that the New Land Act makes it compulsory for the Palaces to have customary lands secretariat which will ensure proper records keeping. Mr. Quaynor also called for a collaborative work between the traditional authorities and  surveyors in apportioning of lands to help avoid the Land gaurd menace in the region. "The only way to stop land guards is to do the right thing so we do not involve ourselves in this menace" The Deputy Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission in charge of operations, Mr. Benjamin Arthur in a remark indicated that the newly commissioned office have the advantage of operationg in a digital space and therefore urged that they embrace the opportunity and do a better job than those who had to start from in manual environment. He assured that the Head office will soon provide all other needed logistics and support to ensure the smooth running of Land administration in the North East Region. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources resposible for Lands and Forestry, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio, has assured the Nayiri of North East Region that as part of the inauguration of the Lands Commission Regional office, he will ensure that a customary lands secretariat is opened in the Palace for records keeping. The Deputy Minister gave this assurance when he paid a courtesy call on the the Overlord of the Mamprusi Traditional Area of the North East Region, Na Bɔhagu Mahami Sheriga, ahead of the inauguration ceremony of the Lands Commission Regional Office on Tuesday, 9th August, 2022. Hon. Owusu-Bio, appreciated the Nayiri for his warm reception and extended the regards of the Sector Minister while disclosing his mission for the visit. "The lands commission office here has been in operation for 2 months now and today we are here to officially inaugurate the office which is in fulfillment of the President's promise to equip all the six new regions with the needed logistics to function. Hon. Benito noted that when it comes to land administration in Ghana, the Chiefs pay an integral and important role and therefore they cannot come and inaugurate the  Lands Commission office without paying homage to the King. He hoped that the Nayiri will give the regional officers all the needed support to oeprate in the region and assured the Overlord that Lands Commission will do their best to deal with all land issues in the region. Hon. Benito wished the King a Happy New year as the Region is currently celebrating its annual fire festival which marks an important feet in the life of the indigenes. The Overlord of the Mamprusu Traditional Area of the North East Region, Nayiri Bohagu Mahami Sheriga on his part gave the assurance that his Kingdom will fully support the office in the region, disclosing that his territorial boundaries, which is not limited to Ghana but extends to Togo and Burkina Faso will all be on board in the bid to support the office. He said he is very enthusiastic about the inauguration ceremony but cannot attend due to the crowning of his fire festival which also demands his presence but assured the team of a high powered delegation which will represent him at the event. He wished the Ministry a sucessful inauguration ceremony and assured his blessings for the programme and the new office which will be operating in his region. Below are some pictures: Story by: Nadia Aidoo

The New Tafo-Akim Magistrate District Court has sentenced nine out of 11 accused persons who attacked three teachers at the Ayinasin Methodist Basic School to fines between 150 penalty units and 250 units. The units when converted is between GH¢1,800 to GH¢3,000 . Two other accused persons – who are juveniles – would have their case dealt with next two weeks after Social Welfare presents a social enquiry reports. On Tuesday, July 26, the accused persons armed with clubs attacked three teachers of the Ayinasin Methodist Basic School and harrassed one of the teachers to kneel down as his punishment for accusing them of supplying drugs to the junior high school (JHS) students. The teachers had detected the use of drugs identified as Diazepam by some pupils in the Ayinasin Methodist Junior High School. Investigations revealed a pupil whose uncle owns a Chemical Shop in the community supplied the drugs to his junior high school mates. An emergency PTA meeting on Wednesday, July 27 to deal with the matters arising was disrupted by the accused persons and others at large. A case was made to the police on Monday, August 1, causing the arrest of the suspects for investigations. Prosecutor of the case Detective Chief Inspector Barnabas Mends explained it was established that the Diazepam was a restricted drug which was not to be sold in a chemical shop. The accused were remanded and put before court . On Tuesday, August 9, seven of the accused were sentenced to fines of 150 penalty units each (GH¢1,800. Two others had 200 penalty units (GH¢2,400). The Chemical Shop owner had 250 penalty units (GH¢3000). They have all been freed after their relatives paid their penalties. The court would take a decision on the two juveniles next week. Meanwhile, the Pharmaceutical Council has closed down the chemical shop for flouting regulations. Teachers of the school left the court premises elated at the judgement. Story by: Yvonne Neequaye

Serena Williams has suggested she is set to retire from tennis, saying she will be “evolving away” from the sport after the US Open. Writing for Vogue, the American 23-time Grand Slam singles champion said she is moving towards “other things that are important to me”, adding she does not like the word “retirement”. In an accompanying Instagram post, she wrote that “the countdown has begun”. “I’m gonna relish these next few weeks,” the 40-year-old said. Williams made her singles return at Wimbledon in June after a lengthy injury lay-off that had led to speculation about her retirement. She says she will play at the US Open, where she has won six of her major singles titles, later in August. Williams has won more major singles title than any female player in the Open era and the second most of all time, behind Margaret Court’s 24. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready to win Wimbledon this year. And I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York. But I’m going to try,” she wrote. “I know there’s a fan fantasy that I might have tied Margaret that day in London, then maybe beat her record in New York, and then at the trophy ceremony say, “See ya!” “I get that. It’s a good fantasy. But I’m not looking for some ceremonial, final on-court moment. I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst. But please know that I am more grateful for you than I can ever express in words.” On Monday, she had her first singles win in 14 months, beating Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz to reach the second round of the National Bank Open in Toronto. Source: BBC

Ace music producer Fred Kyei Mensah narrated how his spiritual father, Bishop Daniel Obinim, saved him from the June 3rd Disaster. Bishop Daniel Obinim, also known as Angel Obinim, is the founder and leader of the International God’s Way Church in Ghana. “I sent my son to go for a file in my studio, and the boy returned saying he couldn’t go because it was raining. Because I needed the file desperately, I decided to go myself. The moment I stepped out of the door, Obinim appeared in a flash. I panicked, I was in a trance, and he told me to quit going for the file.” Fredima also told Larry ‘Da old man’ on Onua FM’s Anigye mmere show that he is not bothered if people do not believe his testimony. “I’m the only one who saw him, so whether you believe it or not, I do not care. After I saw him, I went back and sat on my couch. My wife also warned me not to go out because of the heavy clouds. Sometimes we need to listen to our spouses and side chicks too. So I listened to my wife. I would have been dead if I had gone,” he narrated. He further recounted how he lost all his belongings to the flood, yet he survived because Bishop Daniel and his wife took care of him. “The next day, the boy who takes care of my studios called asking about my whereabouts. After telling him where I was, he told me all my studio equipment and cars were gone. I lost them all to the flood. I had three studios back then, everything was gone, but Obinim took care of me financially.” Story by: Victor Kodom

Some five Ghanaian passengers as well as two Ghanaian-born Americans have lodged an official complaint with US government’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection under the Department of Transportation against management of Delta Air Lines Inc for “unprofessional”, “unethical” and “irresponsible” handling of a flight from JFK International Airport to Accra last month. The flight, originally scheduled for Sunday, July 24, was re-scheduled to Monday, July 24. On the rescheduled day, the flight had to return to make an emergency landing after two hours in-flight due to fuel shortage. This forced another rescheduling to Tuesday, July 26 while those on business tickets were put on economy tickets on different flights. Assurances of getting stranded passengers accommodation were not heeded to, according to the complainants, while those with Ghanaian passports have since been left without any communication by way of apologies. “Our clients hold the view that, the events of the scheduled flight of Sunday 24th July 2022 and rescheduled flight of Monday, 25th July 2022 resulting into flight delays and rescheduling, bad passenger service, unsafe aircraft operating practice (fuel shortage) and discrimination as outlined above are matters your office is clothed with authority to investigate and sanction,” the official complaint written by lawyer of the aggrieved passengers Richard Nunekpeku said. “This is imperative in order to forestall similar future occurrences and promote safe air travel for all persons.” The lawyer is also demanding refunds for all passengers who were downgraded from business class to economy class “and to further order Delta Air Lines Inc. to pay appropriate compensation to all affected passengers for the psychological trauma and loss of time they suffered as a result of events of Saturday, 24th July 2022 and Monday, 25th July 2022 enumerated above”. The official complaint is dated Monday, August 8. It is copied the Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the CEO of Delta Air Lines Inc. Story by: Emmanuel Kwame Amoh