Two of the most successful nations in the continent go head to head in Group B of the Africa Cup of Nations when Egypttake on Ghana at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday.
While both nations are favourites to make it out of the group on paper, a disappointing opening-day outing has put them under pressure to get the result here and we anticipate an action-packed contest.
With Sunday’s result, Egypt have gone six consecutive games without defeat across all competitions, claiming four wins and two draws since last September’s 3-1 friendly defeat against Tunisia, and will now look to avoid failing to win their opening two games at the AFCON finals for the first time in over three decades.
Pharoahs of Egypt
The Black Stars enjoyed a smooth qualifying campaign as they finished as one of just three unbeaten nations, claiming three wins and three draws to pick up 12 points and clinch top spot in Group E.
However, they would suffer an even worse fate than Egypt in their group curtain-raiser as they fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of rank outsiders Cape Verde on Sunday evening.
Chris Hughton‘s side also suffered defeat in their opening game in Cameroon two years ago, losing 1-0 against Morocco, before they were stunned 3-2 by debutant Comoros, which saw their campaign come to an end in the group stages.
While Ghana will now look to avoid three consecutive AFCON losses for the very first time, they have lost three of their last four games against Egypt
Salah should spearhead the Pharaohs’ attack once again, alongside Mohamed and Trabzonspor man Mahmoud Trezeguet, who made his 62nd international appearance at the weekend.
As for Ghana, they continue to sweat over the fitness of West Ham United forward Mohammed Kudus, who was a notable absentee in their opening-day defeat.
Having both failed to win their opening game, Egypt and Ghana know that Thursday’s result is pivotal in their push for a place in the knockout stages.
Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coastwill be looking to build on their opening-day victory and book a place in the knockout stages when they take on Nigeria at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé on Thursday.
Off the back of a 1-1 opening-day draw against Equatorial Guinea, the Super Eagles will head into the game looking to recover from their disappointing start and get their quest for continental glory back on track. The Super Eagles head into Thursday’s clash under more pressure as they were denied a winning start to the continental showpiece after playing out a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea.
The West African heavyweights will draw inspiration from their last AFCON encounter with Ivory Coast when they picked up a 2-1 victory over Les Elephants in the quarter-finals back in 2013 en route to clinching the title in South Africa.
Ivory Coast kicked off the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations as they would have hoped as they picked up a comfortable 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau. Firing on all cylinders and with the backing of their home supporters, Ivory Coast now set out to pick up successive wins in their opening two games at the AFCON finals.
Ivory Coast head into this game with sky-high confidence, following their solid display against Guinea-Bissau, however, expect their defence to be put to the test given Nigeria’s talented attacking unit led by Osimhen.
The Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel A. Jinapor, is contending that any person who wants honeymoon period as a President is not ready to occupy the high office of the land.
Veep Mahamudu Bawumia
According to Jinapor, who is also the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the presidency is not for Honeymooners, but people of action, who have demonstrable commitment to work in the interest of the people of Ghana.
Earlier this week, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, urged Ghanaians, particularly trade and labour unions, to give him a period of “honeymoon” should he be elected President, before making any demands on his Government.
Addressing NDC party faithful at Hohoe in Volta Region during his “Campus Connect” event, President Mahama said: “We will beg you that when we come into office gives us a bit of honeymoon, let’s put things in place so that we can bring back the economy onto its feet.”
Responding to a question from a group of journalists on the request by the former President, Mr. Jinapor said the business of running a country is not for honeymooners.
He said the statement from the former President clearly shows that he is not ready to occupy the high office of the President of Ghana.
“A President who wants to be given honeymoon period is not ready to serve the people. A President must be ever ready to serve, no matter the circumstances,” Mr. Jinapor said.
John Dramani Mahama
According to the Minister, President Akufo-Addo did not ask for honeymoon when he took over as President in 2017, after the NDC had run the economy down.
“Despite all the problems and economic challenges we inherited, Free SHS was implemented in the first year; National Health Insurance Scheme was revamped in the first year; real GDP grew from 3.4% in 2016 to 8.1% in 2017; several taxes were either reduced or abolished. That is the kind of President we need,” Jinapor said.
He added that even when COVID dealt a blow to the economy, the President did not ask for honeymoon period. On the contrary, some 38,000 nurses were employed, free electricity, water and food were provided to several households, whilst others were served hot meals.
He said what Ghana needs in 2025 is Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to build on the gains of the Akufo-Addo Government and to continue the long-term policies that Government is implementing to unleash prosperity for Ghanaians.
He said most of these policies will start bearing fruits in 2025 and it was important that Ghanaians voted for a President who will continue with these policies rather than one who will come and enjoy honeymoon.
The Minister said he was confident that Ghanaians will look at the record of the Government and the personality of Dr. Bawumia and vote massively for him to continue with the good policies of this Government.
The Ahafo Ano North Parliamentary seat seems to be a swinging one, that is, it keeps alternating between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) since 1992.
Mr. George Kwasi Adjei Annim of the Egle party occupied the seat in 1992, followed by Mr. Baffour Annor of the NDC in 1996.
KFF poses with OWASS students from Ahafo Ahano North
In 2001, Kwame Owusu Frimpong took over the seat for the New Patriotic Party for two terms, until he lost the NPP internal primary to Richard Akuoko Adiyiah, who won the seat in 2009.
The seat returned to the NDC in 2013, when Akwasi Adusei won the parliamentary election in 2012.
Then Suleman Adamu Sanid annexed the seat for the New Patriotic party in 2016 and 2020 for another two terms, until his decision not to seek re-election in the 2024 elections.
With this declaration by Suleman Adamu Sanid, the stage is now set for party members to aspire for the seat. Enter Kwaku Fosu Frimpong, a native of Tepa, to bid for the seat.
His presence has long been felt in the constituency through his philanthropic activities in the area.
In July 2023, 350 Ahafo Ano North farmers were equipped with employable skills after undergoing training in bee keeping, pastries, detergents and soap making, to enable them earn more to supplement their income from their farming activities.
About 1,000 constituents, including 720 delegates of the NPP were also drawn from three zones in the District to undergo a similar training programme. The objective of his benevolence is to bring hope and build the Ahafo Ano North Constituency in unity, towards the 2024 elections.
A native of Tepa, Mr. Fosu Frimpong believes that the true wealth of a community lies in the economic growth of its people through education.
Kwaku Fosu Frimpong alias KFF
For that matter, Mr. Fosu Frimpong, a business consultant in Finance and Operations, in November 2023, also engaged 1,000 plus Ahafo Ano North constituents in a two-day free Entrepreneurship training program, designed to equip them with skills that will help them improve their livelihood.
The Philanthropist also embarked on the rehabilitation of 451km of roads in Ahafo Ano North for the benefit of 47 communities in the municipality.
He said his philanthropic activities gives him the leverage to serve the people, hence his resolve to generously donate his time, money, experience, skills or talent to promote the welfare of others and help create a better world.
Kwaku Fosu Frimpong has also facilitated the installation of a mast by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) at Numasua, to serve the communication needs of the residents and surrounding communities.
Who is Kwaku Fosu Frimpong?
Mr. Kwaku Fosu Frimpong, 43, is an astute business consultant with many years of experience in business processes, project incubation and implementation, SME business diagnostics, business plan review and preparation, business structuring and proposal writing.
Over the course of his career Mr. Frimpong has developed an expertise in the development and application of business principles that has benefited many companies he has consulted for.
In addition to his creative and analytical and numeric skills, he has gained a reputation for working well with his team, with proven problem-solving abilities. His incisive appreciation of business practices, as well as his aptitude to apply strategic policies that obtain bottom line progress has been evident throughout his career.
He has worked for national and international public institutions such as managing DFID and IDA donor funds at the Ministry of Public Sector Reform, Ghana, and working with the Finance Team of Milton Keynes Council, United Kingdom.
He has provided leadership in the execution of several jobs for private institutions such as Electronic Data System (EDS), UK; Open University, UK; Bluehills Microfinance and KFF Consult & Investment Limited.
Mr. Frimpong serves on the Board of several institutions including, Finance Committee of Ghana Chamber of Commerce, amongst others.
He Communicates, on behalf of the company, with shareholders, government entities, and the public. He also Leads the development of the company’s short- and long-term strategy as well as create and implement the organization’s vision and mission and oversee the day-to-day operations of the institution.
Education
Kwaku Fosu Frimpong is a product of Opoku Ware School, Kumasi (1998), after which he obtained his BA (Hons) Economics (2004) at the University of Ghana, Legon, in Accra-Ghana.
He proceeded to the University of London, UK for his LLB (Law) in 2019 and University of Ghana for LLM Corporate and Commercial Law (Ongoing).
Other Training
He has a Basic Banking Course Certificate (Ghana National Banking College) (2007), Training for Victim Support members, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom (2005), Electoral Registration Officer (Canvasser), Milton Keynes Council, UK (2005), Volkshochschule, Heilbronn-Germany, German Language Course Certificate (2004).
Vision and Agenda
In pursuit of his agenda and bid to represent constituents of the Ahafo Ano North Constituency, Kwaku Fosu Frimpong has outlined his vision under five thematic areas; namely infrastructure, health, education, economic development and party development.
Fosu Frimpong, popularly known as KFF, says he will continue to reshape and resurface all feeder roads in the constituency to complement the efforts of the government.
According to him, all dust on feeder roads will be removed using road dust suppressant and soil stabiliser, the latest technology as a way to tackle deplorable road networks in the area.
Under health, the aspirant intends to enroll all Polling Station Executives on a private health insurance policy, including a funeral policy.
All polling station executives and their dependents are also to be catered for under an education fund yet to be set up by him.
KFF has also promised to expand his agricultural partnership with farmers and ensure that all polling station executives who are farmers are enrolled.
The objective, according to the parliamentary candidate hopeful, is to fund farmers to increase production.
To sustain the ongoing skill training programmes in the constituency, he intends to establish a Skills Development and Training Centre that will provide start-up capital and establish ready markets for all products.
Kwaku Fosu Frimpong has also promised to make the party attractive in the constituency.
He wants to contribute to the growth and development of the NPP and decided to build a befitting constituency party office, which will comprise a Business Development Centre to be run by a limited liability company.
A party welfare fund will be established to be funded by businesses owned by the Ahafo Ano North NPP constituency.
Obviously, KFF is NPP’s new sensation in the Ahafo Ano North Constituency.
Appeal
Having filed his nomination forms and successfully completed the vetting process and thus securing the No. 2 position on the ballot, he has appealed to delegates to vote massively for him at the primaries to enable him partner Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia to break the 8 and ensure a majority win over the NDC Parliamentary candidate in the 2024 elections.
He has appealed to the over 700 delegates to give him the mandate to represent their interest at the National Assembly in 2025.
Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, has opened the 11th edition of the Jospong Leadership Conference at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoah Fetteh.
The event, which took place on Monday, January 15, 2024 drew participants, mainly leaders and staff of both of the Jospong Group of Companies. Others also joined online from across the country.
Some of the participants
Dr. Agyepong commenced the conference by expressing gratitude to God for another successful year and extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests, including the Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Samanjith Udumalagala and the CEO of Asian African Consortium, Mrs. Adelaide Araba Siaw Agyepong.
Before delving into the conference’s theme, Dr. Agyepong took a moment to remember colleagues who departed in the preceding year, emphasising the importance of unity and remembrance within the Jospong family.
Reflecting on the past 11 years of the leadership conference, Dr. Agyepong highlighted the positive impact of the annual event, attributing its success to the dedication and hard work of the Group’s employees.
The theme for the 2024 Leadership Conference: “Driving Business Excellence through Innovation, Sustainability and Empowerment,” was unveiled with a clear message that innovation is crucial for achieving the Group’s vision of becoming a leading business in Africa.
Addressing sustainability, Dr. Agyepong underlined Jospong Group’s commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.
The call for collaboration and innovative thinking echoed throughout his speech, emphasising the need for intentional efforts in sustainable businesses and financial modelling to empower employees and stakeholders.
Participants at the conference
Capacity building emerged as a key focus, with Dr. Agyepong emphasising the importance of investing in the Group’s human capital. He highlighted various training programs undertaken in the past year, including international initiatives, such as waste recovery and recyclables training in Thailand and participation in global conferences like COP 28.
The Jospong Academy’s role in designing innovative learning programmes has been critical to the growth of the conglomerate.
Speaking on the topic: “Empower for Greatness: Igniting Businesses”, President of the Full Gospel Men’s Fellowship – International, Mr. Baba Mahama, asked business owners to simplify and define their missions to employees, if they want them empowered.
He said the first place to look for competition was no other place than within one’s organisation.
Mr. Mahama was categorical that excellence could only be achieved when efficiency and effectiveness are equilibrium.
He said the first customer to an organisation was none other than its employees and their satisfaction transcends to the external customer at all times.
Nana Dwamena Akenten II swearing oath of allegiance to Asantehene (seated left)
Nana Dwamena Akenten II, the newly installed paramount chief of the Offinso Traditional Area has sworn the oath of allegiance to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the first Asanteman Council meeting last Thursday.
The new Offinsomanhene was carried in a palanquin through the main streets of Manhyia before the swearing of the oath to Otumfuo.
The ceremony was witnessed by prominent paramount chiefs of Asanteman, including Sampamanhene Nana Samgba Gyafla II, Seikwamanhene Nana Kwaku Dwumah Ankoana II, Fiaprahene; Tuabodommanhene Nana Agyei Kooko Beyeeman, Berekummanhemaa; Nana Akosua Ameyaahene and Goasomanhene Nana Akwasi Bosomprah.
New Offinsomanhene rides in a palanquin after the Manhyia swearing in ceremony
The 68-year-old royal of the Offinso Ahyirem Royal Family, Nana Amoako Poku, who now answers to Nana Dwamena Akenten II, was nominated by the traditional leaders as the new Offinsomanhene.
The Ahyirem royals, led by Kwakwaboa Abusuapanin Opanin Yaw Nkrumah Adusah, presented Nana Amoako Opoku to Otumfuo at the Manhyia Palace in accordance with Asante tradition.
The choice of Nana Amoako Poku to fill the vacant stool after the demise of the late Nana Wiafe Akenten III two years ago, followed the rejection of Offinsohemaa Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko’s choice of Dr. K.K. Sarpong, the former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) as the successor.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II – Asantehene
The Asantehene also pronounced the destooolment of the Offinsohemaa at the Asanteman Council meeting last Thursday, thus ending her reign of over three decades as Queen mother of Offinso Traditional Area.
Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko is accused of gross insubordination, having refused to honour summons to appear before Otumfuo, besides other allegations.
As a result, Otumfuo has authorised the new Offinsomanhene to take charge of the town (Offinso) and by extension the Offinso Traditional area.
Nana Dwamena Akenten II has also been mandated to find a Queen mother who will be available to help him function as the Offinsomanhene.
Meanwhile, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has pledged to continue to resolve all chieftaincy disputes in the Asante Kingdom, by working to return stools to their rightful heirs.
He told the Asanteman Council that all stools occupied by illegitimate persons will be returned to the rightful heirs, stressing that family trees for all royals exist for the determination of the rightful heirs and right all wrong enstoolments.
Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko – Destooled Queen mother of Offinso
Otumfuo emphasised that he is prepared to embark on this task single handedly even if paramount chiefs and sub chiefs would not support or help him.
The Asantehene, however, indicated that after setting the records straight, he bears no grudge against those who tried to change the records and that such persons who show signs of remorse are welcome.
The Prefos Electrical Training Centre (PETC), established at Adako Jachie in the Ejisu Municipality in 2014, has partnered with the Partner Africa Project (UWZ) to champion the African Agenda.
The project, sponsored by the German Government, will provide Photovoltaic Solar training to African indigenes.
Mr Thomas Dwomoh, Director of the training centre disclosed that the partnership comes from the selection of Ghana to be part of the project, of which PETC happened to be the only private Technical Institute in Ghana, to be part of the Public Technical Training Institutions.
Prefos Electrical Training Centre
Under the partnership, the German Government will provide some modern solar training facilities and equipment to PETC and some stipend to train the youth in Solar Technology.
Mr Dwomoh further announced that PETC has registered with the Ghana TVET Voucher programme and the Ghana Jobs and Skills Apprenticeship Project (GJS-AP), a World Bank funded project, which provides capacity building for the youth and creates jobs for them.
He said in 2019, PETC trained the first batch of 100 students across the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in street light installations and maintenance.
He said PETC has passed Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) Accreditation processes to run Competency Based Training (CBT), after which students would be awarded with the National Certificate 1 and II of the pre-Tertiary National TVET Qualification Framework (NTVETQF).
Director Dwomoh hinted that PETC intends to expand its infrastructure through a collaborative and partnership efforts at both the Local and international levels.
He explained that PETC will build more training facilities and seek more partners to help in the training of the youth across the country and beyond frontiers as well as seek affiliation with any renowned university for research collaboration and learning and thus contribute to the National Industrialization agenda through TVET and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and build a robust economy through skills impartation in youth capacity building.
picture of school pupils and other children at the New year party
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa Nsuaem, George Mireku Duker, has donated school bags and exercise books to school pupils in some of communities in his constituency.
About five hundred pupils, drawn from Dompim-Pepesa and surrounding villages, received school bags and exercise books.
The donation coincided with New Year party held by the Tarkwa Nsuaem Legislator for school pupils and other children in the Dompim-Pepesa and surrounding areas.
By 9am, the pupils had started trooping to the Dompim Astro Turf built by the Legislator, for the New Year party, which was on the theme: “New Year Day Out with MP Duker.”
They engaged in several games, including displaying their talents in singing, cat walk and other games.
MP Duke handing over a school bag to one of the pupils
Speaking to The Chronicle, Legislator George Mireku Duker expressed delight for the huge attendance. He was also happy that each pupil received a school bag, including exercise books. According to him, he had budgeted for over thousand school bags for distribution to the pupils, as a way of giving back to society.
Explaining the significance of the New Year party, Mr Duker told this reporter that children are the future leaders of this country and should, therefore, be given proper care.
Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Ben.Kesse, Benjamin Assabil, constituency Chairman and other elected Assembly Members were present.
Mireku Duker also had dinner with the journalists.
Unilever Personal Care brands, Rexona, Axe and Dove have been announced as the official sponsors of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 and Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2024.
The partnership, with Confederation of African Football (CAF) was spearheaded by Unilever International, Unilever’s Global Business Unit and Unilever’s Personal Care Business Group.
This association makes Unilever the exclusive Personal Care Consumer Goods partner for the two tournaments, with the company working closely with CAF on a range of football initiatives across a selection of African countries over the duration of the agreement.
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 kicked off on 13 January 2024 and is expected to be watched by over 800 million people worldwide, tuning in to catch the unique flavour of Africa’s biggest footballing celebration.
The TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2024, meanwhile, is set to take place in the summer of 2024 in Morocco, with the dates still to be announced.
By sponsoring the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023, Unilever is building on its rich history as a major partner of football events and competitions in Africa and Worldwide.
Mr Assem Puri, Executive Vice President, Unilever International, said “We are thrilled to partner with CAF and engage a large, diverse audience through our Personal Care brands. Through this partnership, we are also excited to connect with the future generation of football athletes across the African continent and help them grow.”
Dr Patrice Motsepe, CAF President, said “This major new partnership with Unilever represents a huge step towards achieving our objective of making CAF competitions, and African football, globally competitive and appealing to fans and viewers across Africa and around the world.
“We are delighted to welcome Unilever as the latest Official Sponsor of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 and the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.”
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwesimintsim, Dr. Prince Hamid Armah, has listed a number of developmental projects he has undertaken in the constituency within three years, as a Legislator.
With over 20 infrastructural developmental projects completed, the Legislator appears to have taken development to the next level.
Going through the tall list as evidence in a book he had launched, the first time Kwesimintsim Legislator could be described as a development oriented person.
A Six-Unit Classroom Block
Some of the developmental projects which The Chronicle had seen as evidence in the book he launched, included the renovation and furnishing of Takoradi Senior High School; construction of a 6-Unit classroom block with ancillary facilities at Anaji M/A; construction of an ultramodern Kindergarten for Apremdo Catholic Basic school and construction of a new ultramodern 2-Unit Kindergarten with ancillary facilities for Adientem/Mpatado.
Others are the construction of 6-unit classroom block for Mpatado M/A Basic School, construction of 6-Unit classroom block with ancillary facilities for Whindo and rehabilitation of Kwesimintsim Methodist Freeman School.
The rest are continuation, completion and furnishing of Apremdo CHPS Compound, construction of two bedroom flat semi-detached staff accommodation for Adientem CHPS compound, construction of ultramodern CHPS compound for Kwesimintsim and construction of 15 mechanised water systems with polytanks.
SCHOLARSHIP/JOB CREATION
The Kwesimintsim legislator has also chalked a number of successes in the area of education and job creation.
He facilitated the acquisition of over 200 scholarships for his constituents and also assisted over 100 youth in gainful employment in the public sector.
He had also trained the youth in cat fish farming and provided GH¢50,000 as seed capital for some selected groups.
