The office of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has denied claims by Professor Stephen Adei that the Vice President moves around the country with a 16-vehicle long convoy.

The academic has warned he will embark on a one-man campaign against the government if the Vice President does not move away from his elaborate convoy.

“And so far the government is doing well except that if you go to the right quarters tell them that the next time I see Bawumia or any of them travelling with 16 Four-Wheel-Drives and then occupying the two lanes so that coming and going should stop, I am going to do a one-man crusade,” the former GIMPA boss said at the 20th-anniversary celebrations of Morrison and Associations (an international audit firm).

Reacting to the claim, the office of Mr. Bawumia said: “The Office would like to make it clear that the Vice President and his team use a maximum of 7 vehicles on trips outside Accra and not 16. The 7 vehicles include a leading police vehicle, security detail, Protocol, the media team and an ambulance. On this particular trip to Cape Coast, the Vice President used a total of 7 cars”.

Below are details of the statement from the VEEP

THE VICE PRESIDENT USES A MAXIMUM OF 7 CARS, NOT 16 FOR TRAVELS OUTSIDE ACCRA.

The attention of the office of the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has been drawn to a recent media publication following comments by Professor Stephen Adei, former Rector of GIMPA, that the convoy of the Vice President on a recent trip to Cape Coast consisted of 16 SUVs.

The Office would like to make it clear that the Vice President and his team use a maximum of 7 vehicles on trips outside Accra and not 16. The 7 vehicles include a leading police vehicle, security detail, Protocol, the media team and an ambulance. On this particular trip to Cape Coast, the Vice President used a total of 7 cars.

It should however be noted that on many occasions (including funerals) while on a trip, several other people, including the Police Commander of the area, Ministers, MPs, MMDCEs, CEOs and party officials may decide to meet and accompany the Vice President on arrival.

Source: Starrfmonline

The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Rebecca Akufo-Addo has reiterated her commitment to providing a “one stop cancer centre in the country to make available and accessible cancer treatment services for Ghanaians particularly breast cancer victims.”

She added that, to complement that, efforts will be made to ensure breast cancer treatment is covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

“One clear need in our medical intervention is a one-stop cancer center in Ghana. I made a pledge to help drive the building of a one-stop cancer center in Ghana in my address at the UN General Assembly side meeting for African First Ladies in New York in September. I believe this will make a significant impact on cancer [treatment].

She added, “I however believe that comprehensive care of breast cancer under NHIS will make even more impactful. I am committed to this cause and I believe every Ghanaian woman deserves access to top quality cancer care in the country.”

She disclosed this Saturday when she addressed thousands of people gathered at the Koforidua Jackson park after a mammoth walk against Breast cancer  as part of the breast Cancer month celebration on the theme: ‘Our Breast; Let’s Check Them.’

The First Lady commended Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, the Board and Management of Breast Care International (BCI) for sustaining the fight against breast cancer which is one of the leading cause of deaths in Sub-Suharan Africa.

She challenged BCI, to step up effort to increase the number of survivors from the present 800 to 2000 in the foreseeable future in a bid to boost public confidence as far as various treatment options of the disease are concerned.

The president of BCI, Beatrice Wiafe Addai, announced that the breast cancer examination will soon be done door to door as part of efforts to reduce the prevalence rate of the disease.

BCI, she said had trained  about 120 nurses in Eastern and Ashanti Regions to undertake the  door to door screening for early detection and treatment.

The First Lady was accompanied by other Ministers of State and government officials who took part in the walk which started at Koforidua Prisons Park to Jackson Park.

Source: Starrfmonline

Various rumours have popped up ever since celebrated Highlife Musician Kwabena Kwabena’s second marriage to Abena Owusuaa ended.

The latest being that the musician, Kwabena Kwabena was cheating on his second wife-(Owusuaa) with numerous women including celebrated female broadcaster Frema Ashkar.

Frema Ashkar who is currently Kwabena Kwabena’s manager, has been at the centre of the ‘Tuamudaa’ hitmaker’s second divorce saga as she is alleged to be the woman currently warming Kwabena’s bed.

But after all the speculations that circulated within the showbiz fraternity that they were dating, Frema who has constantly refused to publicly respond to the allegation has finally responded.

Speaking as a pundit on Angel TV, Frema Ashkar who is also a divorcee, debunked the allegation by indicating strenuously that her relationship with Kwabena is purely business:

“Hahahaha..I’m not dating Kwabena kwabena..I have been managing Kwabena for some time now and it’s purely business…No…Kwabena and I are not dating – what is important is his next album which is coming out next month,” Frema quipped.

Frema Ashkar gained prominence as a newscaster at TV3. She is now a TV presenter with Metro TV.

Source: hotfmonlinegh

Ghana’s Black Starlets have been drawn to play fellow African side Niger in the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.

The stage was set after the final group matches were played on Saturday.

France topped Group E with a 100 per cent start to the tournament after a 5-1 win over Honduras. Japan’s 1-1 with New Caledonia sees the Asians booting the New Caledonians out of the tournament as the only side in the group not to progress.

England also joined the table of men not to have dropped points so far following their 4-0 thrashing of Iraq, who qualified as well to the Round of 16.

Though Mexico were held to a goalless draw by Chile, they managed to scrape through as one of the best third-placed sides. Despite losing their last two games to Spain and Brazil, the Junior Menas qualified as one of the four best third-placed sides.

They had beaten North Korea 1-0 in their opening Group D game. Ghana topped Group A, having won their opening and final group games. They lost 1-0 to the USA. The Ghana-Niger match will be played on Wednesday at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

It will be the second time the two sides are meeting after they played in a 0-0 semi-final game at the Africa U-17 Championship in Gabon. The Starlets won on penalties after full regulation time.

Other R. 16 matches

Colombia v Germany

Paraguay v USA

Iran v Mexico

France v Spain

England v Japan

Mali v Iraq

Brazil v Honduras

Source: 3news

Music talent manager Lawrence Asiamah Hanson, known in showbiz as Bulldog has asked songstress Becca not to get married.

According to him, men are not trustworthy and can easily topple Becca’s ambitions in life.

“As for me, I’ll not even advise her to get married – because men are bad. Oh yea. Me, I’m a bad husband but a good father. I put a lot of tears on my wife’s face,” he said.

He said this when Becca was asked by Doctor Cann on Happy FM’s ‘Showbiz Xtra’ whether she felt bad for not being married.

After Becca had answered that she was not in haste to get married, Bulldog butted in to give the advice to the sultry singer.

Becca, whose ‘Unveiling’ album was launched few months ago, will be celebrating her 10th anniversary at the National Theatre on 21st October, 2017. This is to mark the successes she has chalked in her 10 years of music business.

Some artistes performing alongside Becca are Stonebwoy, Kumi Guitar, Kurl Songx, Kwami Eugene, Obibini, Joyce Blessing, MI among a lot of other top music acts in Ghana and Africa.

Source: Citifmonline

Though award winning songstress, Rebecca Akosua Acheampong known on stage as Becca has discounted claims she is toning her skin, her latest images seem to suggest a different thing.

According to her on TV3 Newday last Friday, no chemical has been introduced chemical to her skin and challenged the host of the show to take a photo of her after the show when the studio lights are off to confirm her stance.

“Let me tell you something though, I have always done natural hair, I love my skin, I love me. There is no reason why I want to change to white. I am born in Africa and there is a reason why I here in Africa and in Ghana and I love it. There are a lot of things people are saying about me and I am not deterred”, she said.

But soon after the show when the image was taken and uploaded, it did little to save her from the fact that something may be happening to the skin of the musician who has always advocated for the natural black skin.

Could it be that Becca has joined the league of Ghanaian celebrities who are into skin bleaching?

In defense of her ‘new complexion’ Becca blames the camera and lighting in the studio and another breadth revealed that other family members have light skin and trying to wash it over with the excuse that taking care of herself very well is what is making her skin fair.

Well, the images above are enough for those who believe or otherwise to judge if Becca is part of the league of Ghanaian celebrities bleaching or studio lighting is the cause.

Source: mynewsgh

Music group VVIP is embarking on a campaign to create awareness and eradicate the abuse of hard drugs in the country.

Speaking with Andy Dosty on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, Reggie Rockstone, a member of the group revealed that they decided to embark on the awareness because his wife, a medical doctor, has handled several cases of drug overdose.

He noted that the youth’s gradually abuse of drugs such as Codeine Syrup and Methadone which is really getting out of hand motivated them to embark on the campaign.

“The young ones have suddenly taken to the use of drugs like Benylin, Meth, Tramadol and the like. They mix it with other dangerous drugs and it is something that bothers me,” Rockstone said.

“We’ll be launching a serious campaign against this drug use. If not, our children will be destroying their lives,” he said.

Investigations conducted by the Narcotic Control Board (NACOB) have revealed that about 50,000 people in Ghana, particularly the youth, are abusing drugs.

VVIP recently released ‘Koliko’ which features their latest discovery Miyaki who is the first artiste to be signed onto their Vision Music Group (VMG) record label.

Source: myjoyonline

The Chief Executive Officer of entertainment conglomerate, Zylofon Media, Nana Appiah Mensah, has acquired a private jet, Citi Showbiz can say.

The CEO who posted pictures of the Gulfstream G650 ER jet on his Instagram page on October 5, 2017, expressed appreciation to God for granting his wish.

In one post he wrote: “covenant keeping God. His faithfulness is for evermore!”

Another post he put up reads: “….loading 98%. Great is thy faithfulness, oh God!”

“Weeping…may last for the night but, joy cometh in the morning. He truly makes ALL things beautiful in his own time. Too noisy in the presence of ma enem*ies though,” he added.

The jet which is estimated to cost about $66.5 million has the logo of Menzgold, another company own by Nana Appiah, embossed on it.

Meanwhile Head of Communications for Zylofon Media, Sammy Flex, disclosed to Dr. Cann on Happy FM’s Showbiz Xtra that artistes signed onto the Zylofon Music record label and the entire Zylofon Media company, would benefit from the jet.

“Of course, if by God’s grace, we have acquired a jet then it means that it is good news for our artistes and the industry,” he quipped.

Zylofon Media has signed music artistes such as Kumi Guitar, Stonebwoy, Joyce Blessing, Obibini and Becca.

In the field of acting they have James Gardener, Toosweet Annan, Zynell Zuh, Benedicta Gafah and Bibi Bright as ambassadors.

They have also bought the franchise to the Ghana Movie Awards.

Source: Citifmonline

A massive bomb attack in a busy area of the Somali capital Mogadishu has killed at least 85 people, officials say.

Dozens more were wounded when a lorry packed with explosives detonated near the entrance of a hotel.

Police say two people were killed in a second bomb attack in the Madina district of the city.

It is not clear who staged the attacks. Mogadishu is a regular target for the al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab group, which is battling the government.

President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo” Mohamed has declared three days of mourning for the victims of the blast.

Local media reported families were gathering in the area on Sunday morning, looking for missing loved ones amidst the ruins of one of the largest bombs ever to strike the city.

Image copyrightAFP

Image copyrightREUTERS

After the first blast, police captain Mohamed Hussein told Reuters news agency: “It was a truck bomb. There are casualties but we do not know the exact amount as the scene is still burning.”

Witnesses told the BBC they believed dozens of people were dead.

A BBC Somali reporter at the scene said the Safari Hotel had collapsed, with people thought to be trapped under the rubble.

Mogadishu resident Muhidin Ali told news agency AFP it was “the biggest blast I have ever witnessed, it destroyed the whole area”.

Source: BBC

Former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Affram Plains North, Emmanuel Aboagye Didieye has died.

The tragic incident happened last night, NDC Eastern Regional Secretary Oliver Kevor confirmed to Joy News on Sunday.

Mr Didieye was reportedly on admission at the Trust Hospital in Accra after he fell into a coma some two weeks ago.

The 41-year-old had been in court challenging his defeat to former deputy Coordinator for the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneur Development Agency (GYEEDA) in the NDC 2015 parliamentary primary.

“He will be remembered for being a champion of accountability in Parliament,” an NPP MP said.

Source: Myjoyonline

The Vice Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, Collins Owusu Amankwah, is considering hauling his colleague Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa before the Privileges Committee of the House.

He wants Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who is also the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee dragged before the committee over claims that some Ghanaians are fighting for ISIS in Libya.

Mr. Ablakwa at a press conference earlier this week, called on the government to investigate the alleged participation of some Ghanaians in ISIS activities. He said his information was based on a recent report released by the Head of Investigations at the Libyan Attorney General’s office.

But the Manhyia South MP, Mr. Amankwah, said Okudzeto Ablakwa’s comments were unsubstantiated and had the potential of jeopardizing national security.

“Issues they raised were not substantiated. The issues bordered on security matters and security matters are not like Makola or Kejetia matters where you can handle it anyhow. Some of us are considering dragging him to the privileges committee so that henceforth, such matters will be well handled as far as the legislature is concerned.”

“Foreign policy is different from national security. He could talk about it, but not the manner in which he did. We need to double-check such facts before we put it out there to create unnecessary tension and create fear and panic,” he said.

He added that, “Not everything must be put before the public especially when it borders on defense and security… The port of call must be through the national security or ministry of interior… What is his motivation in the first place?”

Meanwhile, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa insists that the Minority in Parliament did no wrong in bringing the matter up in public. He said if for anything at all, the minority deserve commendation for exposing the report to the public.

“I thought that the Minority would be commended that we are being diligent and that we are following [the matter]. As ranking member of the Foreign Affairs committee, I’m not supposed to just be cocooned within the Ghanaian space and follow only what the Ghanaian media has talked about,” Ablakwa said on Eyewitness News on Thursday.

Gov’t investigating report

In response to the Minority’s public comments on the matter, the Majority said on Wednesday that the government is investigating the report, and will certainly break its silence on the matter after the investigation.

Ablakwa urged the government to treat the matter as a top priority, as it potentially concerned the safety of Ghanaians.

“This is a very serious matter and that is why we believe that government must accord it all the seriousness it deserves. We did conduct background checks” he insisted.

Source: Citifmonline

Morocco will replace Kenya as hosts of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN), organisers announced on Sunday.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) unanimously decided to give Morocco the tournament ahead of Equatorial Guinea.

They replace Kenya, who had their rights to host withdrawn by Caf due to a lack of preparation.

The tournament for locally-based players is scheduled to take place in January 2018.

The decision to move the competition was made at an emergency Caf executive committee meeting in Lagos, Nigeria.

Source: BBC

FIFA says it will not act on Ghana’s complaint about refereeing in a World Cup qualifying match last weekend.

The Ghana federation wanted its 0-0 draw in Uganda replayed, and also protested about South African referee, Daniel Bennett, and his assistants from Seychelles.

Ghana’s failure to win meant Egypt, which beat Republic of Congo 2-1 the next day, advanced to play in Russia.

FIFA says “no proceedings will be opened around the World Cup qualifier match Uganda vs. Ghana.”

Ghana believed two goals were disallowed for incorrect offside decisions. Replays suggested a stoppage-time goal should have counted.

The request followed FIFA last month ordering a replay of a South Africa-Senegal qualifier played last year. Ghanaian referee, Joseph Lamptey, was later found guilty of fixing and banned for life.

Source: AP

Former world number one Maria Sharapova has won her first title since May 2015, beating Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 7-6 (10-8) in the Tianjin Open final.

The 30-year-old Russian was playing her seventh event since she returned to the tour in April from a 15-month drug ban.

She trailed 4-1 in both sets before overcoming the 19-year-old Belarusian, who was contesting her first WTA final, in two hours and five minutes.

It is the five-time Grand Slam winner’s 36th WTA tournament victory.

Sharapova was denied a wildcard for the French Open, missed Wimbledon through injury and reached the US Open fourth round as a wildcard before losing to Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova.

The Russian, who began the week ranked 86th in the world, received a wildcard for the event in China.

She broke a nervous-looking Sabalenka in the opening game but then lost four games in succession as the teenager struck back with aggressive returns.

The Russian got back on serve at 4-3 after a 16-point game and then claimed the decisive break with a forehand winner down the line.

World number 101 Sabalenka surged into a 5-1 advantage in the second set with some more fiercely struck returns before Sharapova responded with five consecutive games to serve for the match at 6-5.

But she was unable to complete victory and a double fault sent the set into a tie-break, which saw the players drop four successive points on serve.

Sabalenka survived three match points but a double fault gave Sharapova a fourth chance and she duly recorded her first title since the Italian Opentwo years and five months ago.

The result means Sharapova moves up to number 57 in the world rankings.

Source: BBC

President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, will from today (Monday, 16th October, 2017,) begin a two-day official visit to Ghana.

The purpose of the visit is to deepen further the already strong relations that exist between the two countries, as well as explore other areas of co-operation to their mutual benefit.

This visit is a reciprocal one to the visit made to Cote d’Ivoire by the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in May this year, at the start of his tour of the countries of West Africa.

The two presidents and their respective teams are expected to hold bilateral discussions at the Flagstaff House on Monday, 16th October, 2017, after which the two leaders will address a joint press conference.

President Akufo-Addo will, later that evening, host his Ivorian counterpart to an official dinner.

Prior to President Ouattara’s departure, on Tuesday, October 17, 2017, the two countries will sign a bilateral agreement, and inaugurate a joint commission for the implementation of the recent judgement passed by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the delimitation of the maritime boundaries of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

May 5 Visit to Cote d’Ivoire

It will be recalled that earlier this year, from 5^th May, 2017 to 7^th May, 2017, President Akufo-Addo paid a 3-day visit to Cote d’Ivoire, at the commencement of his tour of the countries of West Africa.

During that visit, President Akufo-Addo revealed that the close co-operation between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire will be facilitated by a new initiative dubbed “An Agreement For a Strategic Partnership”, that will be signed by the two countries.

This agreement, according to President Akufo-Addo, will bind Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire “in even closer intimacy and go beyond the bounds of the concept of the Permanent Joint Commission, which is the conventional tool for co-operation.”

President Akufo-Addo noted one of the areas of focus of this Agreement will be in the cocoa industry.

President Akufo-Addo was also decorated with the Highest National Award of Cote d’Ivoire, La Grande Croix dans l’ordre National Ivorien, at a State Dinner held in his honour by the President Alassane Ouattara.

Story: News Desk

ANYTIME a disaster strikes in this country, especially one that can be prevented, the typical Ghanaian attitude comes into play—we engage in a lot of talking with little or sometimes no action.  Some even go beyond talking to proffer practicable measures to prevent a repeat of such disasters.

SADLY after we have poured out our lamentations and said all the beautiful things that when implemented could prevent a repeat of such preventable catastrophes we go to sleep thinking that all is well.  This is not the way to go about it if indeed we want to avoid a repeat of such avoidable disasters.

YES we know there are disasters which prevention is difficult.  Those are ones that could be classified as natural disasters.  Like the recent storm that hit the coastal parts of Florida, USA.  Even in those natural occurrences precautionary measures are taken to avert collateral damage.

THE key factor here is the lack of action that must follow to prevent these disasters.  Today is of the firmest belief that the deadly Atomic gas blast, which incident claimed the lives of seven (7) innocent persons and injured over one hundred, could have been avoided if our regulatory institutions had religiously been performing their functions.

THE paper has been compelled to revisit this subject because of what the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Peter Abum Sarkodie, said at a press conference recently his outfit following the incident.  In fact, Today believes that the EPA came out because of the loads of flaks it received from the citizenry, in the wake of the gas explosion at the Atomic junction.

ACCORDING to the EPA boss, there are no clear laws preventing the building of fuel dumps and siting of liquefied gas (LPG) stations at industrial or residential areas.  Is that to suggest that anybody at all with the wherewithal can get up and go for a permit and when granted can site a fuel/LPG station anywhere he/she deems fit?  Well, that seems to be the order of the day!

IT must be pointed out that laws are made to regulate people’s actions and not the reverse.  Therefore, the mere fact that there is no law that prevents the siting of LPG and fuel depots at crowded areas does not mean that EPA should be granting permits to people to be building fuel stations anywhere.

INDEED it behooves the EPA to also ensure that they take into consideration where these LPG and fuel stations are going to be sited.  In that way the EPA will not be granting permits to persons to site fuel dumps/gas filling stations to endanger lives in crowded neighbourhoods.

THE point Today is making in this comment is that EPA and other regulatory institutions must sit up and ensure that we do not witness unnecessary deaths like the incident at the Atomic junction.

In its pursuit of recognising women business leaders in Ghana, WomanRising, a flagship network of The African Network of Entrepreneurs, has presented an award to Estelle Akofio-Sowah, Country Manager of Google Ghana, as a recognition for being listed among 2016’s Top 50 Corporate Women Leaders in Ghana.

The ranking which was instituted in 2016 by WomanRising, was aimed at highlighting the achievements of women business leaders in the country and echoing the important roles they play in various institutions which are key to the country’s economy and job creation sector.

In a private ceremony hosted at the head office of Google Ghana, with her team members present, Ms Estelle was presented the award by the COO of The African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE), Alice Larkai, and Head of Research, Prince Akpah.

Before her appointment as Google Ghana Country Manager in 2009, Estelle served as Managing Director of BusyInternet and was the President of the Ghana Internet Service Providers Association.

Others recognised on the list include: Lucy Quist (CEO of Airtel), Roshi Motman (CEO of Tigo Ghana), Mawuena Trebah (former CEO of GIPC), Abiola Bawuah (UBA Ghana), Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh (CEO of IBM Ghana), Christiana Olaoye (CEO of Energy Bank), Yolanda Zoleka Cuba (CEO of Vodafone Ghana) and now Estelle Akofio-Sowah (CEO, Google Ghana).

WomanRising on the 19th of October will be hosting of the Women CEOs Summit at the Movenpick Hotel. The event will kick off at 10am with a business fair and exhibition and conference at 2pm. Registration is currently ongoing on womenceosummit.womanrising.org

WomanRising is a network under The African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE) that focuses on women entrepreneurs and professionals in the consistent development and advancement of women, especially in Africa.

Other initiatives run by WomanRising include; WomanRising Awards, Women CEOs Summit, WR Clique 100 Most Influential Ghanaian Women, 100 Most Outstanding.

Story: Business Desk

A Sub-Chief of Prestea-Nakaba community in Himan Divisional Area in the Prestea Huni Valley District of the Western Region, Nana Blay Kwofie I, has described widespread reports in some sections of the media that he has been dethroned as “palpable falsehood.”

According to the sub-chief, the story, which was broadcast by Bogoso-based Energy FM and carried by other media houses, was a ‘sinister plot’ by some members of the Tufohene Oyoko family of Prestea Nakaba and groups allegedly led by one Nana Yaw, who is not a member of the family, to attack his traditional and chieftaincy status.

He made it clear that the assertion made by Nana Yaw and his followers including Mr. Eric Ekpe, Madam Rose Esi Blesset, Abusuapanin Joseph Kwaw and one Kwadwo that he was destooled as a result of a judgment given by a Tarkwa High Court presided over by His Lordship, K.A. Ofori Atta, on Tuesday, October 9, 2017 in favour of the Tufohene Oyoko family against him for selling family lands to individuals and organisations was totally untrue.

In his estimation, Nana Yaw and his cohorts gave what he described as an ‘illiterate interpretation’ to that judgment. Nana Blay Kwofie I explained that the judgment delivered by the Tarkwa High Court against him was a long-standing land litigation issue between him and his family which absolutely had nothing to do with his traditional and chieftaincy status or affairs.

According to him, these people do not have the traditional capacity to dethrone or install a chief in the Prestea Himan Divisional Area. He stressed that such traditional and customary rituals can only be performed by the Prestea Himan Divisional Chief, Nana Ntaboah Prah IV.

“So I want to put on record that l have not been destooled by the Tarkwa High Court nor anybody. l am still the chief of Prestea Nakaba community performing my traditional and chieftaincy duties and rights entrusted into my hands by my kingmakers, elders and people,” he stressed. This notwithstanding, the chief stated that his lawyer last week filed a stay of execution in a Cape Coast Appeal Court in the Central Region against the judgment and called on his elders and kingmakers to stay calm since the Tarkwa High Court judgment had nothing to do with his chieftaincy title. Nana Yaw on behalf of some disgruntled groups and members of the Tufohene Oyoko family on Wednesday, October 9, 2017 announced the destoolment of Nana Blay Kwofie I, accusing him of selling vast stretch of family lands to Ghanaians and foreign nationals for illegal mining activities and other land developing purposes without the consent and knowledge of the family.

The destoolment of the chief, Nana Yaw, mentioned followed the judgment declared by the Tarkwa High Court on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 in favour of the Tufohene Oyoko family.

But, addressing a press conference to set the records straight on the matter on Saturday, Nana Blay Kwofie I denied all the allegations levelled against him, and described Nana Yaw and his ilk as “frustrated and confused” individuals. He added that he had “ignored the tantrums of Nana Yaw and his followers, and indeed, resisted the temptation of responding to their tactics of lying at the least opportunity to portray a semblance of insecurity in the area.”

According to Nana Blay Kwofie I, when the principal kingmakers in consultation with the elders installed him in 2000 to ascend the throne, he was moved from Accra to ensure that he retrieved all the entire Tufohene Oyoko family lands from Old Prestea Post Office to Bondaye which were virtually lost to squatters and indigenous farmers. He maintained that he used series of legal battles to retrieve about 3,000 acres of the land for the family which now have become bonafide properties of the family.

Story: Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has charged Ghanaians to sue it if they are dissatisfied with its work.

Public Relations Director of EPA, Angelina Mensah, said the EPA Act mandates citizens to bring a court action against the agency over poor services.

She said this on Joy FM’s Ghana Connect on Friday, October 13, 2017.

According to her, there is a new EPA that is committed to the public cause by ensuring that gas stations operate within the regulatory framework.

“It is not a nine-day wonder, as we align ourselves with the directives and we are going to deliver,” she assured Ghanaians.

She said effective today, Monday, October 16, 2017, Ghanaians will see EPA hitting the road running with new reforms, adding that the “EPA Act 490 mandated citizens to sue us.”

The agency has come under heavy criticism after a gas explosion at the Atomic Junction at Madina, Accra, which claimed seven lives last Saturday, October 7, 2017.

Questions have been asked why the EPA gives permits for what has been described as the indiscriminate siting of fuel stations, especially in residential areas, across the country.

Some 21 high-risk gas stations had been closed down before cabinet announced sweeping new measures after last week gas explosion.

This includes an indefinite ban on the construction of new facilities intended for use as gas or petroleum stations.

The EPA director of Public Affairs, however, accepted that the agency was partly responsible for the disaster.

“Why should one run away? We are not running away from what has happened,” she said.

But, she explained that the disaster happened during the discharge of gas at the station.

She said the EPA had no hand in the process of discharging the gas, adding that the gas station flouted the rules which debar it from discharging gas after 5pm.

According to her, EPA monitors fuel stations twice a year after it has granted permits to owners of those stations, charging Ghanaians to take responsibility for the environment.

“Environmental protection is a shared responsibility,” she averred.

Story: News Desk

Aduana Stars came from behind to beat Elmina Sharks 2-1 in the penultimate match of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) on Sunday, which effectively won them the title for the second time.

Elmina Sharks started the match brightly by attacking the hosts but they failed to make their attacking dominance count.
Aduana, however, came back strongly in the encounter but they were largely reduced to long range shooting.
They were not given any breathing space as Elmina Sharks incessantly mounted pressure on the hosts.
And against all odds, Sharks opened the scoring in the 45th minute after Black Stars B star, Felix Addo, weaved through two Aduana Stars defenders before squaring the ball for Benjamin Tweneboah, who was unmarked, to power home from close range.

The Fire Boys vehemently protested the goal but referee Uriah Glah stood by his decision by declaring the goal legitimate.
After the recess, the Fire Boys showed intent as they went in search of a quick equaliser, and indeed they had their desire as Rashid Alhassan tapped in from close range in the 57th minute.
As the match looked to be ending in a stalemate, referee Uriah Glah contentiously awarded Aduana Stars a penalty, which was protested by Sharks coach, Yaw Acheampong.

He expressed his frustration at the decision before walking off from his technical area.
Sam Adams elected himself to take the resulting and he did justice to it by sending goalkeeper, Joseph Essam, to the wrong side.
Both sides failed to add up to their goals as Aduana Stars run away 2-1 victors at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park.
Aduana stretched their lead to 57 points, seven more than second placed side, WAFA, with a game to end the season.

Scores @ a glance

Inter Allies 2-1 Liberty Professionals

WA All Stars 6-1 Bolga All Stars

Ebusua Dwarfs 2-1 WAFA

Asante Kotoko 1-0 Berekum Chelsea

Tema Youth 2-1 Bechem United

Medeama 1-0 Hearts of Oak

Aduana Stars2 – 1   Elmina Sharks

Great Olympics 1-0 Ashanti Gold

By Gottlieb Baako