ThinkNews Online can confirm that fire has gutted some parts of the Kaneshie Market on Sunday dawn. According to sources, the fire has burnt and destroyed properties worth thousands. The Ghana National Fire Service however explains that it will commence investigation into the cause. The burning of Kaneshie Market comes few days after Kantamanto market was raised down by some unknown people. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Management of Asante Kotoko says it has appointed the Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the club, Nana Yaw Amponsah, David Obeng Nyarko to serve in the interim as its Acting Communication Manager. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught According to Kotoko, the call comes after its former Communications Manager, Moses Antwi Benefo tendered in a resignation letter to the Management of Kotoko on Friday. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught In a letter sighted by ThinkNews Online and signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the club, Nana Yaw Amponsah, it said "The Management of Asante Kotoko wishes to thank former Communication Manager, Mr. Moses Antwi Benefo, for his service to our great club during his tenure as the leader of the unit" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-staunch-npp-member-stabbed-to-death-by-his-ndc-relatives "In the interim, Mr. David Obeng Nyarko (Special Assistant to the CEO) will serve as the Acting Communication Manager" it added. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/entertainment-sister-derby-blasts-joy-fm-over-unprofessional-behaviour-picture Below is a copy of the letter: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

ThinkNews Online can confirm that the communications manager of the Ghanaian football club, Asante Kotoko, Moses Antwi Benefo has officially resigned from his post. According to sources, the Ace Sports Journalist sighted his resignation to Professional and Personal Reasons. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-staunch-npp-member-stabbed-to-death-by-his-ndc-relatives Although many soccer pundits cannot fathom with his reasons for resigning, it is emerging that Mr. Antwi Benefo served as the Communications Manager for four (4) months. The resignation comes hours after the head coach, Maxwell Konadu was sacked. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught The Porcupine Warriors were pipped 0-1 by Accra-based, Great Olympics at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

More than 300 schoolboys have been reunited with their families, a week after they were kidnapped from their school in north-west Nigeria. The boys arrived in the state capital Katsina by bus. Reporters said they looked tired and weary but otherwise well. Some were still wearing their school uniforms, while others clutched grey blankets. The 11 December attack on the school in Kankara town was claimed by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/watch-jean-mensa-spotted-dancing-at-aglow-amidst-election-tension-video It remains unclear if all those captured have now been released. Katsina Governor Aminu Bello Masari said on Thursday that 344 children had been turned over to security officials. "I think we can say ... we have recovered most of the boys, if not all of them," he told the Associated Press. The boys were flanked by armed police as they walked in single file from the buses to a government building to meet the governor. They were also due to undergo medical checks. One boy told a TV station that the group had been fed bread and cassava during their captivity and said it had been cold. He said was "really happy" to be back in Katsina. Parents were overjoyed to be reunited with their sons. "I couldn't believe what I heard until neighbors came to inform me that it's true," Hafsat Funtua, whose son is 16, told Reuters news agency. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught How was the boys' release secured? The government insists no ransom was paid but that the boys were released after negotiations with the kidnappers. Although Islamist militant group Boko Haram said it was behind the kidnapping, this has been denied by Nigerian officials. The boys were ferried into Katsina on buses Zamfara state governor Bello Matawalle, in whose state the boys were released, told the BBC that three separate negotiations had taken place before the boys' freedom was secured. They were released in Tsafe town in Zamfara on Thursday evening, authorities say. Mr. Matawalle told BBC Hausa that during the negotiations the kidnappers raised various grievances. "Among their complaints was how people kill their cattle and how various vigilante units disturb them," the governor said, adding that the government had promised to look into the complaints of the kidnappers. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/entertainment-sister-derby-blasts-joy-fm-over-unprofessional-behaviour-picture The conflict between herders and farming communities are common in Nigeria's central and north-western states, says the BBC's Nduka Orjinmo in Lagos. Both groups have been warring for decades but deadly clashes have increased in recent years as farming communities and herdsmen have employed armed vigilantes, especially in Nigeria's north-west. How did the school attack unfold? Witnesses said armed men raided the school in Kankara town last Friday evening. Many students jumped the school fence and fled when they heard gunshots. media captionAbdulhadi Abubakar describes how he managed to avoid the mass kidnapping in Nigeria's Katsina school Some were tracked by the gunmen, who tricked them into believing that they were security personnel, students who escaped said. Once these students were rounded up, they were marched into the nearby forest by the armed men. On Thursday, the video was released bearing Boko Haram's emblem, showing dozens of boys, some of whom appear to be very young. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught One of the boys said they were kidnapped by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau's group and that all the government troops who had been sent to help them should be turned back. What's the wider picture? Boko Haram has become notorious over the last decade for school kidnappings, including one in Chibok in 2014, when nearly 300 schoolgirls were seized. The group's name loosely translates as "Western education is forbidden". However, these abductions have until now taken place in north-eastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram is based. Armed attacks and kidnappings are rife in north-western Nigeria and are often blamed on bandits, a loose term for gangs operating in the area. Amnesty International says more than 1,100 people were killed by bandits in the first six months of this year, with the government failing to bring the attackers to justice. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-staunch-npp-member-stabbed-to-death-by-his-ndc-relatives Source: BBC

Some scores of football fanatics have expressed mixed reactions to the sacking of Head Coach, Maxwell Konadu by the Management of Kumasi Asante Kotoko. According to a section of the social media users, the sack is a good decision adding Maxwell is losing focus hence the recent defeats. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/watch-jean-mensa-spotted-dancing-at-aglow-amidst-election-tension-video Others say they are very disappointed in the leadership of Kotoko explaining that sacking Maxwell at this time of the season will go a long way to affect the players and style of play. In a series of tweets sighted by ThinkNews Online, Ayew junior (@Ayewjunior6) tweeted "Yes he must be sack coz he’s not good enough, anyway wontumi sports. ur de best keep it for us we always dey for u" Ebenezer Sam (@Ebeneze32250762) also said "No, Loosing a match like is very painful but that doesn't mean you should sack him. He is the right man for the job. look at his work rate at the National level... I think Legon Cities should get him and he'll transform them to perfect team. #love you Konadu" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught Kelvin edem akortia (@KAkortia) tweeted "Max did his best... I was just not good enough We have let him go let find a better replace as soon as possible. But my only reservation is about the ACL qualifications hope we good through. Let trust the management" Nharnahmesty (@Nharnahmesty1) tweeted "#wontumiSports he need to be sack because the players are not playing any information they just playing any how, no information they should sack him kotoko in not a small team to play without a information from nharnahmesty@ kwabenya" Anthony Davis Ba (@ReamyMorgan) also said "Yes, with 45% win rate, it's the ryt decision. U don't see kotoko playing these days with any clear cut approach, tactics or improvement. The team has being retrogressing, clear dip in form of established players like narttey, gyamfi and maxwell is the reason. #WontumiSports" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/entertainment-sister-derby-blasts-joy-fm-over-unprofessional-behaviour-picture See embed tweet below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The wearing of face masks defined the year Slowly but surely the sun is setting on the year 2020,and what a year it has turned out to be! For us In Ghana it still feels unbelievable that Covid-19 is at our door steps. what started as a virus In far away Wuhan quickly took hold of the entire world within months In a manner akin to a raging wildfire. For we in Ghana the Magic date was 12th March,2020.the date On which the first cases of covid were reported on our soil. The entire world was caught wrong footed by a pandemic that was so unexpected. I still remember the toddling months of the virus when the World Health Organization debated whether to declare the virus a pandemic or not. Covid-19 demonstrated how vulnerable humanity is to the natural currents of this world. suddenly the virus had become the Ultimate leveler,as it demonstrated that it was no respecter of persons: from Presidents, Prime ministers to royalty, all had to take cover! I remember so vividly Prime minister Boris Johnson's well publicized battle with the virus In the wake of his Infection. it was really intriguing following the daily updates on his condition right up to his eventual recovery. Talking of Britain, BREXIT was after all supposed to define the year, I am referring to that much heralded divorce pact between the United Kingdom and the European Union. But alas! Covid-19 had other plans, and managed to tumble Brexit off the radar of the world media. One episode I would like to forget in a hurry was the huge number of deaths recorded in the early days of the pandemic in Italy. It resembled a bloodbath! leadership was brought into play as world leaders devised different mechanisms to control the rapid spread of the virus. Lockdowns stood out as one of the potent mechanisms adopted by many countries, including Ghana. coupled with the observation of protocols like wearing of face masks, washing and sanitizing of hands. Naturally, the economic fortunes of many countries took a turn for the worst. as at the time of writing this article it was being reported that Ghana is set to experience its first recession In thirty years! As if the effects of the pandemic weren't enough, many prominent people passed on this year. Famous Ghanaian musicologist, Ken Kafui slipped away in the early days of the pandemic, Professor Rhule-Plange, a popular health expert succumbed to the virus, Maverick politician, kojo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as sir John also succumbed to the virus. as if these deaths weren't enough Our own Jerry John Rawlings died suddenly in early November, sending shocking reverberations across the country! how can one forget the great Diego Amando Maradona? he also sadly took leave of this world at the twilight of 2020! With all the aforementioned negative episodes it is only natural to want to see the back of the year 2020, but I choose to focus on the positive lessons we can derive from the happenings of the year. I believe the most Important lesson the year teaches us is that we human beings share a Common humanity, and that whatever happens outside our shores, no matter how distant has a direct bearing on our lives. Isolationism with its attendant discredited treatise personified in people like Donald Trump have no place in our world. Global issues must be dealt with with an emphasis on our shared humanity. The fact that a virus that emerged in little known Wuhan could cripple the entire world within months is queit telling and should be a wake up call to policy makers to refocus globalism and In a concerted fashion strive to solve the challenges bearing in mind that no one is safe untill everyone is safe and that our artificial borders only give us a false sense of security. Future historians might just quote history In terms of pre and post 2020 because we can all agree that this is one year we will not be able to forget in a hurry. For now we can only pray that the Ship of2020 sails gently with Us to destination 2021. A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR Credit; Rodney Tsenuokpor

Ghanaian Football Club, Accra Great Olympics has taken to its Twitter handle to mock, Kumasi-based, Asante Koto for sacking its coach after a painful defeat. In a tweet sighted by ThinkNews Online, Accra Great Olympics tweeted "RT if your coach is still at post. #OlyStatistics" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-staunch-npp-member-stabbed-to-death-by-his-ndc-relatives The tweet comes after Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Friday, December 18 made a public announcement that it has sacked its head coach, Maxwell Konadu. Although the leadership of Kotoko has not disclosed the real reasons behind the sack, it is emerging that the Porcupine Warriors parted ways with its head coach over the painful loss to Olympics. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/watch-jean-mensa-spotted-dancing-at-aglow-amidst-election-tension-video The two clubs logged horns on Wednesday at the Accra Sports Stadium in the ongoing Ghana Premier League. Accra Great Olympics managed to secure the maximum three points after beating Kotoko by a goal to nil. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught The tweet has received 2.3K likes and 837 comments. See embed tweet below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The US Energy Department is the latest agency to confirm it has been breached in what is being described as the worst-ever hack on the US government. The department is responsible for managing US nuclear weapons, but said the arsenal's security had not been compromised. Tech giant Microsoft also said on Thursday that it had found malicious software in its systems. Many suspect the Russian government is responsible. It has denied any role. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/watch-jean-mensa-spotted-dancing-at-aglow-amidst-election-tension-video The US treasury and commerce departments are among the other targets of the sophisticated, months-long breach, which was first acknowledged by officials on Sunday. How has the US government responded? President Donald Trump is yet to comment on the cyber-attacks. Meanwhile, US President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to make cyber-security a "top priority" of his administration. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught "We need to disrupt and deter our adversaries from undertaking significant cyber-attacks in the first place," he said. "We will do that by, among other things, imposing substantial costs on those responsible for such malicious attacks, including in coordination with our allies and partners." America's top cyber agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (Cisa), gave a stark warning on Thursday, saying that addressing the intrusion would be "highly complex and challenging". It said "critical infrastructure" had been damaged, federal agencies and private sector companies compromised, and that the damage posed a "grave threat". SolarWinds: Why the Sunburst hack matters More US government agencies hacked READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/entertainment-sister-derby-blasts-joy-fm-over-unprofessional-behaviour-picture The hack began in at least March 2020, and those responsible had "demonstrated patience, operational security, and complex tradecraft", the Cisa said. The agency did not identify what information had been stolen or exposed. Addressing the attack on the energy department, spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes confirmed that it was responding to a cyber breach but said "the malware has been isolated to business networks only". She said security functions at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which oversees US nuclear weapons, had not been affected. A race to see what's been stolen The list of who was hacked is already long - and it is going to get longer. These are still early, and quite frantic, days in the investigation as government departments, companies and organisations race to see if they have a backdoor in their systems and what might have been stolen through it over a period of months. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught The scale is potentially huge, but the truth is no one is quite sure of the impact yet. So far, this looks to have been classic espionage - the targeted theft of information. There is not much sign yet that the hackers were planning to disrupt systems or carry out real world damage, although that could still emerge. That also makes it trickier for the US to respond - after all, espionage is something it also carries out regularly. The problem is that in this case US defences were not good enough to spot and stop those responsible. What do we know about the hack's consequences? "There's a lot we don't yet know, but what we do know is a matter of great concern," President-elect Biden has said. Hackers are known to have at least monitored data within a range of key US government departments including state, defence, homeland security, treasury and commerce, Reuters news agency reports. Cisa said the perpetrators managed to breach computer networks using network management software made by the Texas-based IT company SolarWinds. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-staunch-npp-member-stabbed-to-death-by-his-ndc-relatives Up to 18,000 SolarWinds Orion customers downloaded updates containing malicious software installed by hackers. All US federal civilian agencies were told to remove SolarWinds from their servers earlier this week as a result. Cisa said on Thursday it was investigating "evidence of additional access vectors, other than the SolarWinds Orion platform". Microsoft said it had identified more than 40 of its customers who were targeted in the cyber-attack, including government agencies, think tanks, non-governmental organisations and IT companies. About 80% of these were in the US, while others were in Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Spain, the UK, Israel and the UAE. The company's president Brad Smith said the attack was "remarkable for its scope, sophistication and impact". READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/entertainment-sister-derby-blasts-joy-fm-over-unprofessional-behaviour-picture "This is not 'espionage as usual,' even in the digital age," he wrote in a blog post. "Instead, it represents an act of recklessness that created a serious technological vulnerability for the United States and the world." Neither Cisa or the FBI have publicly said who they believe to be behind the attacks, but private security companies and officials quoted in US media have pointed the finger at Russia. The Washington Post cast suspicion on a Russian hacking group called Cozy Bear or APT 29, which has ties to the country's spy agencies. The Post reported that the same Russian group hacked the State Department and White House email servers while Barack Obama was president. In a statement shared on social media on Monday, the Russian embassy in the US said it "does not conduct offensive operations in the cyber domain". Credit: BBC

Vehicles are stranded on the snow-covered Kanetsu expressway. Rescuers are trying to free more than 1,000 vehicles that have been stranded on a highway for two days after a heavy snowstorm struck Japan. Authorities have distributed food, fuel, and blankets to the drivers on the Kanetsu expressway, which connects the capital Tokyo to Niigata, in the north. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/watch-jean-mensa-spotted-dancing-at-aglow-amidst-election-tension-video The snow, which began on Wednesday evening, has caused multiple traffic jams along the road. It has also left more than 10,000 homes in the north and west without power. A Kyodo News report said that there were multiple reports of congestion at different points of the Kanetsu expressway. The gridlock began when a trailer got stuck in snow on Wednesday night. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught Another Kyodo report, quoting police and highway operator East Nippon Expressway Co, said the traffic jam had stretched up to 16.5km (10 miles) along the road at one point. Officials have been using a combination of heavy machinery and physical labour to dig out the vehicles one by one, but around 1,000 cars were still stranded on the road as of Friday noon. "We are trying our best to rescue drivers and passengers, we are ready to continue the operation through the night," a Niigata disaster management official told AFP on Thursday night. Food, fuel, and blankets were distributed to drivers. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/entertainment-sister-derby-blasts-joy-fm-over-unprofessional-behaviour-picture Another similar traffic jam also occurred in the nearby Joshinetsu Expressway which saw 300 vehicles stranded. That gridlock lasted from Wednesday to Thursday morning. According to the meteorological agency, the heavy snow - said to be this year's most intense cold spell - is expected to continue through the weekend. The country's prime minister Yoshihide Suga has called an emergency cabinet meeting and urged the public to be cautious. The snow storm comes as Japan is battling a third wave of coronavirus cases, which has put unprecedented pressure on the country's hospitals. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught Credit: BBC News

Ghanaian Club, Asante Kotoko has sacked its head coach, Maxwell Konadu after many years of serving the Kumasi-based team. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/entertainment-sister-derby-blasts-joy-fm-over-unprofessional-behaviour-picture In a tweet sighted by ThinkNews Online, it said "Club Notice Management of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club wishes to inform the general public that it has decided to part ways with Coach Maxwell Konadu as its Head Coach with immediate effect" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught It added that Coach Johnson Smith has been appointed to lead the team in the interim. See embed tweet below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The National Communication Officer for the opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC) has stressed that his party has won the Techiman South Constituency seat in the just ended December 7 polls. According to him, the NDC will not rest until they are given what is due them. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/watch-jean-mensa-spotted-dancing-at-aglow-amidst-election-tension-video Addressing Journalists in Accra, Sammy Gyamfi said "We can tell you on authority that we have won Techiman South. We have done the collation they failed to do" Mr. Gyamfi further added the NDC is disappointed in the Electoral Commission Chair, Jean Mensa adding she and her team are incompetent. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught Speaking on re-collation, Mr. Gyamfi also explained that the attitude of the EC in preventing the NDC from a re-count leaves them with no option other than to believe that Jean Mensa has rigged the election. The NDC says it will not accept the 2020 Presidential result adding its Flagbearer will also not call to congratulate Akufo-Addo. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/entertainment-sister-derby-blasts-joy-fm-over-unprofessional-behaviour-picture He used the opportunity to apologize to journalists who were manhandled by some NDC supporters after the December 7 polls. See videos and picture below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The final burial rites of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings have been postponed indefinitely. The funeral arrangement had initially been scheduled for December 20, 2020. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/watch-jean-mensa-spotted-dancing-at-aglow-amidst-election-tension-video But concerns raised by the Awadada of the Anlo State, Agbotui, and Allied family had caused President Akufo-Addo to allow them to settle all outstanding issues regarding the customary rites and select a suitable date for the state to join in facilitating the departure of the late statesman. However, a communique by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to the international community and diplomatic missions revealed a change in the schedule. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-how-to-go-on-a-peaceful-aworshia-without-being-caught “…due to unforeseen circumstances, the funeral will not be held from 20th December 2020 as planned,” the statement read. It further indicated that “the new date for the funeral will be communicated in due course.” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/entertainment-sister-derby-blasts-joy-fm-over-unprofessional-behaviour-picture Former President Jerry John Rawlings died on Thursday, November 12, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after a short illness. Below is a copy of the release: Credit: Myjoyonline.com