The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (MP), Benito Owusu-Bio has given the full assurance that the temporal structures being constructed for the residents of Appiatse will be completed by May 1, 2022. He is of a firm believe that the structures will be ready for use by the people on the stated date. Speaking after a tour of the site on Thursday, April 21, 2022, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio who doubles as the Chairman of the Appiatse Reconstruction Team disclosed that all 32 structures is readied for use. He said the Ministry and the committee will continue to accelerate works on the structures and other important logistics to help the affected persons deal with the incident. Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio who is also the Chairman of the Appiatse Reconstruction Committee told the Journalists that the committee has directed the contractors working on the structures to upscale the labour force in order to meet the May 1 deadline. “Almost 30 of the buildings have been roofed and we have two more to make it 32. The doors have been fixed and windows and other things are being worked. We’ve asked the contractors to improve their labour force so that we’ll be able to finish in May which is our target”, he said. Hon. Owusu-Bio also interacted with the residents, reiterating the desire of government to implement necessary measures to restore normalcy to the area. He relayed the continued sympathy of government to them and urged them to exercise patience as the committee work around the clock to quickly fix the issues. He also appealed to the community members to support persons working on the site and channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters. Nana Atta Kojo Brembi II, the Divisional Chief of Beppoh said the community was full of praise for the Deputy Minister, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio and the government for their dedicated service to the community since the unfortunate incident occurred. He noted that work done by the Reconstruction Committee has been impressive so far and urged them to do more to improve the Livelihoods of residents. Below are some pictures: Story by: Fafa Nyame

Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Erik ten Hag as Men’s First Team Manager, subject to work visa requirements, from the end of this season until June 2025, with the option to extend for a further year. John Murtough, Football Director, said: “During the past four years at Ajax, Erik has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe, renowned for his team’s attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth. “In our conversations with Erik leading up to this appointment, we were deeply impressed with his long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at, and his drive and determination to achieve that. “We wish Erik the best of luck as he focuses on achieving a successful end to the season at Ajax and look forward to welcoming him to Manchester United this summer.” Erik ten Hag said: “It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead. I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve. “It will be difficult to leave Ajax after these incredible years, and I can assure our fans of my complete commitment and focus on bringing this season to a successful conclusion before I move to Manchester United Credit: Manchester United

Businessman Daniel Nii McKorley (MacDan) has said persons who are against the contact awarded to one of his companies, Electrochem Ghana Limited, to mine salt at Ada in the Greater Accra region, do not love Ghana. He said the project is offering jobs to over 1000 youth of the area to enable them keep body and soul together therefore no attempt should be made to destroy the project. Elecrtochem secure a 15-year lease for salt mining as part of efforts to grow the economy. In a TV3 documentary titled Salt City compiled by Joseph Armstrong and aired on Wednesday April 20, Dr Mc Korley said “This contract has nothing to do with politics, it is all about development. Right now, as we speak over 200 youth are working in this concession, they will make money at the end of the day , they will be off the streets. “Anybody who is really against this project or who wants to give bad publicity about this project, I don’t think the person loves Ghana. “Which project will you get like this, which is going to employ 1000 youths in this community and you give it bad publicity? Then you don’t love Ghana. “Every time we are crying that we need jobs, job had arrived and because of somebody’s selfish interest interest, you will give bad publicity about this project. Then what about me the investor who is about pumping 106million dollars in the first phase of this project?” Story by: Laud Nartey

Eddie Nketiah boosted Arsenal’s bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League as the striker’s double inspired a dramatic 4-2 win against Chelsea on Wednesday. Nketiah was released by Chelsea as a 16-year-old in 2015 and he exacted a measure of revenge with his first league goals this season. The 22-year-old put Arsenal ahead early on at Stamford Bridge before Timo Werner equalised. Mikel Arteta’s side regained the lead trough Emile Smith Rowe, only for Cesar Azpilicueta to draw Chelsea level again. Nketiah settled a pulsating London derby when he punished shambolic Chelsea defending in the second half and Bukayo Saka bagged the fourth with a stoppage-time penalty. After losing their last three games, Nketiah’s crucial contribution lifted Arsenal back into the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish. The Gunners are in fifth place, behind fourth-placed Tottenham on goal difference with both teams having six games to play. Arsenal’s hopes of returning to the Champions League for the first time since 2017 face another vital test against sixth-placed Manchester United on Saturday. FA Cup finalists Chelsea remain in third place, but they are now only five points ahead of Arsenal and cannot take a top four place for granted. Stamford Bridge was at slightly less than full capacity as ticket restrictions, triggered by the British government sanctions on Roman Abramovich, took hold for the first time. Those who were allowed in were treated to a thrilling first half, with Romelu Lukaku’s travails continuing as the misfiring Chelsea striker scuffed a good chance wide in the early stages. With Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger absent, Chelsea’s defending was extremely unconvincing and Arsenal took the lead in the 13th minute. – Shambolic Chelsea -Andreas Christensen made a hash of his back-pass and, with Malang Sarr caught out of position, Nketiah was able to sprint clear and plant a composed finish past Edouard Mendy from the edge of the area. Werner dragged Chelsea level just four minutes later when Ruben Loftus-Cheek intercepted Nketiah’s pass and teed up the German, whose 20-yard shot deflected off Granit Xhaka and looped beyond Aaron Ramsdale. Chelsea were hit with a sucker punch in the 27th minute as Xhaka and Saka led an incisive counter from a Blues corner, with Martin Odegaard teeing up Smith Rowe for a low strike past Mendy. But Arsenal’s defence was just as creaky as Chelsea’s and the visitors conceded again five minutes later. Ben White’s pleas for a foul by Werner were ignored and Mason Mount whipped over a superb cross for Azpilicueta to slot home from close range. Smith Rowe was inches away from restoring Arsenal’s lead as he wriggled past three defenders and shot just wide. Tuchel sent on Silva for Christensen at half-time, but the Brazilian’s introduction did nothing to cure Chelsea’s shambolic defensive display. In the 57th minute, Silva’s tackle diverted the ball towards Sarr and N’Golo Kante, but neither reacted quickly enough to clear before Nketiah poked his shot past Mendy. Lukaku has not scored in the Premier League since December against Brighton, with his only goals since then coming against less than formidable opposition in Chesterfield, Al Hilal, Palmeiras, Luton and Middlesbrough. Once again, Chelsea’s £97 million club record signing was largely anonymous before being replaced by Kai Havertz. Marcos Alonso almost snatched an equaliser when Ramsdale spilled Reece James’ cross, but the defender’s goalbound shot was blocked. Saka delivered the final blow, calmly converting a penalty after Azpilicueta hauled down the Arsenal forward. It was the 11th goal conceded by Chelsea in their last three home games and Azpilicueta’s frustration boiled over in an angry exchange with a fan after the final whistle. Source: AFP

Ben Ephson, Pollster and Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, has indicated that, it will be easier for the opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, to win the 2024 elections if the governing NPP elect Alan Kyerematen as their flagbearer. According to him, if Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia wins the flagbearship race, it will be difficult for the NDC to win the 2024 elections. He indicated that, what will boost Bawumia's chances is that he will only need a Christian as his running mate, something that the NPP can use to break the eight. He noted that the NDC will wish that Alan Kyerematen wins the NPP internal race so that they [the NDC] can go ahead to win the national elections. Ephson explained on Asempa FM on Tuesday, April 19, "if Dr. Bawumia wins the flagbearership race, his running mate must come from the Ashanti region but if Alan wins, he has to pick a northerner who is a Muslim. "Mahama was lucky to pick a Christian as a running mate in 2020...it is no secret that the NDC would wish that Alan wins, it will be easier for them than Bawumia." The Economist Intelligence Unit (ElU) has predicted that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will win the 2024 general elections, but the party needs to revitalise its leadership to increase its prospects. In a recent report, the EIU said the NDC has a higher prospect of winning the 2024 elections. “The next parliamentary and presidential elections are due in 2024. Under constitutionally mandated term limits, the incumbent President Akufo-Addo, cannot run for a third term. “The former president, John Mahama, is reportedly considering running again, but we expect the opposition NDC to try to revitalise its prospects with a fresh candidate. “Our [EIU] baseline forecast is that ongoing public dissatisfaction with the slow pace of improvements in governance—such as infrastructure development, job creation and easing of corruption—will trigger anti-incumbency factors and push the electorate to seek a change. “The NDC, therefore, stands a reasonable chance of winning the 2024 elections.” John Dramani Mahama led the NDC and won the 2012 elections but lost two subsequent elections in 2016 and 2020 to the New Patriotic Party's Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. According to EIU's five-year forecast for Ghana released on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, the opposition party has a higher probability to be victorious in the next general elections. The Economist Intelligence Unit is the research and analysis division of the Economist Group, providing forecasting and advisory services through research and analysis, such as monthly country reports, five-year country economic forecasts, country risk service reports, and industry reports. Source: www.ghanaweb.com

One of the 6000 students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) who have been deferred for delayed payment of their fees, has said he invested his into a business. He hoped to make profit from the investment then later pay the fees. He said he did not know that the management of the university will act swiftly in the manner they did otherwise, he would not have invested the fees into the business. He pleaded with the management to give him more time to recoup from the investment because he cannot go back to his parents for the fees. “I used the money to do one or two things but I knew I will get profit from it and I will put it back. But I didn’t expect this to be that quick. It is my own fault, I won’t tell my parents,” the student told TV3’s Ibrahim Abubakar in interview. The management of the KNUST on Wednesday announced that 6000 students have been deferred for non-payment of their fees. Public Relations Officer at the KNUST, Dr Norris Bekoe told TV3’s Ibrahim that “over the years we have had challenges of students completing University and then going away with our fees partly because we had not applied the fee policy. So this time around the academic board has decided to apply the fee policy.” Story by: Laud Nartey

Russia says Ghana cannot blame it for its current economic challenges in spite of the global meltdown due to the Vladimir Putin-led attack on Ukraine. Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said that the war ensuing between Russia and Ukraine has a direct effect on Ghana’s economy and all other sectors. Speaking on the state of the economy at the national TESCON conference in Kasoa on Thursday (7 April), Dr Bawumia said the increase in commodity prices has been exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to him, countries and economies throughout the world are experiencing severe challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and the more recent Russia-Ukraine war. Adding that “the pandemic, which started in early 2020, resulted in the greatest economic depression in the world since the 1930s with most countries recording negative GDP growth.” “The truth is different” However, the Russian Embassy in Ghana in a series of tweets on Tuesday (19 April) said the West African nation is responsible for its own economic problems. “The Embassy took notice of the increased number of news articles somehow or other accusing Russia of all negative trends in agricultural markets, gloomy prospects in terms of access of food and huge losses of farmers,” the embassy tweeted. “However, the truth is different.” “The Embassy wishes to shed some light on the roots and drivers of this crisis and provide a comprehensive and objective analysis without emotions and political prejudice. Food prices started rising in mid-2020 and reached an all-time high in February 2022. “This is a real market shock caused by high demand and rising prices on food, raw materials and transportation services, including freight in the post-COVID recovery period,” it added. Below is the full tweet: Source: eanews24.com

The Ghana FA’s Match Review Panel has suspended referee Kenny Padi for the rest of the season after the panel ruled that his decision to award a penalty to Asante Kotoko against Hearts of Oak in their Match Week 24 clash at the Baba Yara Stadium was erroneous. In the said match, referee Padi pointed to the spot after he determined that Hearts of Oak’s Nurudeen Aziz had fouled Kotoko’s Fabio Gama in the penalty area. The resulting spot kick was put away by Franck Mbella and taht was how the match was settled. Hearts of Oak officially filed a protest to the Ghana FA to state their displeasure at the penalty decision. On Thursday, the Ghana FA’s Match Review Panel went over the encounter again and decided that referee Padi had committed an error in his judgement and the outcome of the match was changed by that decision and the video evidence available to the panel showed that the decision was a wrong one. In its ruling, the panel said:“If there was pushing as claimed by the referee, we did not see any movement of the arm from the back to forward. Meaning no HAND MOVEMENT and no pulling movement from front to back. The attacker was already throwing himself down in a completely strange way. If there was pulling or pushing as claimed by the referee, the attacker should have fallen on the face and not with his back as seen in the video. The video also showed quite a number of inconsistencies in his decisions during his officiating of the match especially after the penalty incident. The referee lost concentration. The Panel concluded that, per the video watched, and the referee’s defense is in contrast. Per the video watched the Panel holds the view that the referee erred in awarding the penalty. This error changed the outcome of the match. Therefore, the Referee Joseph Kenny Padi is suspended for the rest of the season. This includes all GFA organized matches. Story by: Nathan Quao

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Students' Parliament House has described the deferment of indebted students by the Leadership of the University as harsh and inconsiderate. According to the Students' Parliament House, enforcing the aforementioned policy during this academic year is not feasible. In a statement sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, it said "On the subject of indebted students being deferred, we would like to emphasize unequivocally that the decision to defer all defaulting students under the Student Credit and Debt Management Policy is, to say the least, harsh and inconsiderate, particularly at this time. We believe that enforcing the aforementioned policy during this academic year is not feasible. This academic year, a policy that was only announced and enacted after most students had already made preparations for the academic year and reported to campus will be ill timed to enforce" "This academic year, a policy that was only announced and enacted after most students had already made preparations for the academic year and reported to campus will be ill timed to enforce. Furthermore, the University Relations Office and various forms of student communication did a poor job of informing students about the policy's requirements. Except for an impromptu flier with a little portion of the policy captured on it, no extensive measures were taken to address Students on this issue" The statement further mentioned that it also suspects that some students might have pocketed their money and spent or gambled with them. "This is the moment to put those details to good use, and the dishonesty of those irresponsible students will be exposed. A broad judgmental belief without a quantifiable gauge, on the other hand, would not be a step in the right direction" Below is a copy of the release: Deferment Of Indebted Students; A Call On Management And A Reminder To Government. The KNUST Students' Parliament House has been alerted of deferment notices that have been served to some students. The action was done, according to our knowledge, in compliance with the Student Credit and Debt Management Policy, which was implemented at the start of the academic year. As a house, we'd like to convey our heartfelt gratitude to the university's leadership for their tremendous work in strategizing and steering our institution toward success. We would like to express our gratitude to the University administration for implementing such a thorough policy to guide all students in the payment and settlement of all financial obligations owed to the University; the Student Credit and Debt Management Policy. On the subject of indebted students being deferred, we would like to emphasize unequivocally that the decision to defer all defaulting students under the Student Credit and Debt Management Policy is, to say the least, harsh and inconsiderate, particularly at this time. We believe that enforcing the aforementioned policy during this academic year is not feasible. This academic year, a policy that was only announced and enacted after most students had already made preparations for the academic year and reported to campus will be ill timed to enforce. Furthermore, the University Relations Office and various forms of student communication did a poor job of informing students about the policy's requirements. Except for an impromptu flier with a little portion of the policy captured on it, no extensive measures were taken to address Students on this issue. We also suspect that some students might have pocketed their money and spent or gambled with them, yet the University took the information of each student's guardian or parents during the application procedure. This is the moment to put those details to good use, and the dishonesty of those irresponsible students will be exposed. A broad judgmental belief without a quantifiable gauge, on the other hand, would not be a step in the right direction. We can't address this problem without taking into account the disruptions to the academic schedule caused by the UTAG strike, which has caused students to stay and spend longer than they intended before returning to campus. We must keep in mind that some students are self-parenting and may be obliged to spend in to their tuition  fees as a result of the extended academic calendar. Furthermore we ask that, what happens to the deferred Students ahead of the end of semester examinations ? Are they going to write? What happens to the part payments  students have made already, is the University refunding all back to the students? What happens to the exorbitant hostels fees Students paid? Is the University going to negotiate a balance refund from all landlords and hostel managers? Dear management, we know some few bad nuts among us are the reason we are where we are now, but there are more ways to get same results either than wholesale Deferment of students. We state unequivocally that SRC has failed students in this matter on its core mandate of representation. The SRC is not expected to at a time like this, be shortlisting names and making part payments for just a select few when it is evidently clear the SRC is not in a position to make any significant payment for even the shortlisted applicants. Two weeks after the introduction of the SRC Financial Aid, the process to settle the few selected persons has not yet been finalized. An SRC that has not yet delivered the KBN and the SRC bursary halfway through the academic semester whose processes were initiated last academic year is not one to be trusted to deliver swiftly on a financial aid bound by deadlines. All aside, in moments like this the SRC is not supposed to be a toothless bull dog but a strong arm of Student Interest advocacy. The SRC is supposed to use the over 80,000 Students population as a negotiation tool and not shortlisting and interviewing Students on criteria best known to them. How do you measure genuinety in this critical moment? What happens to the Students who couldn’t make the shortlists? The SRC  in this particular moment is operating below the belt. This is the time for our government to walk the talk, for our government to fulfill its promise, for our government to remember the pledge it made to we Ghanaian students. ‘NO GHANAIAN STUDENT WILL REQUIRE A GUARANTOR TO ACCESS THE STUDENTS LOANS TRUST FUND’ This is the time.. This is the right moment for our leaders to come to the aid of the six thousand 6,000 future leaders who are financially deprived today. If indeed Ghana Card is the only requirement as the Policy provided, then we believe majority of these students will be saved through that promise. This is the time to make the STUDENTS LOANS TRUST FUND LOCAL SECRETARIAT ON CAMPUS A FUNCTIONING ONE. In this critical times, we as a house recommend that; 1.  Management should consider using this academic year to educate students on the new policy so it can take full effect the next academic year. This is our request to our listening mother (VC). 2.  we wish to remind government on its own pledge that was made to the Ghanaian students. 3.  We urge the SRC to be focus on its core mandate of advocacy and not their recent  media gimmicks. 4.  This is the time we plead with other student support schemes such as GNPC Scholarship Foundation, Cocobod scholarship, GETFund among others. The Management we know have played a number of motherly when it comes to issues of students welfare. At a time like this, all we seek for is an extension of the time to next academic year. This they have done before, and we know as listening leaders as they have always be, they will consider this too. It is our hope that swift action be taken to reverse this action within the shortest possible time to give students the concentration and all the attention they need to sit for the end of semester examination. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Supporters Union of Kumasi-based, King Faisal FC have suspended their Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sani Mohammed over what it calls soliciting funds with his position. According to the Supporters Union, the PRO also used his position to utter 'unproductive' words against city rivals, Asante Kotoko. In a statement sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, the statement said "The management of King Faisal F.C together with the supporters Union wish to suspend you on the following grounds. The Executives of the supporters union have gathered information that you have been using the club's name in collecting moneys from people without the notice of the management and the supporters union" "In spite of numerous caution by the Vice President of the club, Alhaji Katie Mohammed and some individuals from the management and the supporters union to bar you from using unproductive words on radio against Kumasi Asante Kotoko proved futile. You were made to understand that what bind us is great than what separates us in terms of player transfer and others, but you were following your whimsical thought" The statement further mentioned that Mohammed Osman Faisal is going to act as the new PRO of the club until things are settled amicably. The suspension letter was signed by all six executives. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Peewood and Tema Bonded Terminal Limited as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility have contributed towards the reconstruction of the Eco-friendly Appiatse Community. The presentation of the 1,700 bags of cement in a cheque equivalent of 100,000 Ghana Cedis was made by Ms.Yasmine Adu Arthur at a brief event on Wednesday, 20th April, 2022 in Accra. Ms. Adu Arthur speaking on behalf of the CEO, Mr. Adu Arthur explained that "as a company that transport, handle and store dangerous goods, we recognise the importance and expertise required in safely transporting things one point to other and so hearing the explosion that took place saddened us and moved us to make this donation". She further disclosed their company's partnership with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in providing real time data of all classes of dangerous goods delivered so that consignments can be tracked and monitored by EPA once they depart. She also said to provide saftey on the roads, the company provides short saftey training sessions to external drivers that enter the terminal to transport specialised goods through the corridors of the country. She hoped that their humble contribution to the Appiatse Support Fund will help Government achieve its goal of rebuilding Appiatse into a Green City for the benefit of its indigenes who have suffered gravely. The Chairman of the Appiatse Support Fund Committee, Rev. Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee on her part, expressed her appreciation, noting that their contribution will help the community immensely. She stressed that though the Support Fund Committee is not part of the Reconstruction and  implementation team, they work very closely with them and monitor all progress made. "They are busily rehabilitating some uncompleted buildings for temporary shelter because the rains will not allow the victims to be kept in tents", she added. Dr. Joyce Aryee further stated that the roads for the whole reconstruction project will commence by the end of April to prevent the heavy down pour from delaying progress. She applauded them saying "the cement donated is very timely and will be very useful in the ongoing reconstruction". Below are some pictures: Story by: Nadia Aidoo

Renowned American rapper, William Leonard Roberts II who is widely known in showbiz as Rick Ross has hailed two of Ghana’s young talented musicians, Kwesi Arthur and Black Sherif. The award-winning superstar eulogized these talented musicians in a recent video he shared on social media. In the video, he gave a shoutout to several African musicians and as he mentioned the names, he named Black Sherif and Kwesi Arthur and this really shows that he really follows them and probably likes their music. This video comes at a time when Black Sherif is topping several charts with his latest single, Kwaku The Traveller’. Kwesi Arthur is also set to drop his new album dubbed, Son of Jacob this month. This exposure from Rick Ross will propel these young talents to another height considering the influence of Rick Ross in music. Watch the video below: Source: www.ghgossip.com