What qualifies as cheating? It’s an age-old question, one with myriad answers which vary depending on who you’re talking to and how much extra-marital canoodling you're willing to dismiss as inconsequential. However, there’s more to infidelity than the obvious offenders, such as sleeping with someone else. For some people, it could be a case of simply texting an ex or “sliding into their DMs”, explains dating coach Madeleine Mason. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures “Because people have different boundaries, someone may think flirting is fine, while for someone else it’s considered emotional cheating,” she told The Independent. While definitions vary couple-to-couple, there are some common underlying factors, such as secrecy, deception and emotional volatility. However, according to experts speaking to Women's Health, there are five definitive types of cheating and surprisingly, two of them may not even involve your partner. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures 1. Physical cheating This might come as a surprise, but being physically intimate with someone who is not your partner is usually considered cheating unless you go all Ross from Friends and insist that you “were on a break”. However obvious it may seem, even physical infidelity is not necessarily immune from ambivalence. Grey areas arise when you get into the minutiae of intimacy, which your teenage self will recall as an all-inclusive scale ranging from kissing to intercourse. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws At what “level” you decide to call cheating is up to you and your partner, dating coach Jo Barnett told The Independent. 2. Having sexual fantasies about someone else It’s normal to fantasize about people you find attractive, regardless of whether or not you’re in a relationship, relationship therapist Max Lundquist told Women's Health. However, run-of-the-mill daydreams about the gardener venture into adulterous waters when they lead to “unsafe or dishonest behaviour,” he said. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures In other words, if your fantasy about said gardener lead you to spend all of your time picking weeds in the garden when your partner thinks you’re at work, it can become a problem. 3. Having romantic feelings about someone else Also known as “emotional infidelity”, the lines for this breed of cheating can also be a little blurry. Essentially, this boils down to harbouring feelings for someone else which, Barnett explained, is something that really is beyond your partner's control. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations "There is an undertone of disloyalty here," she said. While it’s not a crime to have loving relationships with more than one person, Lundquist argues that the infidelity arc comes into play when secrecy is involved i.e. you only ever see that person behind your partner’s back. However, Mason argues that in order for these feelings to count as infidelity, they need to be acted upon. If they simply stay in your head, “it wouldn’t constitute infidelity in my book,” she said. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/transformation-of-gbc-will-not-lie-in-hands-mouth-of-one-board-chairman-or-minister-kojo-nkrumah 4. Secret spending Yep, hiding your spending habits from your other half can be considered a form of infidelity, Lundquist argues. Typically, this classification arises when such spending affects both people in the relationship and yet one person insists on harbouring their expenditure, be it for personal or professional reasons. "This can cause problems and I would say it's unfair not to disclose these activities as you are bound to get found out anyway," Barnett said. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations 5. Secret social media activity According to Dana Weiser, human development professor at Texas Tech University, social media infidelity is also becoming common in romantic partnerships and usually takes two forms. The first is implicitly sexual i.e. you spend time liking ex-partner’s Instagram posts or flirting with people on dating apps, she told Women's Health. The second, Lundquist explained, can be described as cheating on your partner with your smartphone in that you spend more time engaging with your social media feeds than you do with them. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws However, Mason adds that this can only really be considered infidelity if there is an ulterior motive involved that might lead to extramarital activities, such as sexting or spending a disproportionate amount of time in deep conversations online. Excessive social media usage may also exacerbate insecurities within the relationship, Barnett explains. "Obsessing over people you follow Instagram can be very annoying and could leave your partner feeling less secure." READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/we-are-facing-intermittent-power-outages-napo-admits-pictures [This article was originally published in April 2018] Credit: Olivia Petter

Anyone concerned about their partner’s interest in porn may take a little reassurance from the fact they aren’t alone. Watching porn is a real ‘go to’ place for many people, men and women alike. Relate’s 2012 sex census with Ann Summers found that 41 per cent of women and 76 per cent of men admitted to watching porn once a month or more and that 19 per cent of women and 58 per cent of men watched it once a week. Many more said they would prefer not to say whether they used porn, suggesting the real numbers of porn usage are even higher. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/transformation-of-gbc-will-not-lie-in-hands-mouth-of-one-board-chairman-or-minister-kojo-nkrumah But of course, these are just statistics. When it is personal to us – maybe we’ve just found out that a partner is watching porn or have known what’s been happening for a while and haven’t felt able to say anything - it can really hurt. What are the potential issues here? Starting at the beginning of this conundrum, let’s think about the porn use itself. The bottom line is that lots of people enjoy porn. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws It’s not necessarily an individual pursuit either because many couples find that using porn together can really enhance their sex lives. And that seems to be the start of the problem here, in that you may feel isolated and alone while your other half blithely carries on and ignores your feelings. When we find out that a partner is doing something that feels detrimental to us, we should be able to talk directly about our concerns and have a clear expectation that we will be heard. Maybe that leads directly to changes being made, but even if that doesn't happen at least the other half knows how we think and feel. But when we desperately want an explanation, or for something to just stop, we can get into seriously unhelpful dialogue that just ends up with accusations flying around which get us nowhere. So when faced with the partner who is looking at porn, try to take a step back to think about your own thoughts about it before you confront your partner. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures Is it that you think it is disgusting and has no place in a relationship? Is that you don’t mind but feel excluded? Or is it that you suspect the sexual relationship isn’t satisfying your partner and they’ve decided to find out if porn is more alluring? There is no doubt that porn can create very unrealistic perceptions of men and women against which "ordinary" sex gets unfavourably compared. Perfect bodies, herculean stamina and endless orgasms are not things that most couples would feel able, or indeed want, to aspire to at the end of a long hard day at the office or with the kids. Instead many prefer to focus on tenderness and intimacy as the major contributor to good sex. Maybe your partner simply takes it for granted that you are OK with their porn use because you haven’t ever said anything. If that’s the case then relying on telepathy isn’t likely to help, and arranging to make time together to talk about how you feel is the first step to sorting things out. Perhaps you are concerned by the sheer amount of porn they are watching and worry that it is impacting negatively on their everyday lives and relationships. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws What can you do about it? Whatever your angle, begin by talking to them. Be clear about how you feel – being vague is only going to cause more confusion and what needs to be said could get lost in translation. It is important to listen carefully to what your partner is telling you too. But what if you feel you can’t speak to them about it? What is it that might stop us from being honest with a partner about this or even anything else? Sometimes it is because we actually fear that our own opinion might be so different to our partner’s that by expressing it they may end up deserting us. Also, if you are in a relationship where you feel that you are never listened to or that your needs aren’t usually met, it is easy to get out of the habit of having any real expectation of change. This can quickly descend into a ‘what’s the point’ conversation and then of course nothing does change except that the sadness, anger and resentment just get bigger. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures Porn is a personal thing. If it is not for you, then be clear about this. Ultimately a partner who can’t hear this and still wants to indulge in heavy usage may not be the partner for you. Equally, don’t necessarily exclude experimenting with it together either. As with anything to do with sex, agreeing how far you want to take things is a definite requirement in any healthy relationship, so don’t let anyone insist you look at or re-enact the things they’ve seen if you are not comfortable. Equally, it’s probably better to give anyone who suggests you are weird for not wanting to look at porn a very wide berth because humiliating someone in this way is generally a very negative reflection of that person. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures So, don’t hold back, be bold and say how you feel and what you want and expect from your partner. If you can create a positive conversation together and you’re both games, a mild flirtation with porn may be just the thing to reignite the passion. Credit: Ammanda Major

Shareholders’ funds of the 23 banks operating in the country grew by 21.2% to GH¢22.2 billion as of the end of February 2021. This is compared with a 14.6% growth a year earlier. According to the Banking Sector Development report, this reinforces the stability and resilience of the banking sector. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/full-text-martin-amidu-s-take-on-nomination-of-new-special-prosecutor The report said the sustained growth in banks’ total net worth was driven by strong profit retention. In summary, the Bank of Ghana said the balance sheet performance of the industry for the first two months of 2021 shows sustained growth in key indicators except for the pandemic-induced weakness in credit growth. It is expected that growth in the sector will remain strong as the economic recovery process takes hold in 2021. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures Assets and liability structure The structure of banks’ balance sheets remained broadly unchanged during the review period. However, the report said there were some noticeable differences in the relative shares of the key components, a reflection of the pandemic-induced developments within the sector during the past year. Investments continued to dominate the assets mix as its share increased significantly from 36.3% in February 2020 to 44.7% in February 2021, reflecting banks’ increasing appetite for less risky assets. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/lilwin-lauds-akufo-addo-s-investment-in-movie-industry The share of loans and advances (net) however declined to 27.2% from 31.5 percent in the previous year on account of the slowdown in credit growth. The share of “Cash and Due from Banks” also declined during the period to 19.9% from 24.2%, due in part to the reduction in the primary reserve requirement by 2 percentage points in March 2020, one of the regulatory measures to boost liquidity and encourage lending to critical sectors of the economy and also support sectors badly hit by the pandemic. Outlook of banking industry The Central Bank said the robust performance of the banking sector continued into 2021. Asset growth remained strong on the back of strong deposit and investment growth. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures However, credit growth was sluggish due to the lingering effect of low credit demand and supply conditions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. But the financial soundness indicators continued to reflect a well-capitalized and liquid sector. Profitability was moderately affected by the pandemic but effective cost control measures ensured that the impact of the pandemic on the bottom line was somewhat contained. Source: Charles Nixon Yeboah

Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani both scored twice as Manchester United came from behind to take a major step towards sealing a place in next month’s Europa League final. Fernandes gave United a perfect start in their semi-final with Italian side Roma when he swept home Cavani’s first-time lay-off. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/lilwin-lauds-akufo-addo-s-investment-in-movie-industry Paul Pogba’s handball allowed Lorenzo Pellegrini to equalize before the Roma skipper’s pass allowed former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko to score his sixth goal in five Old Trafford appearances to turn the tie on its head by half-time. But United rallied after the break. Cavani leveled with a superb first-time effort before tapping the hosts back in front when substitute keeper Antonio Mirante pushed Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s angled shot into his path. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were in no mood to let their advantage slip a second time, although it took a fortunate penalty for what seemed to be an innocuous Chris Smalling tackle on Cavani to give Fernandes the chance to add a fourth from the spot. Pogba then powered home a precise header from Fernandes’ cross before Greenwood ran on to Cavani’s pass and drove home United’s sixth, making them the first side to score six goals in a major European semi-final since Real Madrid in the 1964 European Cup. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/full-text-martin-amidu-s-take-on-nomination-of-new-special-prosecutor See pictures below: Credit: BBC

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has launched the $25 million Presidential Film Pitch Series, whose aim is to help make Ghana’s film industry a significant contributor to national development. Launching the Series on Wednesday, 28th April 2021, at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, President Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana has an abundance of forts and castles, national parks, historic palaces, wildlife, and festivals that could be filmed and marketed for tourist purposes. According to President, “the consistently favorable rankings of Ghana by the World Economic Forum Global Competitive Report as politically stable, with a safe and secure environment, unique and better tourist assets and infrastructure, should make the country a preferable film and tourism hub, which should be leveraged by Ghanaian film producers.” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures He continued, “We are, indeed, the safest country in West Africa, and the third most peaceful country on the continent. This enviable position has great marketing and promotional ramifications for the development and sustainability of the Ghanaian film industry. It is for these reasons that we have gathered this afternoon to launch the first-ever Presidential Film Pitch Series, which is also the first of its kind in Africa.” As a result of the Film Pitch Series, Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the National Film Authority, has brought together Ghanaian film producers on one hand, and investors, distributors, and marketers on the other, to make deals to the tune of US$25 million. With the $25 million investment already secured, President Akufo-Addo noted that this will go a long way to strengthen the local film ecosystem, with some 6,000 jobs set to be created as a result. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures “Ghanaian film producers now have the opportunity to access markets for their films, and I want to take this opportunity to encourage local film producers to show more creativity and innovation in their productions to make Ghanaian films not only popular within the country, but also capable of satisfying international audiences,” the President added. With the Ghanaian film industry having many talented players along the value chain, he assured that Government will continue to initiate policies and programs to help make the Ghanaian film sector competitive and viable. The National Film Authority, President Akufo-Addo said, will lead the charge in introducing business development modules into film-making, production and distribution, in order to help create a vibrant market for local film production. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws NAFTI gets €45 million The President also revealed at the event that the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), the oldest film and television training school in West Africa, is being retooled to enable it to provide the needed training for players in the industry, in the quest to make Ghana attractive to international film productions, as well as the hub of film production in West Africa. “€45 million has been approved for NAFTI to reform it into a world-class training facility. The school is also introducing specialized courses in scriptwriting, as well as the business of film,” he said. This, according to President Akufo-Addo, means that Ghana will now have graduates with a specialty in scriptwriting to feed the film sector and help build the needed structures for a vibrant film ecosystem. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/lilwin-lauds-akufo-addo-s-investment-in-movie-industry Additionally, NAFTI will also be issuing its own degrees as part of the University of Media Arts. The imminent completion of the Creative Arts Senior High School, in Kwadaso, the President noted, “will help open up the creative process from the secondary school level, making the arts sector a vibrant option for many students, by giving targeted training to young people, and offering them the opportunity for employment in the creative arts sector. He added that the Creative Arts Senior High School will also help prepare students who desire to further their education at NAFTI, thereby providing a stream of creative talents. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/full-text-martin-amidu-s-take-on-nomination-of-new-special-prosecutor “As we gradually emerge from the pandemic, I will like to urge players in the sector to step up their entrepreneurial acumen. Film-trepreneurs must lead in the creation of new businesses, which would serve as an important ingredient for the development of a vibrant business sector,” the President stressed. He, thus, entreated the youth, particularly women, to develop greater interest in the film value chain, assuring that “Government is determined to create an environment that fosters youth entrepreneurship which results in the creation of new business entities.” Credit: Myjoyonline.com

Actress Akuapem Poloo has revealed that monies donated to her mother and son via comedian DKB have not reached her family. Taking to social media, the young actress stated that she has been receiving calls with many people calling her ungrateful for failing to thank them for following their generosity towards her. However, she said that after being released on bail, no individual or organization has contacted her with any donation aside from money given to her by the owner of the popular Instagram handle ‘Those Called Celebs’. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures “I have not received any money from any person. Since I came back from jail. People have been calling me from UK and US telling me that they have given someone money to give to me and I didn’t say thank you so I’m ungrateful, I have not received any money from anyone.” She stated that one woman had called her claiming she sent ¢4000 to her adding “the woman complained bitterly” because she did not show appreciation. Thus she called DKB to prove she has not received any money. But, DKB, she said, did not pick her call and is yet to get back to her with an explanation and/or the money. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/lilwin-lauds-akufo-addo-s-investment-in-movie-industry Prior to Akuapem Poloo’s release, the comedian, born Derrick Kobina Bonney, took it upon himself to raise funds for the actress’s son. He created artwork with MobileMoney and bank account (for amounts worth ¢1,000 and above) numbers, which he shared on his Facebook page. “Finally! For those who have been bugging me to reach her with some help. Gotten all the details from her. So here you are, feel free to support an embattled sister and her handsome son. God bless you. #PrayforAkuapemPoloo,” he wrote. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures But social media users were irritated by his attempt to capitalize on his colleague’s unfortunate situation with some claiming he wanted to make a quick cedi. Akuapem Poloo stated that she will not blindly turn an eye if people have sent her family help. Thus, she does not appreciate being called ungrateful adding that she will not hesitate to thank anyone who sent financial help her way. “Guys, I beg you, save me from this trauma. I have not received any money, if I have received it I will thank you because I really appreciate it. Aside from Those Called Celebrities, I have not received any money from anyone. Please let’s respect ourselves, you know I am a grateful being.” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/full-text-martin-amidu-s-take-on-nomination-of-new-special-prosecutor Credit: Myjoyonline.com

Popular Ghanaian actor Kwadwo Nkansah ‘Lilwin’ has welcome President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s $25 million investment in Ghana’s film industry. President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday launched a Pitch Series under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (coordinated by the National Film Authority) to create a vibrant and competitive film industry and make Ghana a film and tourism hub. The award-winning actor in an interview said the investment had come at the right time where movie stakeholders were doing their best to revive the industry. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures “The investment has come at the right time where all film stakeholders are striving hard to revamp the industry. “I urge all stakeholders who are going to be in charge of the project not to be selective in their dealings so as not to jeopardize the President’s dreams of making the industry vibrant and competitive. “We all have to come together and support this move because movies contribute to the happiness of the people as well promoting our arts and culture,’’ he said. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/full-text-martin-amidu-s-take-on-nomination-of-new-special-prosecutor Lilwin added that local filmmakers had the capabilities of generating storylines that could compete on the international film market but their problems were always associated with lack of financing which he believes the President’s investment could make a huge difference. The President Film Pitch series platform is expected to lead the production of some 200 films and generate over 40,000 jobs annually. Credit: GNA

Every filmmaker's dream is to see their end product on the big screen, unfortunately, due to Covid-19, those dreams were shut down. Just like their dreams were shut down so were the cinema doors. For over a year, dreams were shattered, people were left jobless, the lights were off, the cameras packed and there was certainly no action. But then things started to get better. Churches were open, schools were in session and open-air pubs were starting to turn up the music. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures With all these and more open, the doors to the movie theatres were still shut. Many filmmakers expressed their dissatisfaction about this, in October 2020, the National Film Authority – Action Group, petitioned President Akufo-Addo through the tourism Ministry to open the cinemas. Recently in April 2021, Producer/Actor Yvonne Nelson joined the calls for cinemas to reopen. She posted an image on her Instagram page with the words “OPEN OUR CINEMAS” written boldly in red. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures Well, at the official launch of The Presidential Film Pitch Series, President Akufo-Addo assured players in the industry the doors to the theatres will open soon, “I want to proclaim on a matter of great concern that the opening of cinemas is under constant review of the COVID-19 taskforce. And hopefully, you’ll hear from the task force soon,” he said. Although the near future looks uncertain for the home of the big screen, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mohammed Awal wants to do all he can to resource the arts industry firstly through the Presidential Film Pitch Series, “We want to help produce 200 Ghanaian movies every year and that will generate 40,000 jobs from the film sector alone,” he said. Movie fanatics and lovers just like me can’t wait for all these promises to be fulfilled and once the Covid-19 task force gives the go-ahead, we will be the first in line to buy tickets at our nearest theatres, get our popcorns, and wait patiently in line for that moment…..when the lights go off and the dreams of filmmakers come alive on the big screen. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/full-text-martin-amidu-s-take-on-nomination-of-new-special-prosecutor Until then we can only rely on streaming services in the comfort of our homes which frankly do not give you the same atmosphere and experience as theatres. Credit: Myjoyonline.com

Do not defame Martin Amidu in the propaganda to nominate a new Special Prosecutor: by Martin A. B. K. Amidu Anybody deeply knowledgeable about the Agyapa Royalties Transaction Corruption Risk Assessment report which resulted in my eventual resignation as the first Special Prosecutor knows that one of the beneficiaries of the Agyapa Royalties Transaction is Africa Legal Associates whose contract to participate in the transaction was found to be contrary to the Public Procurement Act and tainted by bid-rigging. Until 20th March 2020, Agyapa Royalties Limited was incorporated as Asaase Royalties Limited on 5th November 2019 in Jersey, the United Kingdom. Anybody who cares to know knows that the alter ego of Africa Legal Associates is a cousin of the President who also established Asaase Radio which began official transmission on 14th June 2020. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations The Agyapa Royalties Transaction records show the role the President’s cousin who established Africa Legal Associates, and Asaase Radio played with White &Case LLP, of London, one of the foreign law firms in the suspected corruption transaction. It must, therefore, be worrying to any patriotic Ghanaian not afraid of the culture of silence to see Asaase Radio undertaking political propaganda beginning on 25th April 2021 to 26th April 2021 to prepare the minds of the Ghanaian and international public to accept the surrogate of the alter ego of the Asaase Radio station and Africa Legal Associates as the Special Prosecutor as mandated under section 4(1) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959). In the attempt of persons implicated in the Agyapa Royalties Transaction corruption assessment report to pressurize the President to appoint their surrogate as the Special Prosecutor to safeguard their interests, the online reportage of Asaase Radio resorted to direct fabrications, lies, and omissions against me in its narration of the reasons for my resignation. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures The post on the Asaase Radio online website by one Wilberforce Asare states in respect of my resignation that: “His [Martin Amidu] reasons for resigning were roundly criticized by civil society actors, who maintained that the law offered him enough protection to stay in office and perform his duties without interference and that there was no clear evidence of any executive interference that should have triggered his resignation.” Asaase Radio and its alter ego did not have the courage to point out one civil society actor who expressed the fabrication it was putting out to the public to aid the appointment of its new surrogate and preferred “Agyapa” Special Prosecutor. Asaase Radio also shamefully pretended not to have read my rejoinder giving further and better particulars on my resignation dated 26th November 2020 to the Secretary to the President’s supposed to reply to my resignation letter which we now know by experience that the President might not have instructed to be written at all. My functions or my judgment and decision as the Special Prosecutor to resign my office under Act 959 was not subject to the supervision or judgment of civil society actors let alone those of them who secretly attend Government policy-making meetings as I had occasion to point out in writing previously. In exercise of brazen impunity, Asaase Radio reported online a matter which never featured in my resignation for pure political propaganda to facilitate and enhance the status of its surrogate “Agyapa” Special Prosecutor even before the President could indicate his acceptance of the nominee and forward a request to Parliament. What has the nomination of a Special Prosecutor by the Attorney General which was awaiting the pleasure of the President got to do with the reportage by Asaase Radio that: “Mr. Amidu, a veteran member of the opposition National Democratic Congress, who rose to become a vice-presidential candidate and Attorney General, fell out with the Mills administration over what he described as a matter of principle over alleged executive connivance in dubious multi-million dollar judgment debt.”? Didn’t the President know these facts when he invited me and convinced me to accept to be the first Special Prosecutor? Was the President expecting me to close my eyes to corruption in his Government when he personally sought my acceptance and transmitted my nomination to Parliament? Did I, as a public officer, continue to be a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) upon my nomination and subsequent appointment as the Special Prosecutor? Was my supposed disaffection with NDC the reason for the President referring the alleged Airbus bribery case to me for investigation? READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws Asaase Radio appears to have been so bent on pressurizing the President to announce their preferred choice as the Special Prosecutor (the Agyapa Special Prosecutor) that it forgot that the nomination letter by the Attorney-General was addressed only to the President. How then did the nomination letter of a new Special Prosecutor come into the public domain to make the rounds in the press? Asaase Radio should also have told the Ghanaian and international public that its surrogate and nominee Special Prosecutor in the published letter is a personal friend and classmate of the Attorney General, and the owner of Asaase Radioall of whom attended the University of Ghana’s Faculty of Law and Ghana Law School. The independence of the Special Prosecutor from the direction or control of any person or authority in the performance of the functions of his office is the operative statutory word for the nomination of an impartial Special Prosecutor! Not a word with an “ism”. Section 13 particularly subsections (3) and (4) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959) spells out the procedure for the nomination and appointment of a qualified Special Prosecutor. In the scheme of the 1992 Constitution and Act 959 even though the nomination of the Special Prosecutor is entrusted to the Attorney-General subject to the approval of Parliament, the person who accepts the nomination and submits it to Parliament for consideration and approval is the President. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures Consequently, the announcement of my nomination as the first Special Prosecutor was made by the President on 11th January 2018 at a press conference at the Jubilee House and followed up with a request to Parliament to consider the nomination for approval. The Attorney-General at the time never arrogated to herself the authority to force the hands of the President to accept my nomination by making her nomination public before the President had the opportunity to make the same public. The Attorney-General at the time followed the dictates of Ministerial and Cabinet responsibility in allowing the Cabinet and the President to consider my nomination before it was made public. And those of us who had ears inside the Cabinet knew the debate that went on before the President concluded the Cabinet debate in accepting and announcing my nomination as the first Special Prosecutor on 11th January 2018. Asaase Radio and the nominator of the proposed new Special Prosecutor know or ought to have known the extent of the involvement of their surrogate as a lawyer for suspects in pending suspected corruption cases in which the Government showed an undue interest in the Office of the Special Prosecutor which I await to see how independently and impartially those cases will be handled to the conclusion should the President submit the name of the nominee to Parliament, he is approved, and then appointed. I read Sir Sam Jonah’s expose on impunity, corruption, and other “isms” militating against the fight against corruption in government and the economy before reading the series of propaganda publications by Asaase Radio on its preferred and proposed new Special Prosecutor. No impartial observer can disagree with Sir Sam Jonah’s reflections except beneficiaries of the system who loot from the public purse. The fight against corruption in Ghana has been and is still in State Capture. Mark my words! By all means, let anybody root for his or her preferred Special Prosecutor as insurance against prosecution for corruption in Government but leave me out of the propaganda. I am honoring an undertaking by my silence in not commenting on public affairs. Stop tempting me to speak by the defaming propaganda against me. It will not be in anyone’s interest. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures Credit: Martin A. B. K. Amidu 29th April 2021

The Communications and Public Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Energy has replied the Minority in Parliament saying there has been no nationwide load shedding, neither are there attempts to embark on one. According to the Energy Ministry, it has no intentions adding that there is no need in doing so. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures In a statement sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, it said "Despite inherent challenges in the transmission and distribution aspects of the power sector, systematic plans have been put in place by government and our developmental partners like MCC, Siemens, and AFD to support the overall stability and create consistency and reliability for the country. For the record, there has been no nationwide load shedding in the country, neither has there been an attempt to embark on one because there is no need to" It added that the only reason the intermittent outages are being carried out is to allow for the contractors to tie in their works into the existing transmission lines. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws The Ministry of Energy also noted that it is therefore false to claim, as the Minority in Parliament has, that political pressure has been brought to bear on the publishing of a load shedding timetable. Touching on ongoing key projects to salvage situation i.e Transmission' it said "Pokuase substation (BSP) - The US$60m Pokuase BSP, the fourth Bulk Supply Point in Accra designated as A4BSP, and its associated 33kV and 11kV interconnecting lines will address power supply challenges, such as frequent outages and low voltages resulting from increased power demand in Accra and the surrounding towns. On completion, the quality of power supply and reliability in Pokuase, Kwabenya, Legon, Nsawam and its environs will improve significantly" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures On the Kasoa GIS BSP, it mentioned that the US$50m project is to improve reliability and quality of supply to Kasoa and its environs, including Senya Bereku, Bawjiase, and Nyanyanu, and also increase power availability to meet growing demand in that area. Below is a copy of the full statement: STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO MINORITY IN PARLIAMENT’S STATEMENT ON POWER SITUATION The attention of the Ministry of Energy has been drawn to a statement yesterday 28th April 2021 by the Minority in Parliament over the current power outage situation in the country. In the said statement a number of claims were made on a variety of issues in the power sector. The Ministry wishes to put on record the following facts; • Intermittent Power Outages Since the beginning of the year, there have been some intermittent outages in parts of the country due to the following: • Feeder outages in Kumasi arising from low water levels in the Bui Dam enclave. 1Bui is a peaking plant for transmissions services to Ashanti, Bono regions, and the Northern parts of Ghana. Bui is crucial, in that it is able to energize the low voltages in power being supplied from the south into Ashanti and the north). • Prestea-Obuasi Transmission line trips, leading to a total system shutdown (the line that tripped affected other adjacent lines. This curtailed supply and caused a system shutdown). • Gas flow challenges upstream – arising from challenges in the WAPCo supply line. • Gas Compressor faults reported by Ghana Gas. • Localised outages within the distribution chain Despite inherent challenges in the transmission and distribution aspects of the power sector, systematic plans have been put in place by the government and our developmental partners like MCC, Siemens, and AFD to support the overall stability and create consistency and reliability for the country. For the record, there has been no nationwide load shedding in the country, neither has there been an attempt to embark on one because there is no need to. Some of the projects ongoing in Accra and Kasoa, for example, will require outages for some days. The Pokuase timetable is out, starting from May 10 to May 17th, 2021. That of Kasoa is yet to be published and shall be released at the appropriate time when the necessary arrangements and consultations with the relevant stakeholders have taken place. The only reason these outages are being carried is to allow for the contractors to tie in their works into the existing transmission lines. It is therefore false to claim, as the Minority in Parliament has, that political pressure has been brought to bear on the publishing of a load shedding timetable. • Ongoing Key Projects to salvage situation – Transmission • Pokuase substation (BSP) - The US$60m Pokuase BSP, the fourth Bulk Supply Point in Accra designated as A4BSP, and its associated 33kV and 11kV interconnecting lines will address power supply challenges, such as frequent outages and low voltages resulting from increased power demand in Accra and the surrounding towns. On completion, the quality of power supply and reliability in Pokuase, Kwabenya, Legon, Nsawam, and its environs will improve significantly. • Kasoa GIS BSP - A US$50m project to improve reliability and quality of supply to Kasoa and its environs, including Senya Bereku, Bawjiase and Nyanyanu, and also increase power availability to meet growing demand in that area. There will also be significant reduction in transmission and distribution losses. Upon completion, the program will benefit 241,508 ECG customers by vastly improving GRIDCo’s power transmission system. • Kumasi - Kintampo transmission line project - funded by AFD at a cost of US$173m. It will ease the load on the Kumasi substations and become the instrument of power transmission to the north. The substations in Kumasi can then focus on transmissions to areas within the Ashanti and Bono regions. • Purchasing of a US$15m Static VAR Compensator - it will help sustain high voltages in the transmission system. • Transfer of AMERI Plant to Kumasi – To stabilize the power in Kumasi and also support the voltage in the northern part of the country which has become worse because of Bui’s outage. • Work on the Tema to Accra transmission line upgrade project. Installation of new transmission lines is to increase power transfer capacity from 400 megawatts (MW) to 1,900MW to reduce redundancy of power in the transmission lines It is obvious that these works cannot be carried out without the relevant financial arrangements in place, for which reason the Minority in Parliament’s claim of financial limitations with respect to the current situation is wholly without merit and should be disregarded. Project Timelines The Ministry rejects the Minority in Parliament’s assertion that different timelines have been given from different outfits in respect of the schedule of works. This is false. It is important to note the following; Pokuase Bulk Supply Point– July 2021 The Bulk Power Supply Point (BPS) being constructed at Pokuase in the Greater Accra Region is 95 percent complete and on schedule for handover to the government at the end of July 2021. Kasoa Bulk Supply Point – August 2021 Sixty percent of construction work has so far been done on the $50-million gas insulated switchgear (GIS) substation, with engineers assuring the minister that the infrastructure will be ready by the end of August this year. Tema to Achimota Line Rehabilitation - September 2021 The project, which is part of a nationwide rehabilitation of lines, started three years ago under the Agence de France de Development financing of $173 million and is expected to be completed by September 2021. It is expected that by the end of 2021, all these and other projects would have come to fruition and the power situation would have been resolved. These different conclusion dates for the various projects cannot by any stretch of the imagination be construed to mean that different and contradictory dates have been issued on when the power situation would be resolved. • Bui Dam Bui remains a crucial stakeholder and client of Ghana Grid Company. It is undeniable that Bui Dam’s role as a peaking plant remains a significant point in the transmission process. Once the water level drops, this hampers transmission to the Ashanti region and beyond, due to the low voltages that are the resultant effect. • AFD Loan & Projects The principal reason for the halt in loan disbursements by Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) was to pave way for the agency’s access to a government guarantee. The projects have all resumed following the provision of the necessary requirements needed by the French Development Agency. President Akufo-Addo’s vision for the power sub-sector is safe, dependable, and affordable power to bring relief to Ghanaians and also to serve as a solid base for an industrialised economy. The Ministry of Energy, in furtherance of this vision, is working hard to bring it to fruition and remains focused on delivering this important mandate. The Ministry shall not be drawn into a needles war of words that tends to politicize the situation. However, the Ministry welcomes constructive feedback from all sections of our society. Government appreciates the patience of affected Ghanaians and respectfully craves their forbearance as these necessary works are undertaken in order to achieve their objective. -ENDS- ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS UNIT ~Ministry of Energy Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

A driver of a Yutong bus who made a wrong overtaking has led to the death of a 45-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl at Akim Asafo near Suhum in the Eastern region. A police report said on April 26, 2021 at about 1930 hours, the driver Francis Ali, aged 30 was driving a Yutong Bus with registration number GE 5124-19 with passengers on board from Accra to Bawku. On reaching a section of the road at the outskirts of Akim Asafo near Suhum on the Accra -Kumasi highway, he made a wrong overtaking without observing traffic from the opposite direction, leading to the accident. In the process, the driver crashed head-on with a Mitsubishi Pajero 4×4 private car with registration number GE 1201-18 which belongs to a popular communicator of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Adomako Berfi. Public Relations Officer, Eastern Regional Police Command, Police Sergeant Francis Gomado confirmed the accident. He said the Mitsubishi Pajero driver, now deceased, was aged about 45 and a young girl aged about 12, died on the spot. He said another victim, Yaa Pokua aged 35, sustained injuries and was rushed to the Suhum Government Hospital and admitted for treatment. Meanwhile, the bodies have been removed from the scene and sent to the Suhum Government Hospital mortuary for preservation, identification, and autopsy. Sgt Gomado added that the accident vehicles had been removed from the road to allow for free flow of traffic. A shocked Adomako Baafi said he could have been a victim of the accident. “I told the driver to take the lead after I suffered severe headache. I’m grateful to God” he said on Adom FM. The NPP man later shared photos of the gory accident on Facebook See pictures below: Credit: MyNewsgh

The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at the Nungua Police Station has arrested a 28-year-old second-hand cloth dealer, Kojo Appiah Agyei for using a hot iron on his girlfriend, Grace Borteley, 30, over GHc7. Sources say the suspect used the hot iron on her after he accused her of pocketing his money without his knowledge. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures Thinknewsonline.com has gathered Grace sold one of the second-hand clothes to a customer and used the money for food. Coordinator in charge at the Nungua Branch of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) under the Kpeshie Divisional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Christiana Fosu Asamoah revealed that the lovers have been living together for the past two and a half years with their two-year-old daughter. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures "On April 25, the victim with burns all over her body reported the matter to the police. A medical form was immediately issued to the victim to seek medical attention after which her statement was taken" DSP Fosu Asamoah further explained that Grace tried explaining her reason for pocketing the money to Kojo who was by then ironing some of the second-hand clothes. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures Kojo Agyei lost his temper, assaulted Grace, and later used the hot iron to burn her face, shoulders, breast, back, and legs. It is emerging that Kojo Appiah was arrested by the Nungua police on April 27. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations The suspect has been arraigned for court. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith