President of the Shatta Movement, Charles Nii Armah Mensah known in showbiz as Shattawale has praised Ashaiman-based rapper, Dade Opanka saying he is his best rapper and a superstar. In a video sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, Shattawale hinted that Dade Opanka goes way back adding that the rapper makes music worth listening to. He said, “If you say rapper, this is my rapper, my best rapper, right now, he enter family; for life!” “Dade Opanka, you be super star. I wan to make Ghana know say you be superstar, that be why, I come here” he added. Shattawale reminded the Ghanaian media that rapper Dade Opanka is a superstar stressing that doubters can cross-check the archives of Ghanaian music. “Super star, go check archives no be lie bhad man; lyrics upon lyrics” Shattawale concluded. Watch the video and pics below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Residents of Cape Coast who have been waiting on the construction of a new harbour since the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) won its re-election bid in 2020 may have their hopes dashed. According to President Akufo-Addo, that infrastructure project was never a part of the list of commitments tabled before him for his second term. “The commitment was never to a harbour; it was to a landing site,” he said on Cape Coast-based Eagle FM on Monday. It was the first stop on his two-day tour of the Central Region as part of his annual working visits to the country’s 16 regions. Justifying his statement, President Akufo-Addo referenced Page 88 of the NPP’s 2020 Manifesto, dubbed Leadership of Service: Protecting our Progress, Transforming Ghana for All. Per the document, he outlined a few of the sites slated for the Central Region, which he said are at various stages of completion as far as Phase One is concerned. The sites listed “involves Senya Berekum which is 92% nearly 93% complete, Elmina – 13% complete, Moree 78% complete, Winneba – 57% complete, Gomoa Fetteh 19% and Mumford 79 to 80% complete.” This was in response to a question about plans for the project, which had been bandied about by the people of the region. However, the President clarified that the party actually pledged to put up a landing site as captured in the 2020 manifesto and earmarked for execution in 2022. “I never said I was going to build a harbour in Cape Coast. I said I was going to build a landing site like what I’ve done in these six other places in the Central Region. Cape Coast will also have its landing site, and the construction of that will start next year.” However, Myjoyonline.com’s perusal of the policy 2020 manifesto uncovered a paragraph that may be the basis of the region’s aspiration over a harbour that they believe would have improved the fortunes of the town’s coastal communities. Page 160 of the document highlights some infrastructure development to be expected when the NPP secures power in the general elections. This portion touches on several initiatives, including the commencement of the construction of “a new harbour in Cape Coast, and a new airport in Cape Coast.” During his address at the launch of the party’s manifesto in August 2020, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia also disclosed that “for the people of Cape Coast, I have good news for you. We are building a new harbour in Cape Coast and a new airport in Cape Coast.” Meanwhile, on the idea of an airport in the region, President Akufo-Addo explained that consensus about the location among other studies is complete. “The commitment to build the airport in Cape Coast, that one is 100% committed, work is ongoing it, and I think very soon, just as we have seen with Wa, Ho, Sunyani – its almost complete, Cape Coast will get its own airport,” he added. President Akufo-Addo’s tour in the region will involve the commissioning and inspection of projects under Government’s 1-District-1-Factory initiative and the inspection of ongoing road projects in the Region. Source: Myjoyonline

The Management of Coastal Development Authority (CODA) has rolled out modalities for the purchase and payment of Bajaj Qute vehicles under the CODA Drive initiative. According to CODA, the modalities shall apply to all applicants and beneficiaries of the initiative. THE INITIATIVE CODA Drive is an intervention to improve livelihoods and create employment by facilitating transportation for individuals and small businesses within the Coastal Development Zone. REQUIREMENTS OF BENEFICIARIES (NON-OKADA RIDERS). To qualify as a beneficiary of the CODA Drive initiative, an individual or small business: Must be a member of any farmers, fishers, taxi drivers, ‘Okada’ riders or ‘Aboboyaa’ riders association for at least a year. Must be resident within the Coastal Development Zone (Oti, Volta, Greater Accra, Central, Western and Western North regions). Must possess a valid driver’s license, minimum Class B. Must be a member of CODA Credit Union and possess a CODA Credit Union membership card. Must complete an application form that should be endorsed by two guarantors. Must submit completed forms to the regional office of CODA for further processing. REQUIREMENTS OF OKADA RIDERS To qualify as a beneficiary, an okada rider: Must possess a Ghana Card Must possess a valid driver’s license, minimum Class Must surrender their registered motorbike. PRICE AND PAYMENT The price of the vehicle is GHS 25,000.00. The payment shall be on hire purchase. An individual or small business who is selected to benefit must make an initial payment of 20% of the selling price. The balance with an interest rate of 2% per annum shall be spread over 24-month equal installments. Based on the hire purchase agreement, the Authority shall have ownership of the vehicle until payment is completed by the buyer/beneficiary. As such, all documents to the vehicle shall be held by the Authority until payment is completed. INSURANCE All CODA Drive vehicles are insured before they are distributed. REGISTRATION All CODA Drive vehicles shall be registered in the name of CODA Credit Union before they are distributed to the beneficiaries. Ownership of a vehicle shall be transferred to a buyer/beneficiary after completion of payment. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Maiden Edition of the Odwira Beach Soccer Cup ended successfully with Asenema Community winning the trophy. Twenty(20) Communities around the Eastern Region participated in the tournament organized by the Beach Soccer authorities led by Yaw Ampofo Ankrah with support from lots of sponsors and the local assembly. The occasion brought a lot of dignitaries to the area and the tournament eventually marked the highlight of the Festival, with Nana Okuapemanhene presenting the trophy to Asenema, who defeated Mampong on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The DCE of the Okere area Hon. Kenneth Daniels was very excited about the novelty and thanked the organizers for being the area on the beach soccer map, promising to do more to help the youth embrace the project and promote developmental projects in the area. Hundreds of people also visited the area during the two-day event which was hosted near the Asenema Waterfalls, which also attracted tourists and sightseers to the local communities. See pic below: Story by: Patricia Adjei Yeboah

Ghanaian Comedian, Nana Yaw Benson known in showbiz as Funny Face has taken to social media to bid his daughters good bye as he plans of taking his own life. According to the depressed comedian, it is prayers that his Great ancestors protect his children while he is no more. In a post sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, he wrote "My #ELLAandBELLA (amazon kumasi) my sweet beautiful 😍 baby KIMBLYN (Pataase, Kumasi) my ever precious YAA BOATEMAA Papabi 😍 (Stuttgart, GERMANY) tonight your father dies as a hero...may my Great ancestors protect you till we meet again......" He further added in his message that he has given all details if his properties to his senior sister, Lydia who resides in Kumasi. Funny Face also noted that his children should make merry since he was poor adding that he couldn't make his dream come true. The post by Funny Face has generated lots of mixed reactions and as many are calling for the comedian to be detailed at the rehabilitation centre. Below is a screenshot: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will from Monday, 18th October 2021, begin a two-day tour of the Central Region, as part of his annual working visits to the sixteen (16) Regions of the country. President Akufo-Addo’s itinerary will involve the commissioning and inspection of projects under Government’s 1-District-1-Factory initiative in furtherance of his industrialsation agenda, as well as the inspection of ongoing road projects in the Region. He will also visit and interact with traditional authorities in the respective communities he will visit. On Monday, 18th October, the President is expected to inspect engineering laboratories and workshops constructed by the Ministry of Education and the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, located at the Cape Coast Technical University; and will proceed to pay a courtesy call on Chiefs of the Oguaa Traditional Area. He will also call on the Chiefs of Assin North in Assin Breku and Effutuakwa in Assin Fosu; cut the sod for the construction of the Assin Praso-Assin Fosu road project in the Assin Central Constituency; and also cut the sod for the construction of the Nyankomasi Ahenkro to Assin Jakai Cocoa Road. On Tuesday, President Akufo-Addo’s working visit will see him paying a courtesy call on the Chiefs of Hemang Lower Denkyira; cutting the sod cutting for the construction of the Hemang-Nsutem Cocoa Road, as well as commissioning Central Oil Mills, a company operating under Government’s 1-District-1-Factory initiative, located in Assin Jukwa. In Winneba, in the Effutu Constituency, the President will commission a number of projects including a community centre, health facility, a library, and the Museum of Effutu Culture. The tour will end with the commissioning of a lubricant factory, also under the 1D1F initiative, at Gomoa Akotsi Fetteh Junction in the Gomoa East constituency. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Sources tell BoxingAfrica.com that former WBO junior featherweight world champion Isaac Dogboe is set to face the dangerous Christopher Diaz Saturday, November 20, at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, on the Terence Crawford-Shawn Porter ESPN pay-per-view undercard. This will be the first fight for Ghana’s Dogbe, 27, 22-2 (15 KOs) since June, when he eked out a majority decision win over Adam Lopez. “Royal Storm” has been seen in the gym in recent weeks, working out with the likes of unbeaten three-division champ and boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis. The 26-year-old “Pitufo” Diaz 26-3 (16 KOs) last fought in April, when he suffered a twelfth-round TKO defeat to current WBO featherweight world champion Emanuel Navarrete — the same man who beat Dogboe twice and wrested his 122-pound title away from him. The match-up between Dogboe and Diaz, should it happen, could easily be the most exciting bout on the card as both men fight fire with fire. It could also set the winner up for a series of scintillating bouts at featherweight, including another shot at Navarrete although the champion is likely to move up to 130 at some point next year. Source: BoxingAfrica.com

A Bishop with the Church of Christ, John Kwamena Essel, has said homosexuality is a biological disorder which contradicts nature. He explains “having the features of a male and feeling like a female and vice versa is never normal or natural and must be corrected. That’s why people born with abnormal features are cured. When Siamese twins are born, we don’t regard it as normal and allow them to grow like that. But they are cured. So if you are born like that, you need to be cured rather than saying we should accept your abnormality as normal.” In an exclusive with Ghanasonline.com Friday, October 15, 2021, he noted even though some people become homosexuals by nurture, with poverty being the main architect, there are others who are born with more genes of the opposite sex, which is a disorder they must accept and be cured. John Kwamena Essel is a Bishop of the Church of ChristThe biggest problem about the LGBTQ+ community he opined is the fact that, “these people do not even see themselves as having a problem in the first place. They think their abnormality is normal and that we should accept them but that is not nature. So as a person, I’m against it, it is against nature and I think we have to stick to nature.” The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill , tagged Anti-LGBTQ+ is a private member bill sponsored by some MPs with Ningo Prampram MP, Sam Nartey George leading it. It proposes that anyone who identifies as gay or transgender face imprisonment for up to five years and anyone who promotes or supports non-straight sexual identities be locked up for up to 10 years. Parliament’s Committee on Constituional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, which is handling the bill allowed for memos from the public. After two groups comprising influencial academics, lawyers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) leaders presented two separate memos kicking against the bill, a lot of debate has been generated as many believe their stance flaunts against Ghanaian culture and values which the bill seeks to protect. Even though described as draconian by the international media, Mr. Essel believes “the bill is preventing something eminent from happening but not as bad as people have described it.” He added that the debate generated over the issue means there hasn’t been enough dialogue on it over the years, meaning there is something obvious that needs to be done. He furthered that, in as much as those who find themselves in such situations are part of society, “we must not condemn them but how do we reason with people who have that natural call to accept the fact that, these are part of the many abnormalities that happens in human life.” “Science and medicine has proven that some human beings are born with certain deformities and this same science prescribes ways of solving them so those born with such abnornality should not regard it as normal,” he disclosed. Mr. Essel therefore advised that people stop preaching antagonism to homosexuals but rather abhor their act, and help them to accept their abnormality and work towards reforming them to normalcy. Source: Ghanasonline.com

King of gibberish music, Justice Amoah known in showbiz has hit hard on the wife of Sarkodie, Tracy Sarkcess saying he owes her no apology. According to Patapaa, he is disappointed in Tracy for refusing to advise her husband over what he calls unprintable words. Speaking on an Accra-based television station, Patapaa said "I don't know anybody called Tracy. I don't know Sarkodie's wife and even if she is, why did she not advise her husband about her unprintable words used against me in his song" Patapaa further revealed that whenever he drafts a songs, his wife ensures that neither of the lyrics or the verses abuses any individual. "My wife will not even watch me to insult Sarkodie, Shatta wale or any artist in my song" "I met Sarkodie and Angel at the embassy. I walked up to him to greet because he is my senior in the industry. He even told me that his wife likes my songs and always talks about me" It is emerging that Patapaa has taken offence in a song released by Sarkodie which many say is a disrespect to the King of Gibberish music. Rapper Sarkodie is yet to respond to the 'growing beef'. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Former President John Dramani Mahama has said he is not afraid to open his three accounts for a probe to prove his incorruptible nature. This was in response to what he claims were the vile lies and propaganda peddled against him while in government. Speaking on Cape 93.3 Fm in Cape Coast, the former leader dismissed claims of owning a Swiss bank account insisting he operates just three bank accounts domestically including ADB, Zenith, and Guarantee Trust bank. “I don’t have any foreign account anywhere, I have three bank accounts – ADB, Zenith, and Guaranty Trust bank. If you want to investigate me, investigate those banks, my money is all there.” He said the media has spared his opponent (President Akufo-Addo) and his government from criticisms in respect of corruption matters compared to what was seen under his government. “You made so much noise, and now you’ve all gone quiet. You’ve all been cowed, you can’t talk. There were all kinds of propaganda against me. They said Lordina and I have stolen 100 million dollars into a Swiss Account. How would you get access to that kind of money? Worl Bank money doesn’t come to Finance Ministry. It’s with the BoG, how do I go to them to ask for such money and transfer it to a Swiss account? He claimed under him, all the corruption-related matters were dealt with frontally, saying that same cannot be said under his opponent’s government who shielded public officials embroiled in corruption allegations. “BOST, Agyapa, PDS, missing excavators, and galamsey fraud with smoking-gun evidence have all been swept under the carpet. I recently heard the President talking about the names given to him by Ghanaians and sadly, he forgot to add the name Clearing Agent,” Mr Mahama said. Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has said the mere allegations against public officials did not amount to improper conduct because the affected persons must also be listened to for their explanation. He contends he has not shirked from fighting against corruption and will not retreat in ensuring that people manning state anti-graft agencies acted in the interest of Ghanaians. “I don’t think that any government has mobilized resources to give opportunity for the anti-corruption agencies of the state to function efficiently as possible as this government has done. It is a matter of record,” he said in an interaction with Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition. Source: KasapaFMonline.com

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in collaboration with Transmed Ghana Limited, Accra says it is recalling certain batches of Ceres 100% Apple Juice. According to FDA, the recalled batches are unwholesome for public consumption. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/groom-abandons-wife-grinds-backside-of-his-ex-at-their-wedding-reception-see-bride-s-reaction In a release signed by the DCE, Health Products and Technologies Division, Seth Seaneke, it said "Ceres Apple 4x6x200ml Tetrapak with a single unit barcode; 6001240200018 and 22-06-2021/28-06-2021 and 22-06-2022/28-06-2022 as production and best before dates respectively" "Ceres Apple Sparkling 275ml glass with unit barcode 6001240222676 having 15/06/2021 and 15/06/2022 as production and best before dates respectively" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/photos-lil-win-missing-in-action-at-bill-asamoah-s-mother-s-funeral-as-likee-and-others-represent "Ceres Apple 12x1L with single unit barcode 6001240100011 having 17-06-2021/18-06-2021/21-06-2021/29-06-2021/30-06-2021 and 17-06-2022/18-06-2022/21-06-2022/29-06-2022/30-06-2022" The statement further explained that the recall follows information received from the International Food Safety Network (INFOSAN) and the manufacturer of the product, Pioneer Foods Groceries (Pty) Limited, South Africa confirming that extensive laboratory tests and consultations with their local suppliers of the apple juice concentrate, revealed that it contained levels of mycotoxin-patulin higher than the regulatory threshold. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/offinsomanhene-nana-wiafe-akenten-iii-reported-dead The FDA says it is important to note that so far, most of the affected batches have been successfully retrieved and this includes all the 1 Litre pack sizes. The FDA says its market surveillance team is working earnestly with the importer to remove all the affected products in trade. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/mahama-ofosu-ampofo-know-nothing-about-takoradi-kidnapping-case-ndc It is also calling on all persons in possession of the above products to return them to any of the depots of Transmed Ghana Limited nationwide or any FDA offices across the country. Below are copies of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Residents of Prang-Kintampo in the Pru East District of the Bono East Region are calling on the Akufo-Addo government to turn its attention to them and fix their deplorable roads. According to the residents, most of the roads have not seen any face-lift since 2016. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/mce-confirmation-my-people-should-expect-improvements-in-infrastructure-hon-aminu-zakari In series of tweets sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, Virgil Van D tweeted "Sir, are you aware the road leading to Prang from Kintampo hasn't been touched since 2016 yet has been captured in previous budgets? Please what crime have they committed? It becomes worse when it rains yet No one seems to care" He again tweeted "Unfortunately that's the only road available to residents of Kintampo when they want to access Prang and Atebubu. There are clinics in villages along that stretch and mostly, you have ambulances finding it difficult to access such places" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/mahama-ofosu-ampofo-know-nothing-about-takoradi-kidnapping-case-ndc The concerned citizen, Virgil Van D also revealed that whenever it rains, it is difficult for road-users and motorists o access the deplorable roads. He, however, noted that aside from the deplorable nature of the roads, the community is also hit with water shortages. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/offinsomanhene-nana-wiafe-akenten-iii-reported-dead "Especially when it rains, looks like no one cares. They don't have access to portable water neither do they have access to good road networks. Do most people continue to die before government attends to them? It is emerging that the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Stephen Pambiin Jalulah seems unconcerned as numerous calls by the residents have fallen on deaf ears. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/photos-lil-win-missing-in-action-at-bill-asamoah-s-mother-s-funeral-as-likee-and-others-represent Thinkinewsonline.com has gathered that the neglected Prang-Kintampo roads were captured in the 2019 mid-year budget yet nothing has been done till now. The MP, Stephen Pampiin Jalulah was a DCE before upgrading to the position of the Member of Parliament. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/groom-abandons-wife-grinds-backside-of-his-ex-at-their-wedding-reception-see-bride-s-reaction Below are tweets and pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith