All posts by Afia Coke

News, Showbiz

Winners at Grammy Awards 2024

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Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, SZA and Billie Eilish were among the winners at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

There were 94 categories in total – here are some of the biggest ones, with the winners as well as the nominated artists.

Album of the year

Winner: Taylor Swift – Midnights

Boygenius – The Record

Janelle Monáe – The Age of Pleasure

Jon Batiste – World Music Radio

Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation

Olivia Rodrigo – Guts

SZA – SOS

Record of the year

Winner: Miley Cyrus – Flowers

Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?

Boygenius – Not Strong Enough

Jon Batiste – Worship

Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire

SZA – Kill Bill

Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero

Victoria Monét – On My Mama

Song of the Year

Winner: Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?

Dua Lipa – Dance the Night

Jon Batiste – Butterfly

Lana Del Rey – A&W

Miley Cyrus – Flowers

Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire

SZA – Kill Bill

Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero

Best new artist

Winner: Victoria Monét

Coco Jones

Gracie Abrams

Fred Again..

Ice Spice

Jelly Roll

Noah Kahan

The War and Treaty

Best pop solo performance

Winner: Miley Cyrus – Flowers

Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?

Doja Cat – Paint the Town Red

Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire

Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero

Best pop duo/group performance

Winner: SZA Featuring Phoebe Bridgers – Ghost in the Machine

Labrinth Featuring Billie Eilish – Never Felt So Alone

Lana Del Rey Featuring Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace

Miley Cyrus Featuring Brandi Carlile – Thousand Miles

Taylor Swift Featuring Ice Spice – Karma

Best pop vocal album

Winner: Taylor Swift – Midnights

Kelly Clarkson – Chemistry

Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation

Olivia Rodrigo – Guts

Ed Sheeran – – (Subtract)

Best R&B song

Winner: SZA – Snooze

Coco Jones – ICU

Halle – Angel

Robert Glasper ft. SiR & Alex Isley – Back to Love

Victoria Monét – On My Mama

Best R&B performance

Winner: Coco Jones – ICU

Chris Brown – Summer Too Hot

Robert Glasper Featuring Sir & Alex Isley – Back to Love

SZA – Kill Bill

Victoria Monét – How Does It Make You Feel

Best R&B album

Winner: Victoria Monét – Jaguar II

Babyface – Girls Night Out

Coco Jones – What I Didn’t Tell You

Emily King – Special Occasion

Summer Walker – Clear 2: Soft Life EP

Best rap song

Winner:Killer Mike ft André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane – Scientists & Engineers

Doja Cat – Attention

Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice ft Aqua – Barbie World

Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock

Drake & 21 Savage – Rich Flex

Best rap performance

Winner:Killer Mike ft André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane – Scientists & Engineers

Baby Keem feat Kendrick Lamar – The Hillbilles

Black Thought – Love Letter

Drake & 21 Savage – Rich Flex

Coi Leray – Players

Best melodic rap performance

Winner: Lil Durk feat J Cole – All My Life

Burna Boy feat 21 Savage – Sittin’ on Top of the World

Doja Cat – Attention

Drake & 21 Savage – Spin Bout U

SZA – Low

Best rap album

Winner: Killer Mike – Michael

Drake & 21 Savage – Her Loss

Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains

Nas – King’s Disease III

Travis Scott – Utopia

Best dance/electronic recording

Winner: Skrillex, Fred again.. & Flowdan – Rumble

Aphex Twin – Blackbox Life Recorder 21F

James Blake – Loading

Disclosure – Higher Than Ever Before

Romy & Fred again.. – Strong

Best dance/electronic album

Winner: Fred again.. – Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)

James Blake – Playing Robots Into Heaven

The Chemical Brothers – For That Beautiful Feeling

Kx5 – Kx5

Skrillex – Quest for Fire

Best pop dance recording

Winner: Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam

David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray – Baby Don’t Hurt Me

Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding – Miracle

Bebe Rexha & David Guetta – One In A Million

Troye Sivan – Rush

Best rock performance

Winner: Boygenius – Not Strong Enough

Arctic Monkeys – Sculptures of Anything Goes

Black Pumas – More Than a Love Song

Foo Fighters – Rescued

Metallica – Lux Æterna

Best rock song

Winner: Boygenius – Not Strong Enough

The Rolling Stones – Angry

Olivia Rodrigo – Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl

Queens of the Stone Age – Emotion Sickness

Foo Fighters – Rescued

Best rock album

Winner: Paramore – This Is Why

Foo Fighters – But Here We Are

Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher

Metallica – 72 Seasons

Queens of the Stone Age – In Times New Roman…

Best alternative album

Winner: Boygenius – The Record

Arctic Monkeys – The Car

Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

Gorillaz – Cracker Island

PJ Harvey – I Inside The Old Year Dying

Best alternative performance

Winner: Paramore – This Is Why

Alvvays – Belinda Says

Arctic Monkeys – Body Paint

Boygenius – Cool About It

Lana Del Rey – A&W

Best música urbana album

Winner: Karol G – Mañana Será Bonito

Rauw Alejandro – Saturno

Tainy – Data

Best African music performance

Winner: Tyla – Water

Asake & Olamide – Amapiano

Burna Boy – City Boys

Davido ft Musa Keys – Unavailable

Ayra Starr – Rush

Best folk album

Winner: Joni Mitchell – Joni Mitchell at Newport

Dom Flemons – Traveling Wildfire

The Milk Carton Kids – I Only See the Moon

Nickel Creek – Celebrants

Old Crow Medicine Show – Jubilee

Paul Simon – Seven Psalms

Rufus Wainwright – Folkocracy

Best country album

Winner: Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country

Brothers Osborne – Brothers Osborne

Kelsea Ballerini – Rolling Up the Welcome Mat

Tyler Childers – Rustin’ in the Rain

Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan

Best country solo performance

Winner: Chris Stapleton – White Horse

Brandy Clark – Buried

Dolly Parton – The Last Thing on My Mind

Luke Combs – Fast Car

Tyler Childers – In Your Love

Best country song

Winner: Chris Stapleton – White Horse

Brandy Clark – Buried

Morgan Wallen – Last Night

Tyler Childers – In Your Love

Zach Bryan ft Kacey Musgraves – I Remember Everything

Best Americana performance

Winner: Brandy Clark ft Brandi Carlile – Dear Insecurity

Blind Boys of Alabama – Friendship

Tyler Childers – Help Me Make It Through the Night

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – King of Oklahoma

Allison Russell – The Returner

Best Americana album

Winner: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes

Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark

Rodney Crowell – The Chicago Sessions

Rhiannon Giddens – You’re the One

Allison Russell – The Returner

Best traditional pop vocal album

Winner: Laufey – Bewitched

Liz Callaway – To Steve With Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim

Rickie Lee Jones – Pieces of Treasure

Pentatonix – Holidays Around the World

Bruce Springsteen – Only the Strong Survive

Various – Sondheim Unplugged (The NYC Sessions), Vol. 3

Producer of the year, non-classical

Winner: Jack Antonoff

Daniel Nigro

Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II

Hit-Boy

Metro Boomin

Songwriter of the year, non-classical

Winner: Theron Thomas

Edgar Barrera

Jessie Jo Dillon

Shane McAnally

Justin Tranter

Best music video

Winner: The Beatles – I’m Only Sleeping

Tyler Childers – In Your Love

Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For

Kendrick Lamar – Count Me Out

Troye Sivan – Rush

Best song written for visual media

Winner: Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?

Dua Lipa – Dance the Night

Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice Featuring Aqua – Barbie World

Rihanna – Lift Me Up

Ryan Gosling – I’m Just Ken

Best compilation soundtrack for visual media

Winner: Various artists – Barbie the Album

Daisy Jones & the Six – Aurora

Various Artists – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Various Artists – Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 3: Awesome Mix, Vol 3

“Weird Al” Yankovic – Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Best score soundtrack album for visual media

Winner: Ludwig Göransson – Oppenheimer

John Williams – The Fabelmans

John Williams – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Ludwig Göransson – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt – Barbie

Best audio book, narration and storytelling recording

Winner: Michelle Obama – The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times

Meryl Streep – Big Tree

William Shatner – Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder

Rick Rubin – The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Senator Bernie Sanders – It’s Ok to Be Angry About Capitalism

Best score for video game or other interactive media

Winner: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab, composers

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II – Sarah Schachner, composer

God of War Ragnarök – Bear McCreary, composer

Hogwarts Legacy – Peter Murray, J Scott Rakozy and Chuck E. Myers ‘Sea’, composers

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical – Jess Serro, Tripod and Austin Wintory, composers

Dr Dre Global Impact Award

Winner: Jay-Z

News, Showbiz

Sally Mann breaks down in tears as she calls on Ghanaians to support Moesha’s GoFundMe account.

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Controversial entertainment pundit, Sally Mann shed tears uncontrollably while calling on the general public to contribute to the GoFundMe account which is set up to help Moesha Boduong’s ailing situation.

Before her breakdown, she fumed about the rate at which some individuals recollect what Moesha did in the past to condemn her in these troubling times and advised them not to judge her because only God knows about everyone’s destiny.

Sally Mann stated that those who are annoyed by Moesha’s utterances and lifestyle and hence would not donate to her should desist from tarnishing her image to the general public to discourage others from contributing their quota to support her.

Speaking in an interview with Power FM and monitored by GhanaWeb, an emotional Sally Mann urged the general public to donate to Moesha’s GoFundMe account to help her situation because nothing would be gained if she died from her sickness.

“I beg Ghanaians that if there is a way that we can save that girl’s [Moesha] life, we should help. Because people’s ways are not God’s ways. Maybe you think she is a waste but for all you know she might even be saved in heaven when the time comes.

“If you’re not going to help don’t stop people from helping her because she is sick and she can die. if that happens, what would you gain from it? Don’t look at what she has done with her life, help her because she is somebody’s daughter,” she said amid tears as a co-pundit consoled her.

Sally’s comment comes after some sections of the public criticized Moesha Buduong for not saving enough funds to cater for herself while she was enjoying life and dating affluent men.

Moesha’s brother, Ebito in a press statement confirmed reports that his sister had suffered a stroke and is in critical condition.

He also went ahead and appealed for funds for Moesha’s treatment at the hospital.

According to a GoFundMe account set up in his name to raise funds for Moesha, Ebito Bodoung said that the stroke has impaired her mobility and speech and that she needs urgent medical attention.

He is asking the public to support him with any amount they can to help Moesha recover.

According to the statement, the funds received will cater for various expenses including therapy sessions and assistive devices.

The account has a target of $10,000 (GHC123,600) and would be looking forward to hit the target.

Since the announcement was made, some individuals have donated some funds to support her.

News

See list of universities ‘built’ by NDC that Akufo-Addo has renamed

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The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, (NDC) John Dramani Mahama, has promised to revert the names of public universities which were renamed by Presdient Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to their original names if the NDC comes into office in 2025.

Mr Mahama accused Nana Akufo-Addo and his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), of merely renaming universities constructed by the NDC, emphasizing that the NPP had not established any new universities while in office.

The former President, who was speaking during his ‘Building the Ghana We Want’ tour at Zuarungu, in the Upper East Region said what is even more funny about the current NPP government’s action is that they are failing to add up but renaming institutions built by the NDC after members of the NPP tradition.

“We will add other people and name the infrastructure in the Universities after them. But if the university is the University for Development Studies, that is its core mandate. It will be called the University for Development Studies,” – he explained.

He added – “And so, we will restore the original names, and the names that they have given them will be given to a significant infrastructure in the Universities.

Find below a list of some of the Universities affected.

1. University of Development Studies, Navrongo – UDS Navrongo
The University of Development Studies (UDS) was established by the Jerry John Rawlings-led – NDC government with several campuses across the northern parts of Ghana.
President Akufo-Addo changed of name the Navrongo campus of the UDS in the Upper East Region to CK Tedam University for Technical and Applied Sciences
He announced the name change at the burial ceremony of the late, CK Tedam, a New Patriotic Party founding member.
The change according to him is to honour the former Chairman of the Council of Elders of the NPP and to also make the campus an autonomous university.

2. University of Development Studies, Wa
Nana Akufo-Addo again changed the name of the UDS campus in Wa in the Upper West Region to Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies.
The university’s new name is after Simon Diedong Dombo, a Ghanaian politician, teacher and king who belonged to the United Party (UP) tradition, of which the New Patriotic Party has its roots.
Simon Dombo was a Member of Parliament during the First Republic of Ghana. The decision according to the government will transform the existing campus of the University of Development Studies (UDS) campus in Wa into a fully-fledged university.

3. Ho Technical University
The Ho Technical University (HTU), which was formerly known as Ho Polytechnic, was also renamed by Akufo-Addo as the Ephraim Amu Technical University.
President Akufo-Addo announced the name change during the grand durbar of the 50th-anniversary celebration of the university.

4. University of Energy and Natural Resources – UENR
The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani in the Bono Region was renamed after the late Prime Minister of the Second Republic, Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia, by Akufo-Addo
According to the president, Dr K.A Busia is an illustrious son of the region, hence the decision to honour him by naming the university after him.
UENR was established by an Act of the Parliament of Ghana, Act 830, 2011 on December 31, 2011 by the government of the late Prof John Evans Atta Mills

5. University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi Campus – UEW Kumasi
President Akufo-Addo also renamed the Kumasi campus of the University of Education, Winneba, which was established by the government of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, as the Akenten Appiah Menka University of Skills and Entrepreneurial Development.
He announced that the Kumasi campus of the University of Education will become an autonomous institution under the name, University of Skills and Entrepreneurial Development.
He noted that the decision is far advanced in making the school an autonomous institution.

6. University of Mines and Technology – UMAT
President Akufo-Addo officially renamed the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) to the George Grant University of Mines and Technology, after the first President of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC).
The Tarkwa-based tertiary institution was renamed on Friday, January 12, 2018, at a special congregation held at the school to install former President John Kufuor as its Chancellor.
UMaT which was formerly known as the KNUST School of Mines (KNUSTSM), was renamed after parliament passed the University of Mines and Technology into an Act of Parliament under the government of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

News

Uproar as COCOBOD approves 3500MT cocoa importation

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A Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) letter approving the importation of cocoa beans has sparked an uproar in the world’s second-largest cocoa-producing country.

In the letter dated January 25, 2024, the management of COCOBOD authorises Afrotropic Cocoa Processing Company to import 3500 metric tonnes of cocoa beans from Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria.

While the letter does not state the reasons behind the importation, the Ghanaian populace took to social media to lament the development.

Reactions generally alleged a possible collapse of cocoa production in Ghana, a sector deemed the backbone of the West African state’s economy.
However, according to industry experts, permitting cocoa bean importation from elsewhere is nothing new.

A source said that for several years, Ghana’s cocoa regulator has been approving the importation of some quantities of the commodity for the utilisation of processors.

“It’s the routine; it’s allowed,” a contact with knowledge of the matter told Cocoa Post, adding that “they can [import] if they want to.”

Twelve cocoa processing companies operate in Ghana, with a combined installed capacity of about 500,000 metric tonnes. They include Barry Callebaut, Niche Cocoa, Cocoa Touton, Cargill, Chocomac, Olam, Afrotropic, WAMCO, and CPC.
“All these processors have a clause in their cocoa supply contract with COCOBOD that allows them to import cocoa beans with prior approval,” the expert stated.

Another industry connoisseur, however, insisted that companies desirous of importing “must clearly indicate the purpose,” as per the rule.
“In the past, some companies got approval to import cocoa beans to enable them to meet client’s recipe specifications,” this source revealed.
A Cocobod document available to Cocoa Post lends credence to that explanation. In November 2016, Barry Callebaut received the nod “to import 100 MT of cocoa beans from Ecuador as part of [their] operational requirements for a particular recipe for a customer,” an excerpt from the document read.
COCOBOD Statement
A statement issued by the Public Affairs unit of COCOBOD on Sunday afternoon emphasised that the development “is an industry practice.” It said this “has existed for over 20 years to allow factories to import from other countries, including Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria, and Ecuador.”
“Ghana’s cocoa is a premium cocoa, and as part of cost management and operational strategy, companies often blend premium Ghana cocoa with less premium cocoa beans from other producing countries,” Cocobod explained.
A cocoa specialist who wants their identity withheld upheld the Ghana regulator’s explanation. “No confectionery or chocolate manufacturer in Europe, Japan, or the US can afford to make products with 100% premium Ghana cocoa and remain in business,” the expert argued.
For example, some European chocolatiers are known to import 100% semi-finished premium Ghana cocoa products like liquor and mix them with similar products from elsewhere in their factories to attain certain recipe standards.
“Others will minimise production costs by requesting a processor in Ghana to import less expensive origins to blend with Ghana to, for instance, achieve their FFA (free fatty acids) content specifications,” they noted.

More Questions than Answers

Reacting to COCOBOD‘s statement, Ghanaian cocoa civil society actors say the press statement raises more questions than it purported to answer.
“The question we are asking is, has Cocobod been able to meet the local industry’s cocoa supply needs and contracts?” quizzed Elvis Oppong-Mensah, the Programme Officer at Civic Response Ghana.

“I believe after supplying to the foreign companies to whom we owe an obligation to supply because we have borrowed from them, there is little left to supply to the local industry,” suggested Oppong-Mensah.
According to the civil society front, there are also questions about the sheer quantities of cocoa beans being imported now compared to the smaller quantities in the past, the timing, and the reasons for the importation.

The country is currently in the main crop season, which averagely accounts for about 85% of Ghana’s annual output, with the light crop cocoa making up for the remaining 15%.

Obed Owusu Addai is the Executive Director of EcoCare Ghana and a Co-Convenor of the Ghana Civil-society Cocoa Platform (GCCP).

“There is an inherent underlying problem that COCOBOD, per their press release, is trying to avoid, which is not helpful for the cocoa sector,” Addai observed.

Cocoa Shortage

The Ghana Cocoa Board has since December 2023 received an $800-million cocoa syndicated loan to purchase Ghana’s 2023/24 cocoa crop.

“The problem is the evident shortage of cocoa beans caused by delays in the release of funds to LBCs as well as rumours of smuggling of beans along Ghana’s border towns, especially in the Oti Region,” Obed Owusu Addai alleged.

Last month, Cocoa Post broke the story of a looming cocoa supply crisis threatening the operations of local cocoa processing firms in Ghana.
An industry player hinted to this publication on anonymity that some local cocoa processors have temporarily halted operations or are having to import cocoa beans because of Cocoa Marketing Company’s inability to honour supply contracts paid for in advance.

“It is sad that a country that has recently produced over 1,000,000 metric tonnes of cocoa is now importing cocoa beans to feed its local processors.
If the farmer is not made a priority, the future of the cocoa industry is bleak,” Addai warned.

 

Source: www.thecocoapost.com

News, Showbiz

Pray for Gospel musicians; we are not Angels — Obaapa Christy

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Ghanaian gospel act Obaapa Christy is making a plea to Ghanaians to pray for gospel musicians instead of overly bashing them when they go wrong.

This is because preaching the word of God through music does not make gospel artists angels. They are human too and are likely to make mistakes like everyone else.

The “Metease” hitmaker said chastising gospel musicians when they go wrong is not the way to go.

“There is no need to say all sorts of things to dampen their spirits. I sometimes hear not too good comments about gospel musicians when their issues come up, which can be very disheartening,” she said.

“Since we are gospel musicians, we are mere mortals and are bound to make mistakes too. Some media persons and Ghanaians dwell on the negatives instead of focusing on the positives. What is the point in rejoicing over someone’s downfall?” she queried.

Obaapa Christy also used the opportunity to advise her colleagues to place value on themselves so they are paid well like their secular counterparts who are said to strike better deals with event organisers.

“I always say that when you place value on yourself, no event organiser will pay you whatever they want but rather give what is due you when you are hired to perform. I have done this for over 20 years for anyone to pay me any amount. I am paid what I am due and that is because I am worth it,” she said.

News, Showbiz

Most Ghanaian companies are always reluctant to sponsor gospel musician – Diana Hamilton

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Renowned Ghanaian gospel artist Diana Hamilton has shed light on the financial challenges her colleague musicians face in the industry.

Speaking in an interview on ‘X Zone’ on TV XYZ, the songstress disclosed that most companies in Ghana are often reluctant to sponsor gospel events, which makes it difficult for the industry to thrive.

Hamilton told host Afia Owusu that some companies sometimes refuse to sponsor gospel events outrightly, while others disapprove of it.

The “Adom” hitmaker indicated the attitude of the owners of the firms result in a limited pool of companies willing to support gospel events.

“You will encounter companies that outrightly say they don’t sponsor gospel events. There are also those who frown upon sponsoring gospel, leading to a scarcity of companies willing to sponsor.”

She could not tell wether the the phenomenon is purely based on low returns one could get from sponsoring gospel events or the sector was not lucrative.

Touching on her role as a brand ambassador for both Awake drinking water and Enterprise Life Insurance, Diana attributed her success in securing those deals to “divine intervention.”

 

Watch the video below; 

 

News, Politics

Ablakwa blasts GFA over Black Stars budget

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A certain GFA official says I have no right to expose their unconscionable and lootocratic US$8.5million Black Stars budget.

He can rave, bark, howl, growl, roar and rant but nothing will stop me from demanding full accountability.

When as a Member of Parliament I see thousands of my beloved constituents go to bed each night in tents because of VRA’s catastrophic spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong dams, and when after 5 long months government and VRA callously claim they don’t have money to construct resettlement homes for my people; good conscience cannot permit me to be silent and watch evil triumph.

 

Our fellow compatriots including women, the aged and children would not have to live in tents donated by the US government and the Red Cross if they had GHS105million to replace their damaged homes.

My beloved constituents have done nothing wrong to deserve this; rather, they are going through all these suffering, indignity and destitution so the Akosombo and Kpong dams would be preserved for the entire nation to enjoy electricity.

 

This struggle is about JUSTICE and no one can intimidate us.

I salute the group of courageous and patriotic sports journalists who have today formally notified the police of their intention to demonstrate on the 14th of February, 2024. My displaced persons and I shall be joining this protest.

 

We shall remain resolute and relentless in the pursuit of justice, probity, transparency and accountability.

For God and Country.

Ghana First 🇬🇭

News, Politics, Topstory

Government can’t undertake any meaningful development before it’s kicked out – Mahama alerts

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2024 Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama says Ghanaians must be on the look out for vote-buying promises and shoddy projects in the days ahead as government desperately explores how to outwit electorates again.

According to him, with the limited time left, the NPP can only promise phantom projects to mislead unsuspecting voters.

“What they (government ) have done in the last 8years is what their capacity could handle. There is nothing more they can do at this time. They have messed up the economy” he intimated.

John Mahama, accompanied by former Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Dr Calistus Mahama, National executives of the party, MPs and other party officials reiterated the NDC’s commitment to be realistic with the populace and deliver on policy objectives to improves lives.

“People say politics is dirty so just tell the people what they want to hear and win power. But we in that NDC are not like that. We have been swallowed by debt. They promised you heaven but what one developmental project can you in point in this constituency since the NDC left office in 2016. The masses are suffering but just a few are enjoying. They think the elections can be bought. They gave 200 each to constituents in Assin North but it didn’t wash. If they bring the money take it nothing will happen to you” he stressed.

John Mahama was speaking at a town hall meeting at Frankadua in the Asuogyaman Constituency as part of his two day Building Ghana Tour of the Eastern Region.

News, Politics

Holding 2024 Elections in Nov impossible- Omane Bomah

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The overwhelming consensus at the IPAC meeting that the Electoral Commission’s major electoral reforms must be implemented in 2028, not in 2024 is understandable and well thought through.

In addition, we’re all ready to discuss voting on worship days for a workable solution to satisfy people of faith now.

1. The EC waited for seven (7) solid years to pass after 2016 without revisiting this issue only to resurrect the subject of voting in November, when Ghana has just ten (10) clear months to the December 07 presidential and parliamentary elections.

2. At IPAC yesterday, if the political parties had accepted the November proposal, that would have meant Ghana has ONLY eight (8) clear months to prepare for the elections.

3. Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission’s calendar of programmes and activities for the upcoming elections is not yet ready; hence, could not be released to political parties.

4. Why wait for January to be ending without stakeholders having the electoral calendar for the 2024 elections?

5. Why did the EC not introduce these discussions, adjustments, and amendments in 2017, 2018, 2019, or better still, why not after the 2020 elections? As in, introducing the subject matter in 2021, 2022, and 2023?

6. You don’t wait for an election year to introduce major Electoral Reforms: a year in which the EC has so much to do after an abysmal District Level (Assembly) Elections characterised by postponements after postponements, shortage of ballot papers, some Election officers complicity among others.

7. Recall the chaotic Limited Registration of voters in 2023…

8. Did you know that another voters’ registration exercise must take place this year? Yet, because the EC’s calendar of activities is not ready, we are left guessing 🤔

9. Also, recall the frequent breakdown of EC’s equipment and network (system) during the limited registration exercise in 2023, which necessitated shifting to offline registration in some cases. These developments cast some doubts about the procurement of services and equipment and must be investigated and fixed.

10. Besides, to vote for MPs in November, the EC needs amendment of the 1992 constitution, Article 112(4).

11. This amendment of a non-entrentched clause requires two-thirds of MPs to pass, meanwhile the MPs themselves must be in their constituencies for some parts of this year campaigning, and facilitating the registration of voters when the EC finally decides. Not to think of the duration of the process and other germane issues the EC must bring to the front burner.

Going forward:

12. The EC must immediately release the calendar of activities for 2024.

13. The EC must be focusing on urgent and important activities that will enhance the integrity of the December 07, 2024 elections.

14. The EC must be seen to be punishing erring EC officers who rig elections for contestants and the EC must also be punishing the EC officer in Nandom who openly declared his NPP affiliation during last weekend’s NPP primaries.

15. As was made abundantly clear at the IPAC meeting, we do not expect the EC to wait for another election year to reintroduce this major reform of voting in November. The process must end the latest by 2027 to allow political actors enough time in 2028 to concentrate on core concerns
in an election year.

God bless our homeland, Ghana 🇬🇭

#OrganiseDontAgonise

News

Major Mahama’s murder: 12 out of 14 suspects found guilty, sentenced to life imprisonment

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The Accra High Court has pronounced 12 out of the 14 persons standing trial for the murder of late Major Maxwell Mahama guilty of the offence of murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

That was after a seven-member panel returned a unanimous verdict of guilty against the assemblyman for the area, William Baah, Bernard Asamoah, aka Daddy; Kofi Nyarko, aka Abortion; Akwasi Baah, Kwame Tuffour, Joseph Appiah Kubi and Michael Anim.

The rest are John Bosie, Akwasi Baah, Charles Kwaning, Emmanuel Badu and Kwadwo Anim.

Graphic Online’s Justice Agbenorsi and Diana Mensah who in the courtroom report that two of the people standing trial alongside the 12 —Bismark Donkor and Bismarck Abanga — were however acquitted and discharged after the jury returned a not guilty verdict in their favour.

They were standing trial on charges ranging from murder, abetment to murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Source: Graphiconline.com

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“Keep Quiet! You Don’t Understand The E-block Concept” – Former Deputy Minister of Education blasts Adutwum

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A former Deputy Minister For Education, Hon. Alex Kyeremeh, has called on the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, stop inflicting his ignorance on Ghanaians by refraining from speaking about Mahama’s Community High School Project because he does not understand it.

Hon Kyeremeh’s advise is in reaction to claims by Dr. Adutwum that some E-blocks educational structures bequeathed by the Mahama government to the current government have not been completed because they were situated in jungles instead of  cities.

“I don’t understand the issue of abandonment. There may be some E-blocks that we’ve not opened. If you put an E-block, as I’ve always said in the middle of the city, in Accra or Kumasi, it’s a great investment. But if you put them nowhere, in a jungle somewhere, if you don’t add dormitories, you can’t open them. So what we have done is to add dormitory blocks so that we can operationalize the E-blocks.” the Minister said recently when he toured some schools in the Ashanti Region. However, the former Deputy Minister of Education will have none of the Minister’s claims.

Explaining to the ‘Daily Post’ what the Community High School Concept was all about, he said for the past two decades, the annual demand for secondary education in Ghana has exceeded  20%. This, he said, is a result of increase in population and parents’ interest in educating their children.

“The demand for space in SHS was becoming a big challenge due to inadequate infrastructure. So, in 2012, after a series of stakeholder meetings, the idea of the Community  Senior  High School Concept came up. The idea was to establish new schools with first-class facilities like what you find in the E Blocks,closer to some  communities with high numbers of JHS  students” he explained.

According to Hon Kyeremeh, some of these communities were in urban, peri-urban and some deprived communities across the country.  

“Bringing senior  high school closer to the communities makes it affordable to the people and enhances  community participation and ownership for effective and efficient management  for better academic performance. This Community  School  Concept attracted the World  Bank, and they agreed to support the programme. They recommended it to many countries using our model. It must be noted that the Ministry of Education and Ghana  Education  Service only identified the districts and municipalities that needed additional  SHS” he explained further.

He said the beneficial  Assemblies were asked to identify  communities and engage  traditional authorities to acquire lands, which should not be less than ten hectres. He further said the E-blocks were phase one of the project.

In some communities, the idea was to add additional facilities like dormitories, dining halls, and staff bungalows. By July 2016, we started awarding contracts for some of these schools, which were at advanced stages of completion. For instance, Krobo Community  School in Techiman  North in Bono East got approval for the construction of two number dormitory blocks and dining hall and a kitchen. Funding for the Community Secondary Schools project was the Getfund and a $ 156m facility from the World Bank, so it is not true there were no funds for the project” the Former Deputy Minister stated.

He said after seven years, none of these facilities saw the light of day notwithstanding numerous appeals to Dr Osei Adutwum because  Getfund was collateralized for  a $1.2 billion loan, with the fund having to to pay 60% of its money to defray the loan for ten years. He bemoaned the fact that  the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government is yet to publish what it used the $ 1.2 billion for.

“Again, government also capped  20% of the fund to add to its unsatisfied spending” he pointed out.

He said during the era of Former President Mahama, while the schools were waiting for additional facilities, 66-seater buses were given to all of them to bring students from nearby communities to school daily.

“Dr. Adutwum must be bold enough to mention schools that were constructed in jungles as indicated by him when he visited  Ejura.  He must guide his utterance because we will not allow him to run his mouth to cover his incompetence and lack of knowledge in the educational system in this country” the Former Deputy Minister charged.

On the current state of education in the country, he accused the government  of deliberately refusing to invest into education in spite of all the loans they have raked in. He said the NDC government was able to do so much for education because it committed more than 20% of annual revenue to this sector.

“Apart from 2017, this current government has committed less than 20% to education . 20% is the threshold of the United Nations. Sadly, this year, the government’s budget for education is only 14%. This is the reason they cannot do any meaningful educational infrastructure projects” he revealed.

He accused Dr. Adutwum of being the only Minister of Education in the history of Ghana  who has presided over  basic schools without textbooks for four years. He said the Minster’s time in office has witnessed Ghana’s education returning to the era of schools under trees and classrooms without furniture. He said these are the schools  JOY TV labelled “Schools of Shame”.

Hon. Alex Kyeremeh pointed out that for the past 3 years, more than 40,000 teachers have left the shores of this country with the Minister and his government  able to replace only 16,000 of them.

“The Minister must be told now that education in Ghana is not only SHS. Even the Free SHS is seriously in trouble because of  lack of infrastructure as well as intermittent supply of food due to inadequate funds. Since 2016, when the last textbooks for SHS were procured by NDC government, not a single textbook has been added. Looking at the numbers! Many students are without textbooks. Yet, Adutwum as  Minister contracted people to print past questions and answers annually instead of textbook” the Former Deputy Minister and Former Member of Parliament for Techiman North, lamented..

He said as reported last week by the media, more than 136,000 first-year students have not reported to school . He wondered if the Minister is aware, adding that under the current educational system, students spend more time at home than school because of the  unpopular double  tracks system.

“ Tertiary institutions  also have their fair share of the problems. Senior staff of our universities are on strike.The education calendar is in a mess. Education  in Ghana is going down with each passing moment. The Minister must stop plunging Ghana’s education deeper into the abyss  instead of indulge in self praise” he said.

He posited that Ghana’s education under the current government is doomed but with Former President John Mahama’s eminent return to power, there is light ahead of the tunnel.

 

Source: Daily Post

News, Showbiz

There’s no money in award schemes -CEO Ghana Music Awards USA

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CEO of Ghana Music Awards USA, Don D, lamented the lack of profitability in award schemes. While discussing the Ghana Music Awards USA, Don D disclosed that he hasn’t generated any income from the awards since its inception.

The scheme began during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the second and third years, they faced similar financial challenges. It was only in their fourth year, which was last year, that they managed to break even.

“We started the award scheme during the COVID period, and in the second year, there was still COVID, but the third year, we broke even. However, last year, we ran at a loss, and we ended up in debt. Award schemes don’t make money,” he explained.

Speaking to Afia Owusu, professionally known as Afia Coke, on TV XYZ, the CEO revealed that he has personally invested over $200,000 to fund GMA USA.

“I have not made money from organizing the Ghana Music Awards USA. I can tell you with authority that I’ve invested over $200,000 out of my pocket over the four years and am still spending, but I haven’t made a dollar back,” he emphasized.

 

Watch the video below;