The World Football Governing body, International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has placed a ban on Ghana’s Black Madiens (U-17) and a fine of $100,00 for suspected age-cheating. This means Ghana will not participate in the next two editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s African qualifiers. This occurred after Morocco filed a protest against the Black Maidens, claiming that Nancy Amoh and Rasheeda Shahadu had used ages below 17 but the North Afriacan said they were older than the said age. Morocco secured a place in the 2022 U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Ghana 5-4 on penalties in the return leg. They lost 2-0 in Ghana and replicated same in Rabat to make it 2-2 on aggregate. The CAF Disciplinary Board was offered the chance to hear the Ghana Football Association’s appeal of the decision; however, they declined to do so. Story by: SIAW NARTEY

Board Member of Continental Club Masters, Accra Hearts of Oak, Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe has revealed that some players of the club have been drinking and smoking. According to him, such behaviours are unacceptable. "When I talk of indiscipline at the camp of Hearts of Oak, people always argue with me. “But these players have been smoking and drinking before matchday games" He added that such behaviours are reasons for the club's recent failure. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), President Patrice Motsepe, announced on Sunday that the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Ivory Coast in 2024. The tournament was supposed to take place in June-July 2023, during the rainy season in Ivory Coast. “We cannot take the risk,” the South African said in the Moroccan capital Rabat. With the World Cup in Qatar taking place in November and December this year, the decision has been taken to postpone the finals rather than bring them forward. It means the Nations Cup will be held in January and February for the second time in a row, after this year’s tournament in Cameroon. In 2017, Caf announced that it would move the finals from their traditional January-February slot to June-July in a bid to avoid repeated disputes with European clubs forced to release players in the middle of the season. “January is not the ideal time because of the European clubs, but it is the only choice we have,” Motsepe added. Credit: 3news.com

Kisa Gbekle has addressed critics who called her out for publicly denying that she has a son whilst on the Delay show. The Ghanaian actress accused the host of manipulation and intruding on her privacy. And so, she was forced to lie to save face. Kisa Gbekle has done a turnabout to refute her claims that she does not have a child on her YouTube page. She blamed the unfortunate turn of events on Delay for ambushing her at the interview. In the video, Kisa disclosed that she was caught off her guard because she never envisaged that questions about her motherhood would pop up. “Lately, there are a lot of heavy things on my chest, and I want to clear that up. It is about my lovely son. People that know me, people that know him, know that he’s a very beautiful boy. And yes, I love him so much" “I know very well that I posted my surgery videos. So I was also thinking that anytime I go for an interview that is what I will talk about. My career (the career that I don’t even perceive anymore), my show and the procedure I went to do in Turkey. Mainly, that is the thing I was going to talk about. Then I get to the interview, and the next thing I’m being asked is, do you have a child.” Kisa continued to say that her reaction to the question on the show has been her coping mechanism for unpleasant events. Which is also a civilized response to uncouth intrusive prying people. “It’s not any big question for me to answer, but I just played around it because I feel my baby should be my business. But I’m the kind of person that is very fun, no matter how offensive the question is. No matter how hard it is, I try to play around with it. I have seen a lot of people have taken this whole thing out of context like Kisa denies her biological son publicly.” Accordingly, the new mother revealed that she intends to unveil her son on her terma. And she would not succumb to pressure to do otherwise. “I wasn’t prepared to answer that at that time. Yes, I will come out with my child. I intend to post my pregnancy. But, I don’t want to go sit on someone’s platform. I see it to be kind of an investigative platform. I have my platform. I can decide to come online and post. I will come out with those videos when I want." Story by: Grace Somuah-Annan

A 38-year-old bar operator, Kwame Yeboah has been stabbed to death in a suspected chieftaincy dispute. The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, July  3 at Adum Afrancho in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region. The town is currently, under heavy police patrol. The chieftaincy dispute has gripped the small community with a population of less than one thousand. An eyewitness claimed to have identified one  Police officer who was allegedly involved in the crime “we saw Inspector Antwi hand over his armour vest and a knife to his brother to stab Kwame Yeboah multiple times. Anytime we try to intervene he physically prevent us. We managed to overcome them and seize the knife which is currently, in the custody of the police” a resident who witnessed the incident told William Evans-Nkum. One other resident, who had attempted to rescue the deceased was also stabbed. He is currently, on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The commander of the Police patrol team would not confirm or deny the allegation of Police involvement. “I do not have the mandate to speak to you, please try and reach my superiors” was his response when the news team pressed for a reaction. The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital morgue. The Ashanti Regional Police Command is yet to issue a statement on the development. Source: 3news.com

Special Envoy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Guinea, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas has communicated his intention to withdraw as a mediator to the West African State. Guinea, whose junta has refused an ECOWAS mediator announced a 36-month transition period and has conditioned any dialogue towards a successful transfer of power to a constitutionally recognized head of state on the appointment of another ECOWAS mediator. Speaking to journalists on the side of the 61st Ordinary Session of the Authority of Ecowas Heads of State and Government on Sunday July 3, 2022, in Accra, Dr. Ibn Chambas said his decision to step down is to pave way for a successful dialogue to take place in order for Guinea to return to constitutional democratic rule. “In Guinea, the transitional authorities continue to insist that there is no political crisis, yet it is evident that once a military has overthrown a civilian government, there is obviously a political crisis in the country. This reason is what the Guinean authorities have used to refuse to accept and ECOWAS envoy in the country in the person of myself. “At this point I believe that I should not be the stumbling block to dialogue between ECOWAS and Guinea. In order to facilitate forward movement on this issue, I have decided to withdraw myself as envoy of ECOWAS to Guinea to allow the authority to come up with other names,” Dr. Ibn Chambas said. Dr. Ibn Chambas was appointed in November last year as Special Envoy to Guinea to strengthen dialogue with the Guinean military authority towards the successful and short transitional process. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Kisa Gbekle’s revelation has challenged the narrative that movie producers demand sex in exchange for roles. As she told Abeiku Santana, Kisa disclosed that most of the girls are the ones who make the offer of sex for roles. Sharing her experience, she said, “I have worked for Venus Films as a PA and a secretary for Venus Films. Those days, when I am there, the girls who come around ask me who they can sleep with to secure a role.” According to Kisa, the producers may take advantage of the situation, but it is initiated by young girls hungry for fame and the limelight. “So with the one I know, it’s not the producers demanding sex from the girls. It’s the girls who come asking me, Kisa, who do you think I can have sex with so I can have a role. So I don’t really blame the producers. It’s the girls that throw themselves on them" Story by: Grace Somuah-Annan

Black Stars defender, Abdul Baba Rahman has confessed that he would like to play with Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo if he had to choose between the two. Messi and Ronaldo have made history in football as the two best players on the planet, breaking numerous records and winning 12 ballons d’Or between them. Messi has currently won seven whilst Ronaldo has won five. In an interview on WarmUp Plus on Saturday, Rahman made his choice between the two legends. “It’s a difficult question [choosing between Ronaldo and Messi]. They have their strengths. [If I had to play with one], I would choose Messi. His final passes, hold-up play, and movement are unique.” Rahman also revealed that if he had to change his position, he would choose the right-wing. “[I would play] right-wing. It feels so satisfying watching a left-footer cutting inside and curling the ball into the net.” The left-back has returned to Chelsea after playing for Reading on loan. He will look to impress Thomas Tuchel ahead of the new campaign. Story by: Bill Eshun

Inter Milan have signed midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan on a free transfer after his contract at Roma expired. The 33-year-old will become the first Armenian to play for the club. He spent three years in Rome, initially joining on loan from Arsenal after spells with Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and Shakhtar Donetsk. “Very happy to join such a great club,” Mkhitaryan tweeted. “Will do my best and give my all to help the team achieve our goals.” Mkhitraryan is Inter’s fourth signing of the summer after striker Romelu Lukaku returned from Chelsea, goalkeeper Andre Onana signed from Ajax and midfielder Kristjan Asllani joined from Empoli. Below are some pictures: Credit: News Desk Report

Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana, Professor Peter Quartey, has asked the government to consider reviewing the e-levy rate downwards as a way of making it easier for more people to pay. He said this when asked whether the government should continue charging the e-levy after deciding to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for support, while speaking in an interview with TV3’s Alfred Ocansey on Friday July 1. He called on Members of Parliament from both sides to sit and agree on how best to review the rate downwards after indicating that the government still needs the revenue. Professor Quartey further told Ghanaians not to expect a rapid resolution of the economic challenges due to support of the IMF. He said it may take sometime to witness the full benefits of the programme if the government goes ahead to seek the assistance of the Fund. “The IMF work together with governments. Initially, the policies and everything were just handed over from Washington to the respective countries, this has changed now. You have to develop your own policies and engage with the IMF and they will tell you which ones to take out, which ones to add and then you come to a consensus, based on that they will say, we will fund your programme. “That is done through balance of payment support. It may take time, in the case of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka announced they were going to the IMF and today, they haven’t finished the process,” he said. The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been instructed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to commence engagements with the Fund. This followed a telephone conversation between the President and the IMF Managing Director, Miss Kristalina Georgieva, conveying Ghana’s decision to engage with the Fund. The Ministry of Information announced this in a statement on Friday July 1. Several analysts have expressed their views on this matter. For instance, a Former Finance Minister Mr Seth Terkper has asked stakeholders to now pay particular attention to the nature of proposal that the government will be submitting to the IMF. Mr Terkper indicated that the engagement is not going to happen overnight. It will take quite sometime before conclusions are made, he said. “The Funds were clearly there and that is when we probably we could have gone earlier. I think that it is important to know that we are where we are and therefore we can focus on the proposal that government will be giving to the Fund. It is not a one week thing, government will definitely, may have to make proposals,” he told Paa Kwesi Asare on the News 360 on TV3 Friday July 1. In the view of Mr Terkper, the decision to go to the Fund could have been made much earlier. “I do agree with the sentiments that we could probably, have gone to the Fund much earlier and the situation would not have worsened,” he said. The Dean of the Business School at the University of Cape Coast, Professor John Gatsi said that the decision to return to the Fund is an indication that the programmes and measures outlined by the government to deal with the economic challenges are not strong enough. It also means that the management of the economy has been difficult for the government, he added. Speaking in an interview with TV3’s Komla Adom on the mid day news Friday July 1, Prof Gatsi said “The decision is clear to all of us that Ghana is heading towards the IMF, officially from the President and then authenticated by Minister responsible for Information. “It has implications, the implication is that the management of the economy has become very difficult, our programmes are not potent enough to deal with the challenges therefore we need credibility for our programmes, we need confidence to manage our economy and that confidence is not coming from the programmes and strategies of the government and that, the government believes that confidence to manage the economy can be procured from the IMF.” A Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr John Kumah said an IMF programme would help the country to come out from the economic challenges faster. He said the government hopes that the programme will benefit the country. “Our objective as government is to restore confidence in the economy and rebound it from the difficulty, from the challenges, not only in Ghana but almost all economies around the world. “We believe that where we stand now, an IMF intervention will help us come out quicker than we could. We hope that it will benefit the country,” he told TV3’s Komla Adom on the mid day news on Friday July 1. Credit: 3news.com

Former President John Dramani Mahama who earlier urged the government to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for support, has welcomed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to formally engage the IMF with the view to entering into a programme under the Fund. Though belated, Mr Mahama said, the decision should mark an important step towards addressing the dire economic situation, which he said has left Ghanaians wallowing under intense suffering and hardships. Beyond the announcement of engagement with the IMF, he added, a comprehensive home-grown programme should be fashioned out and presented to the Fund for support. It is imperative that a team of skilled and competent negotiators is put together to obtain the best set of measures with the Fund. “The Finance Minister who has supervised the disastrous collapse of the economy cannot and should not be part of the team of negotiators. He has lost credibility and the trust and confidence of stakeholders in our economy.President Akufo-Addo must take a bold decision to replace his finance minister immediately with a more assured and competent person who is willing and able to work tirelessly to turn our almost hopeless situation around" "In addition, given his obvious failures, the Vice President must be relieved of his responsibility as Chair of the Economic Management Team to enable the President to reconstitute the team. We must draw useful lessons from this episode and avoid cheap politicking with the economy; that can only yield the disastrous outcomes that have brought us here,” Mr Mahama said in a Facebook post on Saturday July 2. The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been instructed by President Akufo-Addo to commence engagements with the Fund. This followed a telephone conversation between the President and the IMF Managing Director, Miss Kristalina Georgieva, conveying Ghana’s decision to engage with the Fund. The Ministry of Information announced this in a statement on Friday July 1. Credit: 3news.com

Former President John Dramani Mahama has said the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia must be removed as head of the Economic Management Team (EMT) because he has failed. Mr Mahama also said that the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has supervised disastrous collapse of the economy therefore cannot and should not be part of the team of negotiators for the engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a statement welcoming the decision by the Akufo-Ado administration to head to the IMF, Mr Mahama said on Saturday July 2 that “The Finance Minister who has supervised the disastrous collapse of the economy cannot and should not be part of the team of negotiators. He has lost credibility and the trust and confidence of stakeholders in our economy" President Akufo-Addo must take a bold decision to replace his finance minister immediately with a more assured and competent person who is willing and able to work tirelessly to turn our almost hopeless situation around. ‘In addition, given his obvious failures, the Vice President must be relieved of his responsibility as Chair of the Economic Management Team to enable the President to reconstitute the team. We must draw useful lessons from this episode and avoid cheap politicking with the economy; that can only yield the disastrous outcomes that have brought us here,” Mr Mahama said in a Facebook post on Saturday July 2. President Akufo-Addo gave the instruction to Mr Ofori-Atta to commence the engagements with the IMF on Friday July 1 following a telephone conversation between the President and the IMF Managing Director, Miss Kristalina Georgieva, conveying Ghana’s decision to engage with the Fund. The Ministry of Information announced this in a statement on Friday July 1. A Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr John Kumah said an IMF programme would help the country to come out from the economic challenges faster. He said the government hopes that the programme will benefit the country. “Our objective as government is to restore confidence in the economy and rebound it from the difficulty, from the challenges, not only in Ghana but almost all economies around the world. “We believe that where we stand now, an IMF intervention will help us come out quicker than we could. We hope that it will benefit the country,” he told TV3’s Komla Adom on the mid day news on Friday July 1. Story by: Laud Nartey