Comic Actor Kalybos has revealed why he supported the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2020 general elections.
Kalybos, who was among the group of actors who actively campaigned for the NPP leading to the party’s victory in the 2020 election, said though each Celebrity who supported the party in 2020 election had their individual reasons, his was purely the love for the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy of the party.
“My aim of supporting the New Patriotic Party was because of their Free SHS policy. Ever since the policy was implemented, I could actually save. That was my point of view. I didn’t go in for any other campaign, so when that was implemented, I had to be selfish for ones” he said in an interview on TV3.
Kalybos said the policy has taken a lot of responsibilities off his shoulders and it has also saved a lot of homes.
“When you become the breadwinner, there are a lot of responsibilities. I had to get my uncle’s support through university and the burden becomes 10 times on you. But with free SHS, I have saved a lot of money,” he added.
“It’s a difficult decision, but a necessary decision,” he said, “to protect public finances”, and move away from the “whatever it costs” measures introduced to prop up the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic and extended as energy costs skyrocketed with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In September the government had promised to not raise electricity prices more than ten percent in 2024.
The rate hike – a result in an increase in the power consumption tax cut in 2021 – will mean a family with two children living in a house will see their electricity costs go up 18 euros a month, Le Maire said.
President Emmanuel Macron said last week that electricity prices would be return back to “normal” levels, while remaining lower than rates in neighbouring Spain, Germany and Italy.
Le Maire said a second and final rate increase will be implemented in February 2025, to end the subsidies.
Earthquake strikes near China’s border with Kyrgyzstan
Three people have died after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake rocked a mountainous and remote part of China’s far western Xinjiang region early Tuesday.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that a further five people were injured and 12,426 evacuated from affected areas.
The quake struck Wushi county, also known as Uqturpan county, in Aksu prefecture near the Kyrgyzstan border shortly after 2 a.m. local time, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.
Strong tremors caused two houses to collapse and downed two major power lines near the epicenter, though electricity was quickly restored, according to Xinhua, and tremors were felt in Central Asian countries hundreds of miles away.
Rescue missions are taking place in cold weather with temperatures expected to reach minus 23 degrees Celsius (minus 9.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in Wushi county in the next three days, China’s Meteorological Agency said Tuesday.
The Xinjiang railway authority immediately sealed off routes in areas affected by the quake and suspended 27 trains, Xinhua reported.
A gunman suspected of killing eight people in the city of Joliet, Illinois, has died after a confrontation with law enforcement officials, police say.
Police in Joliet said Romeo Nance, 23, is believed to have fatally shot himself after the confrontation near Natalia, Texas.
He is suspected of killing eight people at multiple locations in Joliet.
Seven of the victims were found in two nearby houses by police on Monday. The eighth was found earlier on Sunday.
The identities of the seven victims discovered on Monday have not yet been released.
The discovery of the bodies sparked a manhunt for the suspect, who authorities warned “should be regarded as armed and dangerous”.
In a statement, Joliet police department said Mr Nance had been located by US Marshals near Natalia at approximately 20:30 local time on Monday (2:30 GMT on Tuesday).
At that point, it said, “it is believed that Nance took his own life with a handgun following a confrontation with Texas law enforcement officials.”
Mohammad Ghobadlou is the ninth person to have been executed
Iran has executed a man who was sentenced to death in connection with mass protests against the clerical establishment, the judiciary says.
Mohammad Ghobadlou, 23, was convicted of murder and “corruption on Earth” for allegedly running over a policeman with his car and killing him during a protest near Tehran in September 2022.
Rights groups said he faced an unfair trial marred by torture allegations.
Appeals to take into account his mental health condition were also rejected.
He is the ninth person to have been executed in relation to their involvement in the protests. At least four others are believed to be under sentence of death and 15 others are at risk of being handed the death penalty.
The nationwide unrest was triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab “improperly”.
Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands detained in a violent crackdown by security forces, which have portrayed the protests as “riots”.
Israeli soldiers carry the casket at the funeral of one reservist killed
The Israeli army says 24 of its soldiers were killed in Gaza on Monday – the deadliest day for its forces since their ground operation began.
That includes 21 reservists who died in an explosion likely caused by mines that Israeli forces had placed in two buildings to demolish them, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
It is thought a missile fired by Palestinian armed fighters hit a tank guarding the troops just beforehand. The IDF is investigating what happened. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, 195 Palestinians have been killed in the past day.
The IDF’s chief spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said the reservists were killed in central Gaza at around 16:00 (14:00 GMT) on Monday – close to the kibbutz of Kissufim on the Israeli side of the border.
They were involved in an operation to allow for residents of southern Israel to safely return to their homes after tens of thousands were evacuated after the Hamas attack on 7 October.
The first funerals for those killed in the explosion have been held at Mount Herzl in a rainy Jerusalem.
The US and UK carried out additional strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Monday, marking the eighth round of attacks by the US military on the rebels’ infrastructure in just over 10 days, according to a joint statement.
They struck eight sites, according to the statement from the US and UK, which conducted the strikes, and Canada, the Netherlands, Bahrain, and Australia, which supported the attacks.
The latest strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen were “successful” and destroyed missiles, weapons storage sites and drone systems, according to a senior military official and a senior defense official.
The officials, who briefed reporters following the Monday afternoon operation, said the strikes “achieved the desired effect.”
It was a smaller number than the first joint operation on January 11 that struck over 30 Houthi targets. Monday’s strikes targeted a Houthi underground storage site and sites associates with Houthi missile and air surveillance, the statement added. President Joe Biden spoke to his British counterpart UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday, the White House said earlier in the day, about a range of topics including security in the Red Sea.
Aspirant Obiri Yeboah breaking the grounds at Asem school
Parliamentary Candidate for Subin constituency, Lawyer Kofi Obiri Yeboah last Saturday cut the sod for the construction of an Astroturf at Asem Cluster of schools Park for Subin constituents.
Mr. Solomon Lamptey of Wembley Construction Sports Company Limited, executing the project, has promised to complete the project in six months time.
Lawyer Obiri Yeboah said at the sod cutting ceremony that the proposed Astroturf project is part of efforts to give Subin constituency a befitting facelift.
The aspirant promised to provide three more Astroturfs for the constituency if he is given the nod in next Saturday’s primaries, to represent Subin constituents in Parliament.
He reiterated the promise to establish a GH¢700,000 Subin Co-operative Fund to offer loan facilities to constituents at no interest.
He has already provided a 33-seater bus for the Constituency Secretariat for their travels and called on the delegates to vote massively for him to ensure total change in the Subin constituency.
Otumfuo’s Mmamensenhen, Nana Osei Kwadwo, who graced the occasion called on delegates to support the bid of the aspirant.
At the sod cutting ceremony were Moslem community leaders, chiefs, Queen mothers and all the Assembly members from Subin constituency.
Madam Ama Nkrumah, an electorate from Manhyia South pleading with the delegates
Constituents in Manhyia South Constituency have made a passionate appeal to delegates to vote massively for the incumbent Member of Parliament, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as Napo, to continue with the total developmental agenda of the area.
Maame Fremaah and Madam Ama Nkrumah of Dichemso and CPC, who presided over a press briefing at Ashanti Newtown (Ashtown) last Friday, emphasised that Manhyia South Constituency cannot afford to lose the Energy Minister as their legislator at this crucial time when he is bringing development to the constituency.
Joseph Dwumfour Junior aka Joe Waladi, leader of Volunteers for NAPO, speaking with the media
According to the constituents, their law maker is affable, supportive, selfless and a development oriented person who cares for the wellbeing of each and every person in the constituency.
“Napo is listening, irrespective of one’s status in society, be it the aged, needy or the vulnerable”.
The constituents reiterated that their MP is a unifier who does not discriminate against any constituent irrespective of one’s political lineage.
They entreated the delegates to renew his mandate to continue to serve the constituency and address their basic needs.
Mr. Joseph Dwumfour Junior, aka Joe Waladi, leader of the Volunteers for NAPO, in an interview assured the delegates to express their appreciation to the Member of Parliamenton January 27, 2024.
He indicated that the MP’s contributions to infrastructural and human resource developments and the construction of town roads within the area are unmatched.
Mr. Dwumfour said the call by the electorate in the constituency on delegates to renew Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s mandate is in the right direction.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh is contesting the seat for the fourth time and would be having a face-off with Madam Helena Pinaman Owusu, the former constituency Women’s Organiser in the NPP Parliamentary primaries.
Dr. Freda Akosua Oheneafrewo Prempeh –Tano North MP
Constituents in the Tano North constituency of the Ahafo region have declared their support for the fourth bid of the Member of Parliament for the area, Dr. Freda Akosua Oheneafrewo Prempeh.
Mrs. Freda Prempeh polled 22,592 votes (54.18%) in the 2020 elections against 18,684 (44.81%) and 419 (1%) votes by the NDC and GUM candidates.
Constituents interviewed at Duayaw Nkwanta over the weekend said they prefer Madam Freda, aka “Obaa Noaa” to any other contestant.
They would not have any problem voting massively for the MP for the fourth time, if the delegates would see the need to give the MP the mandate to continue with her developmental agenda in the constituency.
Sampling views of the constituents, Mr. Victor Owusu of the New Zongo electoral area said nobody compares with the MP as far as projects for all the 25 electoral areas in Tano North constituency are concerned.
The proposed Fire Academy Training school under construction
He sees no reason why the MP should be replaced after all the good work she has done over the years.
Mr. Samuel Boateng of the Tromo Electoral area said the constituents cannot afford to have the various ongoing projects stalled, and called for endorsement of the MP to ensure the completion of such projects.
Mr. Boateng mentioned that the MP has endeared herself to the constituents by the numerous social interventions for the people.
These include; the construction of a proposed Fire Academy Training school, two Astroturfs at Duayaw Nkwanta, road constructions as well as about 130 boreholes and water projects spread across the 25 Electoral areas in the Tano North constituency.
He said the MP has, by all standards, contributed to the development of the constituency and mentioned roads, electricity, schools, public places of convenience and mechanised boreholes for all the electoral areas.
Mr. Yaw Asamoah, a Youth Organiser, Madam Cynthia Asieduaa, Margaret Acquah and Margaret Agyeiwaa (Zongo electoral area) all attested to the provision of projects in the constituency.
“Madam Freda Prempeh has done a yeoman’s job and needs the support of the delegates to ensure that development spread to all corners of the constituency”, the interviewees said.
