Social media users are incensed over a trending video that shows a religious leader force-kissing some female teacher trainees while he stood on a podium. Rev. Fr Baltharzar Obeng Larbi of the St. Monica’s College of Education, fully dressed in his cassock, was seen kissing some girls on stage with him in turns. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures In one instance, he was seen gesturing to one of the girls, who appeared very uncomfortable with the move to take off her face mask before holding her head and kissing her on the lips. The video, shot by someone in the audience has generated wide condemnation on social media, although a few people have jumped to the Reverend father’s defense, describing his action as a ‘holy kiss’. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco Reports yet to be independently verified by Citi News indicate that the Rev. Fr. Larbi subjected the final-year students to the kiss after presenting them with gifts reading the Bible. The Anglican Church, which runs the St. Monica’s College of Education, Mampong, says it is investigating the issue. https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t The Rev. Father is said to be a lawyer and a Chaplain of the school. Below are some embed tweets and a statement: Credit: Citinewsroom

Some pictures and video of two Legon female students alleged to be lesbian partners have gone viral on social media and got users taking within the cyber space. The beautiful, fresh and juicy pictures coupled with video of the two ladies alleged to be students of University of Ghana, Legon hit the internet with many social media users questioning the motive behind it at time Ghana’s Members of Parliament are in the process of making a law to criminalise homosexuality- lesbianism and gayism known as LGBTQ+. The two young ladies in the video were in a romantic display, touching sensitive parts of their bodies in a joyous mood. Apart from that, they were dancing whilst conducting themselves, doing the unthinkable in a manner that could be described as partners in lesbians affair. This sparked speculations that the two are l3sbians based on how they were acting in the video that has gone viral on social. This is occurring few weeks after LGBTQ+ Bill was laid before Ghana’s parliament by 7 MPs to pass a law that punishes practitioners, advocates of homosexuality. Source: africaneditors.com

Former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, has expressed misgivings about the way government has handled the findings of the ad-hoc committee, which probed the controversial Sputnik V contract. The anti-graft campaigner finds it hard to believe that the Health Minister followed through with the transaction without the support of the Executive while circumventing the Parliamentary and Public Procurement Authority modalities. According to him, the approval of payments requests by the Finance Ministry goes to reinforce the suspicion that Ken Ofori-Atta is a key architect in what he sees as an “interfering endorsement by President Akufo-Addo of the Sputnik affairs.” Mr Amidu resigned as Special Prosecutor on November 16, 2020, accusing President Akufo-Addo of interfering in the findings of his Corruptions Risk Assessment conducted into the Agyapa Royalties Agreement. Martin Amidu, in that report, implicated the Finance Minister for superintending bid-rigging among other infractions contained in the procuring of the Special Purpose Vehicle. In his letter of resignation, he told President Akufo-Addo that “political interference in the independence of his office” triggered his move. In his latest epistle, the anti-graft campaigner sees the aftermath of the Sputnik V probe as another attempt to shield the culprits who he describes as belonging to ‘The Family.’ Memos made public after the Parliamentary ad hoc committee’s report revealed that the Finance Ministry had ordered payment for the first tranche of Sputnik V vaccines even though the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, had denied knowledge of any such payment. Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin says the Dubai-based middle-man, Sheikh Al Maktoum had refunded an amount of $2,470,000 following the directive to the Finance Ministry to take steps in that regard. Mr Amidu finds the Finance Minster’s involvement in the Agyapa Royalties and the botched Sputnik V transactions too glaring to ignore. “Paradoxically, this was the same co-President and Minister of Finance who had himself gotten away with the aborted parliamentary approved Agyapa Transaction upon the exercise of executive veto by his co and de jure President that resulted in the resignation of the Special Prosecutor in November 2020.” President Akufo-Addo, amid growing calls for Mr Agyeman-Manu’s resignation, touted the Dormaa Central MP’s effort in steering the health sector in the face of a Covid-19 pandemic. Tagging the Minister as an important player in his government, the President, during his speech at a durbar of chiefs in the Bono Region on August 10, said Mr Agyeman-Manu has endured a lot of suffering to stabilise the health sector. But Martin Amidu says Ghanaians must “never be fooled that this was intended as a joke.” In his article titled ‘Do not be like Thomas whose eyes could not see; Akufo-Addo’s Sputnik V, Agyapa and other affairs’, he explained that if the reactions surrounding his Agyapa report is anything to go by, the Executive has the “controlling powers” which puts it in “the position of an invisible, ever-present sword of Damocles operating, and hanging over, and possibly influencing the inarticulate major premise for decision-making of those charged with investigating and dispensing justice.” “In such a constitutional dispensation, any pronouncement by the President of the Republic adulating any of his appointees who are under investigation for the possible commission of a suspected crime, particularly corruption-related crimes, constitute a signal in the nature of a directive first to the President’s appointees and Members of Parliament from the governing party,” he wrote. Meanwhile, Private Legal Practitioner, Martin Kpebu has also indicated that the President’s reaction should not be construed as an indication that the Minister will not be sanctioned. However, the Former Special Prosecutor further called on all Ghanaians to read between the lines in analysing the outcomes of recent events without political prejudices. “This is, therefore, the time for all patriotic Ghanaians to wake up and with open eyes, cease to be like Thomas whose eyes could not see at this crucial moment of our dear nation’s history that requires each of us to sacrifice to defend the 1992 Constitution and put Ghana First,” Mr Amidu wrote. Source: Myjoyonline

Electoral Commission of Zambia has declared Opposition Leader and President Lungu’s long standing political rival Hakainde Hichilemaas the winner of the just-ended presidential elections. According Zambian Electoral Commission, President-Elect Hichilema polled 2, 810, 777 against incumbent Lungu’s 1, 814, 201 with over 1million gap. President Edgar Lungu suffered humiliating defeat in the Sunday’s polls that saw Opposition Leader Hichilema overwhelmingly winning with more than 1 Million votes difference despite abuse of incumbency and complete shutdown of social-WhatsApp, Twitter. President Lungu earlier alleged that the Sunday’s election was not free and fair claiming that his party’s electoral officials were chased out of polling stations. Zambian President Edgar Lungu and his long standing political rival and Opposition Leader Hakainde Hichilema faced off for the third time in a knife-edge polls that saw Former Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa hacked in the neck and waist. The main race to the presidency was drawn between the governing Patriotic Party (PF) led President Edgar Lungu and opposition United Party for National Development led by his long time rival in Hakainde Hichilema. The Sunday knife-edge polls saw total shutdown of social media- WhatsApp and Twitter by government, forcing Zambians to rely on VPN for internet access, a situation many described as worrying, undemocratic in modern world, perverse, awkward and founded on little or no basis. Meanwhile, congratulatory messages have been pouring in for President-Elect Hakainde Hichilema, from President of UNIP Bishop Trevor Mwamba, President of People’s Alliance for Change Andyford Mayele Banda and others. Source: africaneditors.com

Information reaching Ghanasonline.com has it that the premises of Angel TV, a member of the Angel Broadcasting Network (ABN), situated at Madina in Accra, has been ravaged by fire. The station went off air the moment the fire was spotted in the building. It is said to have commenced on the middle hours of Sunday, August 15, 2021, burning office spaces, washrooms and other facilities to ashes. According to eyewitnesses, the fire started from one of the offices before extending to other parts of the building. Official cause of the fire is yet to be revealed, however. Watch the video below: Credit: Ghanasonline.com

The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prosons Service, ASP Samuel Kofi Opoku has admonished the media not to engage recidivists on their airwaves. According to him, some inmates who spend their lives in and out of different prison walls for different offences are notorious,very cunning and always out to tarnish and dent the reputation of individuals and institutions that makes them go through such reformation process. Speaking in an interview monitored by Thinknewsonline.com, ASP Samuel Kofi Opoku said "The case of one ex-convict circulating on social media by name Daniel Ofori who claims he was sentenced to 10years imprisonment in 2011 by a Konongo circuit court for using and trading in narcotics. He claims he served 6years 8months at the Nsawam medium security prison and was released this Wednesday" The Deputy PRO explained that serving 6years 8months from 2011 means he ought to be released in 2018 and not this year. Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that the accused contraband with officers and use of mobile phones by fellow inmates in the prison. He explained that the Prison Service punishes officers and inmates who are reported to the authorities and found culpable of the offense. Checks at the Nsawam medium security prison reveals that no inmate by name Daniel Ofori was discharged at the facility on Wednesday. The Deputy PRO stressed that one sub-culture that the inmate population in every prison establishment frown upon is the act sodomy. The allegation of ex-convict Ofori on sodomy is totally untrue. "There have been instances where some ex-convicts rush to media houses to give false reports on their experiences in the prison in exchange of financial gains, acceptance from society and favors" He cautioned the various media houses and the general public to investigate such persons before allowing them on their platforms. He stressed that the information they give out are carefully structured to defame and win the hearts of the public. "These are the few bad nuts who make effective reformation and safe custody a difficult task in the prison community. His mannerisms and comments as he accepted himself on live Television clearly shows that he has experienced prison life more than once and was not willing to gain skills in tailoring though he opted to be trained" he continued. "Media engagements with exconvicts who rush to the Media to overexagerate, tell lies and tarnish the image of officers who despite the challenges they face in ensuring effective safe custody and reformation should not be entertained" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minister for Energy Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh will today cut the ribbon to launch Ghana’s delegation pavilion at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2021 in Houston, Texas, USA. The OTC, an annual event which starts today and runs until Thursday, provides energy professionals with the opportunity to meet to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters and has expanded technically and globally with the Arctic Technology Conference, OTC Brasil, and OTC Asia. Dr. Prempeh will be joined by one of his deputies, Hon. Agyapa Mercer, senior officials from the Ministry, Ghana’s Ambassador to U.S, CEOs of some sector agencies as well as leading executives from operators in Ghana’s oil and gas industry. More to follow..... Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has revealed that the government will on Tuesday commence an ambitious agenda of building 111 health facilities including district, regional and psychiatric hospitals across the country. Addressing the media in Accra, he indicated that the government has secured land titles for 88 sites to commence the construction of the 88 out of the 111 district and regional hospitals it wants to build. This has paved way for the commencement of works under the agenda 111 policy on Tuesday at Trede in the Ashanti region. Oppong Nkrumah said the projects once started are expected to be completed within 12 months. He disclosed that President Akufo Addo will be witnessing the commencement of work on Tuesday at Trede in the Ashanti Region. Oppong Nkrumah furthered the government is seeking to construct 101 standard district hospitals with accommodation for doctors and nurses, six new regional hospitals in the six new regions, and one regional hospital for the Western Region. The project will also see to the rehabilitation of Effia-Nkwanta Hospital in the Western Region, construction of two new psychiatric hospitals and a new Accra Psychiatric hospital. He again dismissed fears that the government will be unable to implement the agenda 111 policy. According to him, though challenges may arise, the government is determined to ensure the agenda is implemented fully. Answering questions at a press briefing, the Information Minister said government is committed to implementing the policy. Below is a video and pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has assured that measures have been executed to get the country ready following the Ebola and Marburg viruses outbreak in neighbouring countries. This comes after Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana’s closest country on the west, confirmed an Ebola virus case on Saturday, August 14. On Monday, August 9, Guinea confirmed the Marburg virus, thereby becoming the first West African country to record the disease. However, Director-General of the Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Abogye, at a press briefing on Sunday, there is no cause for alarm. According to him, correspondence has been sent to all regional and district health directorates across the country to include Marburg and Ebola in the preparedness and response activities. “Generally, Ghana’s epidemic preparedness and response system has been in action since the onset of Covid-19 and are the same structures for response to any cases of Ebola or Marburg. “Ghana has the capacity to diagnose both disease conditions,” he told the media. Dr Kuma-Aboagye noted that although land borders remain closed, surveillance will be strengthened, particularly the Western border, to foil illegal entry into the country. Just like Covid-19, the Director-General said the mode of transmission for both Ebola and Marburg viruses is by direct contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected person who has symptoms or recently died from the disease. He advised the citizenry to strictly adhere to the safety protocols, including regular hand washing, physical distancing, wearing of face masks, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue. Below are videos and pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II says he is confident, this year’s Homowo celebration will bring peace and unity among the various clans in the Ga State. According to him, without peace, the good people of the Ga State cannot come together as one family. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures Addressing Journalists at this year’s Homowo celebration, the Ga Mantse said “I congratulate the good people of the Ga State. It is my hope and prayer that this year’s festivity unite us as one people in the Ga State” “I, on behalf of the various sub-chiefs, commence the celebration of Homowo in the Ga State. I am also appealing to the gods to guide and guard us” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco The Ga Mantse further added that he is hopeful this year’s celebration brings more blessings and progress in the lives of the citizenry. “May the gods of the land come to our aid and ensure that this year’s occasion is filled with blessings, progress, and bring peace to the Ga State,” he said. https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t The Ga Mantse also seized the opportunity to advise the populace to adhere to the covid-19 protocols. He added that disregarding the protocols will leave the Ga State and nation at a huge risk. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, and his kinsmen toured some royal homes, sprinkling the traditional meal ‘kpokpoi’ at doors-steps, homes, and on the streets as customs demands. The four-hour tour saw the Ga Mantse engage and pray for the citizenry as he sprinkled the kpokpoi at their doorsteps. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-fighter-akufo-addo-wins-chieftaincy-title-okogyeaman-odomankoma-in-bono-region-pics The citizenry could not hide their joy as they hailed and wished the Ga Mantse success in his Kingship. Below are videos and some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), is urging the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), to shoot down any increment in electricity tariff that will be requested by the Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG. ACEP explains that the waste within the state power company is the justification for their demand. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures This comes on the back of an Audit Report by the Auditor-General revealing that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), between 2014 and 2016, procured prepaid meters and conductors worth GHS 59million, but the equipment has been left to rot. The report also noted that ECG incurred expenses of over a GHS 180 million as a capacity charge by Cenit Energy in 2018. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridcoREAD ALSO: The Policy Lead, Petroleum & Conventional Energy at ACEP, Justice Kodzo Yaotse in a Citi News interview on the latest audit report said “after these revelations, any call for adjustments in tariffs have to come with very sound justifications. The customer cannot be made to pay for the inefficiencies of the ECG, that will not be fair.” “PURC has to be very firm on them to ensure that such losses are not countenanced.” https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t Prepaid meters, conductors worth GHS59M abandoned by ECG for 5-years – Audit report The 2020 report of the Auditor-General unraveled how prepaid meters and conductors procured by the Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG, have been left unused for five years. The abandoned meters and conductors are said to be worth GHS59,161,964.56. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco Procured between 2014 and 2016, the meters have not been issued out to customers because ECG management failed to distribute old stock before purchasing new meters, the audit report mentioned. The Auditor-General has thus recommended that prepayment meters and conductors are given out without delay. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-fighter-akufo-addo-wins-chieftaincy-title-okogyeaman-odomankoma-in-bono-region-pics Failure to do that, the report stated, “the amount involved should be recovered from the officers who engaged in the procurement”. Source: Citinewsroom

The Auditor-General has revealed payment made by the Administrator of District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) in spite of no work done. According to the 2020 Auditor General’s report, the administrator paid Zoomlion Ghana Ltd a total amount of GHS3,801,530.00 for fumigation and SIP services for 38 newly created Assemblies for the first quarter of 2018, when the assemblies had not begun work. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco The report explained that the assemblies were inaugurated in March 2018 and their agreements with Zoomlion Ghana Ltd took effect from April 2018. “We consider the payment to be unjustified and a loss to the Fund, as the allocation to the newly created Assemblies did not warrant payment to Zoomlion for no work done”, it stated. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t According to the Administrator, the Assemblies indicated that Zoomlion Ltd would perform extra services to cover the payment. But the Auditor General has recommended that they provide evidence of scope of work undertaken by Zoomlion Ltd to offset the payment or recover the said amount from Zoomlion Ghana Ltd. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco Credit: Modern Ghana