Former President John Dramani Mahama has said the Akufo-Addo government is empty of any viable economic plan to save the country from the mess. According to him, it was a pity that the entire economic plan of the ruling party NPP is largely reliant on the controversial e-levy. “It is a pity that today, the NPP's entire economic plan hinges on the passage of an E-levy expected to raise a little over Gh¢6 billion. How did we arrive here?” He added that the President seemed nonchalant about the economic crisis in the country and seemed only interested in pushing the E-Levy which has been rejected by many Ghanaians. According to the former President, the ruling party has resorted to unhelpful political posturing over suggestions on how to stem the downward spiral, ensure discipline and help the economy to recover. “It is painfully obvious that beyond the ill-conceived E- Levy, the Akufo-Addo administration has no viable or credible plan of action to get us out of the current economic doldrums into which they have plunged us; meanwhile, there can be collective buy-ins from the Ghanaian people, development partners and the investor community that are being ignored,” he stated. Former President Mahama urged the elephant party to borrow a leaf from its book and learn how the NDC managed its challenges during 2015. “As I have indicated previously, the government must as a matter of urgency, borrow a leaf from our sound approach toward the challenges we faced in 2015,” he intimated. He urged the government to set up a platform and engage stakeholders in a constructive dialogue to provide a better policy to alleviate the current economic crisis. Story by: Vanessa Calys-Tagoe

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botwey has stated that, President AkufoAddo as leader of the EOCWAS has provided leadership to address the sources of division and instability in our Member States. According to her, despite the increase in coup d'etat being recorded in the ECOWAS sub-region, the President and the other heads of state have shown great leadership in helping address the issue of coup in the continent. The Minister was speaking to the media at the Information Ministry's meet the press series on the back of the series of coup d'etat being recorded in Africa and other developments being undertaken under the ministry. Madam Ayorkor Botwey noted that, Ghana has a strong interest in the stability and security of the African continent, even more so in our neighborhood are worrisome which she says the president as chair of ECOWAS has put in tremendous efforts to curb the increase. She added that, the President has also been involved engaging in mediation and facilitation processes and also bringing the various parties involved together to explore viable solutions together to tackle national crises that has the potential to affect us all. Madam Ayorkor Botwey stated emphatically that, the ECOWAS members are working tirelessly to put a stop to the reoccurrence of Coup d'etat as she added that, they are working hard to avert situations whereby heads of states try to change their constitutions to favor them. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Pelangio Exploration Inc. has on Monday 7th February 2022 donated an amount of $10, 000 to the Appiate Support Fund. The contribution by the Exploration firm, is to support government’s effort to rebuild the Appiatse community and also provide relief for affected persons. The donation was made by the companies Africa Vice President, Mr. Samuel Torkonoo. This donation by Pelangio follows earlier donations from his Excellency the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Minerals Commission, making Pelangio the third to donate to support the fund. Speaking on behalf of Pelangio Exploration Inc. , Mr. Torkonoo noted that this gesture was necessary as it will go a long way to provide relief for the people of Appiatse, and also motivate other organizations to donate to the fund. He hoped the donation from his company and others will go a long way to support the livelihood of the people in the community. Receiving the donation, the Chairperson of the Appiate Support Fund, Dr. Joyce Aryee thanked Pelagio Exploration for their kind gesture. She also used the opportunity to call on Ghanaians and other benevolent organizations to donate to the fund to achieve the aim of rebuilding the Appiatse community. Pelangio Exploration Inc. is a Canada-based mineral exploration company and a member of the Ghana chamber of mines. The principal business of the Company is the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral property interests in Canada and Ghana. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor has charged a five-member Ministerial Committee of Inquiry, to take a holistic approach to dealing with the health and safety issues in the mining sector in the country. According to him, the country cannot continue to treat disasters such as Appiatse as isolated incidents. Speaking at the inauguration of a five-member technical committee to review the health and safety standards within the mining, he said "We cannot continue to treat these as isolated incidents. We must take a holistic approach to dealing with the health and safety issues in the mining sector.” He also added that the setting up of the five-member Ministerial Committee of Inquiry was of great importance following the unfortunate explosion which occurred at Appiatse killing 13 persons. "Unfortunate though the incident was, it should serve as a wake up call for us to take proactive measures to prevent such disasters. SImilar actions taken by the United States following the BP oil spill in 2010 and South Africa, after the Vaal Reefs disaster in 1995" The Sector Minister told Journalists that his outfit will be updating the country on new developments following the report of the investigation. Hon. Jinapor reminded the committee of the sad and unforgettable cave-ins of mining pits which occured at Ayanfuri and Breman, both in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central Region, and the recent one in AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi Mine last year. "Your terms of reference are to undertake a general review of the health and safety regime in the mining industry; to review the existing laws, regulations, and guidelines on health and safety standards in the mining industry; to inquire into any matter relating to health and safety in the mining industry; and to make recommendations to Government for legislative, policy, and other reforms it may deem fit" The Lands and Natural Resources Minister tasked the committee to within a month present a report on their findings. "President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is committed to making Ghana the mining hub of Africa, and this requires a safe and healthy environment for mining. On his part, Minerals Engineer and Vice Chancellor of the Paa Grant University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa (UmaT), Prof. Richard Amankwah said "On behalf of the Committee and myself, I will like to thank the Minister for ginning us this opportunity to serve the mation in this capacity. We realise that this is a big opportunity and we take hold of it and promise to do a good job" He hinted that Appiatse for some time now has been associated with a disaster adding that he is happy, a committee has been put up to change the dynamics of the health and safety standards in the field. "I believe that soon Appiatse will not be only about disaster but also about reforms" He mentioned that as a committee, they will do broad consultation both in Ghana and outside the country then make a conscious effort to develop a document that will stand the test of time. He confident it will help the nation work well regarding health and safety standards of the mining industry likewise also the communities. The committee consists of Prof. Richard Amankwah, Minerals Engineer and Vice-Chancellor of the Paa Grant University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa (UmaT) and Prof. Grace Ofori-Sarpong, a professor of minerals engineering, and Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at Paa Grant University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, representing the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. The others are Ms. Effie Oppong-Fosu, an Associate of Menka-Premo and Co. Law Firm, with specialization in mining and energy law, representing the Ghana Bar Association, Mr. Benjamin Aryee, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, and Mr. Kwesi Enyan, a former inspector of mines, and a former Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, Prof. Richard K. Amankwah has revealed that his outfit has dispatched counsellors to Appiatse to interact with youth and persons who were mentally disarray following the explosion. According to him, the involvement of counsellors will psych the minds of people and help them forget about the incident. Speaking at the inauguration of a five-member technical committee to review the health and safety standards within the mining, he said "We have sent counsellors to Appiatse to interact with the young ones and other people who were mentally disarray because of the issue that have gone on there" He also mentioned that UMAT has done lots of work since the disaster occured. "As Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMAT), we have done a lot of work since the disaster happened. We have a disaster and management hub and we sent them down there to take drone shots of the space" He also hinted that UMAT has seen the vibrations that have gone on in Appiatse, have decided to treat the soil before buildings come up. The Vice Chancellor told Journalists, the treatment exercise will be free of charge. "We are doing these for free as our contribution to the reconstruction of Appiatse" He made these known at the inauguration of a five-member technical committee to review the health and safety standards within the mining in Accra. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has described President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a big disappointment who has managed to scam Ghanaians. Speaking in an exclusive interview on TV3 on Monday morning, the NDC General Secretary stressed that the President since assuming the biggest role in the country has acted contrary to all the things he preached to convince Ghanaians to give him power. According to Mr. Asiedu Nketia, President Akufo-Addo in simple terms for overseeing the most corrupt government in the history of the fourth republic. “Nana Addo has scammed some of us Ghanaians. At least for me, he cannot scam me. He has been doing what people will call monkey business,” the NDC General Secretary indicated. Mr. Asiedu Nketia added, “I met him one time and he complained I have been attacking him. I told him it is because he has disappointed me. There was once I believed this is a man when given the chance he would change things for the good of Ghanaians. He is now here and he has changed things for the worse.” The NDC General Secretary accused President Akufo-Addo of failing to protect freedom of speech. He added that under the current President, the justice system has failed and the government is using the security apparatus to abuse power. Story by: Eric Nana Yaw Kwafo

A well converted last spotkick by Liverpool's striker, Sadio Mane has earned Senegal its first ever AFCON trophy. In the first half of the Cup final, Sadio Mane missed a golden opportunity after his penalty was saved by Egypt's number one, Gabaski. The Senegalese dominated the first department of the game with forward Mane among other players wasting glorious opportunities. Egypt on the other hand found their rhythm in the latter part of the first half and matched the Senegal National Team boot for boot. The second half looked no different from the first half as both countries failed to convert from open play. The cup final ended a stalemate after 90 minutes of which it progressed to extra time. With what looked like a never ending game finally got to penalty shootouts. Senegal managed to convert 4 and missed 1 as against Egypt slotting in 2 out of the 4 chances given. It was all joy for the Senegalese while the Egypt team were spotted in tears. Thinknewsonline.com can confirm that Ivory Coast will be hosting the next AFCON games in 2023. Cameroon, the host nation took the third position while Burkina Faso booked the fourth position. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Sulley Muntari made his debut for Hearts of Oak as the club lost to rivals Great Olympics in the Ghana Premier League on Sunday. A first-half strike from Razak Yussif was enough to secure all three points for the Dade Boys at the Accra Sports Stadium. Muntari joined the Phobians earlier in the week following days of speculation and was immediately included in the squad to face Olympics. The 37-year-old was named on the bench as Samuel Boadu opted for a midfield trio of Ushau, Gladon Awako and Amamkwah Baafi. However, Olympics proved superior in the middle of the park and a swift counterattack saw Annor Walker’s side take the lead after 30 minutes. Razak Yussif was allowed the time and space to run through on goal before calmly slotting the ball past Richmond Ayi. Despite Hearts’ renewed efforts in the second half, the Phobians couldn’t find the equliser as they were condemned to a second defeat in their last three league matches. Meanwhile, Boadu’s side has now dropped to seventh on the league table, 10 points behind rivals Asante Kotoko who have two games in hand. Credit: Pulse GH

A Mona monkey at the Kumasi Zoological Gardens has given birth to a baby male primate through a Caesarian Section. This is because the Mona monkey had difficulty in normal delivery due to its very narrow birth canal. The first time mother and baby monkey are currently recuperating and doing well at the Kumasi Zoo nursery. The Caesarian Section was performed by Dr. Meyir Y. Ziekah, a veterinary doctor. He doubles as the Manager of the Kumasi Zoo. Below are some pictures: Source: Nhyira 104.5 FM

The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has been accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to run a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Accounting during the next academic year in the Faculty of Accounting and Finance. The other newly accredited programmes are MPhil Accounting, MBA Corporate Communications, MSc Procurement Management, Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Organisational Development, and MSc Pensions Management. The introduction of these new programmes attests to the commitment of the University to respond to the current and anticipated future national needs of our country. The accreditation of the PhD programme in Accounting was welcome news for the Univesity. “The accreditation of our PhD in Accounting programme is exciting news, and places UPSA as the second University in Ghana to offer this programme. UPSA is committed to continuously developing and rolling out forward-looking, market-driven programmes which add value to the industry and the nation,” the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abednego F.O. Amartey, stated. “We have demonstrated evidence of the quality of our programmes through our graduates who hold key positions in industry. We will not relent on our efforts to ensure that our graduates will always be the first point of call by human resource practitioners,” he added. The UPSA’s PhD in Accounting programme will provide students with a comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge in Accounting and related areas, as well as develop their abilities to conduct analytical and empirical research in accounting. The programme is designed to enhance the capacity of those with specialisations in areas such as Public Sector Accounting and Finance, Integrated Reporting, Advanced Audit and Assurance, and Taxation and Fiscal Policy. The development of the programme was driven by a rigorous demand for independent research work for carrying out industry-relevant research. The PhD in Accounting programme targets both local and foreign applicants. With these new programmes, UPSA has increased its Programme portfolio from 20 to 36 since 2017, representing an 80% increase. Credit: ModernGhana

The Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III has cleared the medical bill of patients at the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU), Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Paediatric Emergency Unit (PEU) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, ahead of her fifth-anniversary celebration. The Asantehemaa also donated packages of food and washing powder to mothers whose children have been admitted to KATH and the Manhyia District Hospital where it was announced that the Asantehemaa hoped to make the act an annual. On behalf of Nana Konadu Yiadom III, a delegation of Queenmothers led by the Asante Mamponghemaa Nana Agyakoma Difie II, visited KATH and the Manhyia District Hospital to donate the handouts. The delegation included; Agonamanhemaa, Nana Acheampomaa Ntansah, Ejisuhemaa, Nana Yaa Asantewaa II, Agogomanhemaa, Nana Afrakoma Serwaa Kusi Obuadum, Otumfuo Fontomfromhemaa Nana Ama Achiaa, Abradehemaa, Abrafi Mansa, Tepamanhemaa, Nana Agyeiwaa Paamu II, and Kenyase No.1 manhemaa, Nana Yaa Adutwumwaa II. When the Mamponghemaa Nana Agyakuma Difie II broke the news that medical bills of MBU, PICU, and PEU patients scheduled to be discharged today, and patients scheduled for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan would be absorbed by the Asantehemaa, mothers at the units beamed with joy. In addition to the items, one hundred chairs and stools were also donated to provide convenience to mothers whose babies will be admitted to the unit. The Queenmothers found their way to the Manhyia District Hospital from KATH, where Items were given out to mothers whose babies had been admitted. The gesture comes ahead of the Asantehemaa’s 5th Anniversary Celebration dubbed “The role of the contemporary Queen Mothers” which falls on February 6. The celebration will spring from February 6 and climax with a Grand Awukudae Durbar under the distinguished patronage of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, on February 16, 2022. Below are some pictures: Story by: News Desk Report

The Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency, Samuel A. Jinapor has hinted that the construction of a new new market for the people of Damongo- Canteen suburb will help boost economic activities in the area. According to him, the biggest beneficiaries will be traders. The Minister made these known when he officially commissioned and handed over the market to the Chiefs and people . Speaking at the ceremony, he said "The construction of the new market would go a long way to boost the economic activities in the area, especially for traders" Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that the market was financed by the Regional Minister as part of his social and corporate responsibility. The Regional Minister who doubles as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources also revealed he will ensure a community library, a modern astro turf will be constructed for them. Stressing on issues of electrification, he mentioned that ongoing projects at Kotito No 1, 2 and 3 are near completion. "The construction of the Buipe-Kotito-Damongo road as part of improving the road network in the Savannah Region" "The Damongo Water Project is very dear to my heart and that it will also kick start soon. Its delay is due to the Covid-19 pandemic" Receiving the keys to the new market, an elder in the Canteen electoral area, Mr Diwura said "The particular area where the market has been constructed has been earmarked since 1965 for the construction of a market with governments and MP’s coming and promising but failing to execute the project" He commended the Regional Minister for the kind gesture. It is emerging that Sundays has been selected as market day in the area. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith