Thinknewsonline.com can confirm that about seventeen (17) Ghanaian students have arrived home safely from Ukraine. The seventeen were met on arrival by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration as well as the Deputy Minister for Information. Addressing Journalists, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong said "You have had to halt your studies and other activities in order to escape the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Some of your colleagues are yet to be evacuated from Ukraine. Let me assure you that the Government of Ghana will continue to work to ensure their safety and return to Ghana. Government will also continue to work with its International Partners to ensure that and urge for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine for a peaceful and quick resolution of this conflict" He also commended the various student leaders for cooperating with Government to ensure a smooth and successful evacuation exercise. "You are the first batch of Ghanaians to have arrived from Ukraine. As at 28th February 2022, 527 Ghanaians had crossed the Ukrainian border into neighbouring countries of Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia. In the coming days, we are expecting more of your colleagues to be evacuated from these countries. We are working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Organization and we are confident that this will enhance the success of the evacuation exercise" It is emerging that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional integration will be meeting parents and guardians of affected students later today to discuss issues concerning the evacuation and return of their loved ones. "I wish to reiterate that Government has put in place the necessary package to facilitate the transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical support, etc to ease any burden on our compatriots who are still waiting to be evacuated and we urge all of them to take advantage of this exercise to come home" Some of the students who spoke to Thinknewsonline.com described the conflict as a horrible adding that they are grateful to God for being alive. They pleaded with Government to ensure the remaining Ghanaians stranded in Ukraine are brought home safely. Below are some videos: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Police in Accra has arrested suspect, Godfred Kataso on suspicion of faking a robbery incident which he claimed to have occurred on February 11, 2022, around the National Theatre. Police reports indicate that on February 11, 2022, suspect, Godfred Kataso filed a robbery report at the Accra Central Police Station that two young men robbed him at gunpoint and made away with an amount of Sixty-Nine Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH₵ 69,000.00) belonging to his boss which he was on the way to deposit at the bank. Police investigation into the report established that the alleged robbery was a hoax. During interrogation, the suspect confirmed feigning the robbery as he stole the money himself to enable him to travel abroad. Meanwhile, the money has been retrieved for evidential purposes and he will be put before court. Story by: News Desk Report

The truth is, Sachet water is the main source of drinking water in Ghana, the latest census report has found. The census also revealed that sachet water was used by 51.5 percent of families in urban areas, while borehole/tube well water was utilized by 33.6 percent of households in rural regions. The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, said most Ghanaians choose to consume sachet or bottled water as a personal choice. She stated that GWCL’s pipe-borne water was one of the finest sources of drinking water, with pH values greater than the WHO norm of 6.5–8.5. She further claimed that 90% of sachet and bottled water came from the GWCL. “I said in a meeting that we don’t sell sachet water in Nigeria, but it’s true. It is not available in Nigerian villages and hamlets,” Mrs. Dapaah remarked. In fact, Ghana Water provides some of the greatest drinking water in the world, with pH values sometimes exceeding WHO requirements. So, our supply is okay, but we’ve all gotten into the bottled and sachet water stuff. The concept of sachet water dominating drinking water is a choice in Nigeria. No one should be compelled to drink tap water, it is a personal choice, and 90% of the water used for this package comes from Ghana Water Company Limited, others utilize springs and wells, but we as a country provide one of the greatest sources via Ghana Water. Credit: GHBase

The Forestry Commission has on Monday, 28th February, 2022 presented  100,000 Ghana Cedis cheque and 400,000 cedis worth of wood products as their contribution towards the reconstruction of Appiatse community. Speaking during the donation, the CEO of the Commission Mr. John Allotey said as an agency under the Ministry it is only right that they support the efforts of their mother Ministry on such a worthy endeavour. "At the Forestry Commission we want to follow the steps taken by the President and the leadership of the Ministry. We belong to this Ministry and so if the Ministry is taking a lead role in any activity, we need to also participate. As they say Charity begins at home". He disclosed that the Commission has already trucked and transported the 400,000 Ghana cedis worth of wood products to Appiatse which has elated and given the people hope that their green, sustainable and model community will soon begin. Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Lands and Forestry who joined the donation in his capacity as the Chairman of the Appiatse Reconstruction Committee expressed his appreciation on behalf of the committee for the wood products donated saying that the wood has been donated at an opptune time. "I would like to thank the Forestry Commission for this kind gesture. I would say it's come at the right time expecially the wood as we urgently need a lot of wood to roof the temporary structures secured from FGR mining company to house the people of Appiatse for the time being". He also commended the Forestry Commission for always supporting the Ministry on it's various projects urging them to keep up the good work. The Chairperson of Appiatse Support Fund, Rev. Dr. Joyce Roselind Aryee also added a word of appreciation to the Forestry Commission for the generous donation made to support Appiatse. She stated that the President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has tasked the Committee through the Sector Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor to gather enough funds for this project so until there is more than enough she will keep calling for more from Ghanaians. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghana Post Company Limited as part of their donation towards the Appiatse Support Fund has made available 350 major networked branches, to accept relief items on behalf of the fund. The gesture follows an earlier request by the Appiatse Support Fund Committee to the Company for assistance to aid the reconstruction of the Appiatse township. Additionally, the Ghana Post has committed to make trucks available to convey and deliver items from Accra-Appiatse and from Kumasi - Appiatse as and when requested by the fund. The Ag. Managing Director of Ghana Post, Mr. Bice Osei Kuffour made the donation through a formal letter to the Chairperson of the Appiatse Support fund, Rev. Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee on Thursday 24th February, 2022. The State-owned courier company also used the opportunity to thank the Chairperson and members of Appiatse Support Fund Committee for their effort in soliciting help for the victims and for the reconstruction of Appiatse community. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has confirmed that Ghana is in debt distress, a deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo, has alleged. According to him, the development comes after the Fund, in its latest Monetary and Capital Monitor report, affirmed Ghana has attained ‘the unenviable economic status of a debt-distressed economy.’ In a write-up sighted by GhanaWeb, Isaac Adongo said the country’s economy which has been on edge for about three years now, without any meaningful programs to sustain it is moving towards much tougher times. “The latest report placed Ghana as the only country in West Africa to be a debt-distressed economy. It is also one of four countries in Africa, following in the footsteps of Tunisia, Zambia and Ethiopia in the continent,” Isaac Adongo opined. “In the global perspective, Ghana is now peers with Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Al-Salvador and Surinam. Such is the results of the unprecedented level of mismanagement of the economy and the disastrous showing of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in managing Ghana after years of unabated public lectures in self-adulation,” the lawmaker wrote. In addition to this, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee said government is also struggling to find liquidity in order to borrow funds to either switch or redeem its maturing bonds. “Apart from the categorization being evidenced by the widening yield on the country’s eurobonds, the debt-distressed status for Ghana has been very pronounced in the domestic bond markets as the government has been struggling to find liquidity in to borrow to switch or redeem maturing bonds,” portions of his write read. Read Isaac Adongo’s full write up below: Ghana's worsening debt crisis and self-inflicted economic meltdown Ghana's worsening debt crisis and self-inflicted economic meltdown has assumed embarrassing international rave reviews. While at it, the man once wrongly touted as ‘economic whizkid,’ Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, is now at his wits’ end. He is actively avoiding public commentary on the economy and gradually replacing his Constitutionally defined role of Head of the Economic Management Team with that of Head of ICT in a government gasping for breadth. But, for how long can Bawumia last? Ghana is now a debt-distress country, says the International Monetary Fund (IMF)! On February 14 this year, the eagle eyes of the IMF fished out Ghana as having attained the unenviable economic status of a debt-distressed economy in its latest Monetary and Capital Markets Monitor report. After almost three years sitting on the edge as a country at a high-risk of debt distress without any meaningful programs to turnaround the economy, Ghana slipped into the inevitable – debt-distress. The latest report placed Ghana as the only country in West Africa to be a debt-distressed economy. It is also one of four countries in Africa, following in the footsteps of Tunisia, Zambia and Ethiopia in the continent. In the global perspective, Ghana is now peers with Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Al-Salvador and Surinam. Such is the results of the unprecedented level of mismanagement of the economy and the disastrous showing of Dr Bawumia in managing Ghana after years of unabated public lectures in self-adulation. Classifications To help put things into proper perspective, the IMF Monetary and Capital Markets Monitor classifies countries’ risk of debt-distress in three categories: Those with Low Risk are considered as the best, followed by High Risks and Distressed as the worse and the worst respectively. It is instructive to note that Ghana has been in the High Risk category for the past three years but has now "dropped down" into the red zone, which is the very last zone. It cannot be worse than this. This category into which Ghana is placed is consistent with the Cas1 rating that Moody's Investor Services assigned to the country earlier this month. Unfortunately, it drew an awkward petition for 'remarking' and a diplomatic request for a review by the Africa Union (AU) at the instance of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. With the IMF also classifying the economy as in debt distress, one wonder who next the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government will petition with a plea for the IMF to review its categorization of the country. Widening yields Apart from the categorization being evidenced by the widening yield on the country’s eurobonds, the debt-distressed status for Ghana has been very pronounced in the domestic bond markets as the government has been struggling to find liquidity in to borrow to switch or redeem maturing bonds. Last Thursday, February 17, Government embarked on the now too familiar act of restructuring of maturing Two-year treasury bonds totalling about GHS1.08 billion. By this, the Government of Ghana did not only coerce holders of these maturing Two-Year Treasury Bonds to restructure or rollover the bonds, it also compelled investors to accept a coupon of 19.75% at a time the bid on similar bonds, including the Government's 2024 and 2025 bonds were trading at a discount of GHS80 per bond with yields of 21%. Essentially, what this action means is that it is risky to do business with this government. From the analysis, these investors lost about GHS20 per bond the next day of trading if they sold out to get liquidity or marked these bonds to their values in the market as part of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) requirements of valuation of Financial Assets. In total, these investors or bondholders took a hit or hair cut of about GHS200 million, thanks to the incompetence and mismanagement of the Nana Addo-Bawumia Government. No wonder the cedi is now shedding off its value in bouts, resulting in Bloomberg classifying it among the worst performing currencies in the world. The cedi complaints Interestingly, I have heard Nana Addo say he is upset and anxious about the depreciation of the cedi and further disclosed that efforts were underway to address the "recent depreciations". President Akufo-Addo, don't address only the "recent depreciations". Please address the "past depreciations" too. By the way, who is President Akufo-Addo complaining to? He should stop being a weakling. Your Economic Management Team-lead, Dr Bawumia has been a monumental disaster but you are not bold enough to mention this because of your upcoming internal presidential contest. Unfortunately, Mr President, the cedi has no eyes to read your book of lamentations. There can be no substitute to sound economic management by competent hands to get the cedi to hold its own against the major foreign currencies. Bank of Ghana’s artificial rate When you have a Central Bank that looks on sheepishly as all countries are hiking interest rates to 'repatriate' their 'tourists funds' that strayed into countries such as Ghana in search of high returns, what do you expect? How can Bank of Ghana that keeps a political and artificial policy rate at 14.5% expect to anchor inflationary expectations after such high levels of fiscal dominance, resulting from a fiscal expansion from GHS55 billion in 2019 to GHS145 billion in 2022 with significant upside risks to inflation? Clearly, the challenges yielding directly from this unsustainable debt service level in the budget is compromising monetary policy decisions. Sadly, the central bank optimally reviews interest rates to mop up excess liquidity, using a collapsed financial sector that is suffering from lack of confidence of citizens who lost their life-savings to the predatory regulatory collapse of financial institutions of perceived political enemies. Somebody closed to President Akufo-Addo should tell him that exchange rates do not respond to Presidential tantrums, anxieties and empty talks; they respond to forex liquidity in the market. After several years of resorting to annual debt-induced injection of $3billion of forex from Eurobonds, how were you expecting the economy to deal with headwinds such as lack of access to the capital markets? With the level of a potentially unreasonable arbitrage caused by the unrealistic policy rate and treasury bill rate, Ghana's financing challenges, forex and cedi liquidity as well as the high level of funds outside of the financial system will only make a terrible situation atrociously dreadful as credit, exchange rate depreciation and inflation spiral. Instead of calling on the West to lower their heads in shame for not giving you too much of their taxpayers' funds to finance your corruption-stricken Government, you must bow your head in shame for being the only Government in West Africa whose window-dressed, collapsed economy has been badly exposed by Covid-19 and is now crumbling on daily basis to all time-tested metrics. Source: Ghanaweb.com

The Black Satellites of Ghana made history in 2009 by beating Brazil to become the first-ever African country to win the U-20 FIFA World Cup in Egypt. Narrating how the historic victory was achieved, Joseph Langabel, the team’s chief drummer and motivator back revealed that he and another member named, Zacoco had to undertake spiritual directions on behalf of the team. According to Langabel, the direction was to gift 7 mentally-challenged people(6 men, 1 woman) food and money termed as 'Salakah' before the game. “To find these mad people, Zacoco and I will have to search the entire city of Cairo. We set off on our trek and gave money and bread to every man we encountered. We were left with one female insane person after a long search. We looked and looked and looked,” he said in an audio aired on Peace FM. “So we gave the woman money and bread. Zacoco knows Arabic so he always speaks to them in Arabic before we give them the bread and money and then we were set.” He added that Jordan Anagblah, who was a management committee member of the Satellite instructed them to perform another sacrifice that he believed won the trophy for Ghana. “When we got back to the hostel then we call Jordan and he asked us if we were set and we said yes and he said there is another sacrifice we need to make but for that, I won’t say it here. We did so many things I can’t say here. So we did all that and the man that’s Jordan Anagblah’s father who was blind told us that we will take the trophy.” “He said we will win the match but it will be difficult for us and he added that there will be two red cards in the match. Everything happened and by the grace of God we took the cup so when Aziz says there is something in football that’s true,” Langabel narrates. During the match, Black Satellite went down by one man in the first half after Daniel Addo got sent off on the 37th minute. Sellas Tetteh's men fought through to push the game all the way to penalties shootouts after a match 120 minutes saw no goal. Ghana won the shootout 4-3 with former Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agymang Badu scoring the winning penalty. Source: Ghanaweb.com

Dredge Masters Ghana Limited, a subsidary of the Jospong Group of Companies donated items worth thousands of Ghana Cedis to the general Children's ward, Emergency ward and the Daycare center of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for the upkeep of children at the centres. Speaking at a short ceremony, Deputy Managing Director of Dredge Masters, Samuel Borquaye said it was important for the company to spend the day of love with the children at the hospital since these children have become children of Dredge Masters. “On this day of love, Dredge Masters again donated toiletries, chocolates and school stationaries to the children admitted at the children’s ward of the Hospital” he said. The gesture, set in commemoration of Valentine's Day, forms part of the company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). On the 25th of August, 2021, Dredge Masters handed over a fully renovated children's ward which was done at the cost of GH¢1,823,200.41 for the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Speaking on behalf of the hospital, Principal Nursing Officer at the hospital, Agnes Ofosu Boateng thanked the company and assured them that their donation will leave an indelible mark in the hearts of the children. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has petitioned the Commonwealth Secretariat in the United Kingdom (UK) against what they believe is the bad governance Ghanaians are experiencing at the moment and also the criminal ‘persecutions’ of its members by the Akufo-Addo administration. Addressing the media in Accra on Monday, February 28, General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia said there have been acts of human rights violations and harassment against its leaders and supporters by the government. This, he said, threatens the peace and security of the country, hence their petition. The chief scribe of the NDC mentioned the case against former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Dr. Stephen Opuni as a case of political witch-hunting. He added that the trials of the party’s National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson are all criminal persecutions. He said the action of the government threatens the country’s political stability and also erodes democratic values. Therefore, the NDC wants the Commonwealth to monitor the situation and act on it. “If you are a member of Commonwealth and you deviate from those practices of good governance there are structures we can trigger to draw your attention to those deficits in your democratic practice. In the worst-case scenario, you could be suspended from the Commonwealth as we saw Zimbabwe and other countries, at one time or the other having been sanctioned by the suspension. “We have seen that some practices of bad governance in Ghana of late seem to contradict the core beliefs of the Commonwealth and so we have written to the Secretary-General of Commonwealth drawing her attention to those lapses. So our government can be called to order and things must be done in the country.” Story by: Evelyn Tengmaa

The GHACEM Cement and Sandvik Mining and Construction Companies have contributed their quota to the rebuilding and rehabilitation of Appiatse on Monday, 28th February, 2022 with their respective donations. Ghacem during their turn presented a letter for 1,700 bags of cement which amounts to 85,000 Ghana Cedis as their donation to support the fund. Mr. Benny Fiifi Ashun, the Marketing and Public Relations Manager who made the presentation on behalf of the company said "Ghacem Foundation has been in the business of supporting the construction of schools and hospitals with bags of cement all over the country and so it is not out of place to donate two trucks of cement for rebuilding of the Appiatse community which will definitely have schools and hospitals. Per our line of duty as the foundation, we feel compelled to also send in this donation" He took the opportunity to announce that the Ghacem Foundation is always ready to support any project which seeks to build schools or hospitals with a good number of cement bags on request through applications. Meanwhile Sandvik Mining and Construction Company has also presented a cheque of 65,000 Ghana Cedis as their bit to help build Appiatse into a Green, sustainable and model community. The Business Mine Manger, Mr. Daniel Korsah in his submission said as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility and as a responsible partner to the Ghana Chamber of Mines, they see it as a duty to help rebuild Appiatse. In her remark, the Chairperson of the Appiatse Support Fund Committee, Rev. Dr. Joyce Roselind Aryee expressed her gratitude to both companies for their donations. She promised to ensure that the reconstruction committee who will be the actual users of the cement are put in the know of their donation. She said she is impressed with Ghana's response to the Appiatse disaster but also called for more support form all and sundry. Below are some pictures: Story: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Convener of the #FixTheCountry Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor has been remanded for another two weeks by the Ashaiman District Court when he appeared in court on Monday, February 28. He is to reappear in court on March 15. Barker-Vormawor was picked-up for allegedly writing on social media that he would topple the government if the E-levy bill is passed. “Mr. Oliver Baker-Vormawor has been arrested by the Tema Regional Police Command following a post he allegedly made on social media platforms to the effect that he would stage himself if the E-levy bill is passed by Parliament,” portions of the Police statement said. He was denied bail earlier after being charged with a treason felony. Meanwhile, the accused was sacked from the courtroom on Monday after defying the orders of the Presiding judge, her ladyship Eleanor Barnes. While Presiding Judge explained why the accused could not be granted bail in her court, Barker-Vormawor interjected, telling the court that it was not fair for the same to remand but not grant bail. When her ladyship Eleanor Barnes asked the accused to be silent and only speak when he had been permitted to, Oliver Barker Vormawor continued to rant and added that “the court hasn’t clothed itself in glory. He further described the court as a kangaroo court and a sham. The Presiding judge ordered for the accused to be escorted from the court premises while the case continued. Source: 3news.com

Chairman of Table of Men and music producer Dr. Kwesi Aning Ernest has demanded an apology from highlife artiste Ofori Amponsah for insulting the gospel musicians. In an exclusive interview with Christian Agyei Frimpong, the CEO of Media Excel demanded an unqualified apology from the highlife musicians Ofori Amponsah for his ‘most gospel musicians sing stupid song’ comment. “I sat on radio and expressed disappointment for the kind music Ofori churned out as gospel song. The quality was very bad compared to his circular songs. He did most of his life production in Germany. Songs like Otoolege, Odo Tese Aduro, why didn’t you do the same for his gospel song?” Kwesi Ernest went on to say if Ofori was able to produce such a song and call it gospel, then he also sings trash. “If you call Onyame Homhom as a gospel song and you went for interviews, then he also sings trash and produces trash.” Table of men is a Christian organization that seeks the interest of the Ghana gospel industry. Kwesi Ernest indicated that he will make sure Ofori apologies to the entire gospel musicians. “I, as the chairman of Table of Men, together with my team, will make sure Ofori Amponsah apologies to all gospel musicians.” Story by: Abena Afriyie