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Denmark returns iconic indigenous cloak to Brazil

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The cloak is made of 4,000 feathers from the scarlet ibis bird

The National Museum of Denmark is handing over an iconic cloak belonging to an indigenous group in Brazil at a ceremony being attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Considered sacred by the indigenous Tupinambá people, the garment was taken from Brazil during the Portuguese colonial period and has been on display in Copenhagen since 1689.

The 1.8m-long cloak is made of 4,000 red feathers from the scarlet ibis bird.

Brazil’s government has been trying to recover artefacts taken during the colonial period from around the world.

The cloak was returned in July and will be housed at the National Museum in Rio de Janeiro.

A group of 200 Tupinambá people have been camping outside the building, with drums and pipes filled with medicinal herbs, waiting to see the precious cloak and to reconnect with their ancient traditions.

Yakuy Tupinambá travelled more than 1,200km (745 miles) by bus from the eastern Olivenca municipality to see the garment. “I felt sadness and joy. A mixture between being born and dying,” he told the AFP news agency.

“Our ancestors say that when they [the Europeans] took it away, our village was left without a north,” indigenous chief Sussu Arana Morubyxada Tupinambá said.

Several Tupinambá sacred capes, which have survived hundreds of years, are still on display in museums across Europe.

They are thought to date back to the 16th Century.

Tupinambás leaders say this is not just about bringing artefacts back to their original homelands, but about recognising indigenous people, their lands and rights.

Brazil’s president has pledged to recognise indigenous land reserves, but the Tupinambás’ territory has not yet been formally demarcated by the government.

The Tupinambás say the mineral-rich territory is being devastated by large agriculture and mining businesses.

Credit: bbc.com

What Are Anxiety Disorders

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Anxiety is a normal emotion. It’s your brain’s way of reacting to stress and alerting you of potential danger ahead.

Everyone feels anxious now and then. For example, you may worry when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision.

Occasional anxiety is OK. But anxiety disorders are different. They’re a group of mental illnesses that cause constant and overwhelming anxiety and fear. Too much anxiety can make you avoid work, school, family get-togethers, and other social situations that might trigger or worsen your symptoms.

With treatment, many people with anxiety disorders can manage their symptoms.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

There are several types of anxiety disorders, including:

Generalized anxiety disorder

You feel excessive, unrealistic worry and tension about typical everyday tasks. These feelings can be constant.

Panic disorder

You feel sudden, intense fear that brings on a panic attack. During a panic attack you may break out in a sweat, have chest pain, and have a pounding heartbeat (palpitations). Sometimes, you may feel like you’re choking or having a heart attack. If you have an attack, you might be afraid of having another and might try to avoid certain triggers.

Social anxiety disorder

Also called social phobia, this is when you feel overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. You obsessively worry about others judging you or being embarrassed or teased. If you have this disorder, you might stay away from social settings.

Phobias

You feel an intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as heights or flying. The fear goes beyond what’s appropriate and may cause you to avoid ordinary situations.

Agoraphobia

You have an intense fear of being in a place where it seems hard to escape or get help if an emergency occurs. For example, you may panic or feel anxious when on an airplane, on public transportation, in closed spaces, standing in a line with a crowd, or just being away from your home.

Separation anxiety

Little kids aren’t the only ones who feel scared or anxious when a loved one leaves. Anyone can get separation anxiety disorder. If you do, you’ll feel very anxious or fearful when a person you’re close to leaves your sight. You’ll always worry that something bad may happen to your loved one. If you’re older, you may have this anxiety after a traumatic event.

Selective mutism

This is a type of social anxiety in which young kids who talk normally with their family don’t speak in public, such as at school.

Medication-induced anxiety disorder

If you use certain medications or illegal drugs or withdraw from certain drugs, you may experience some symptoms of anxiety disorder.

Unspecified and other specified anxiety disorders

With these conditions, your anxiety may not fit into any other category but is significant enough to cause stress and other symptoms.

Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

The main symptom of anxiety disorders is excessive fear or worry. Anxiety disorders can also make it hard to breathe, sleep, stay still, and concentrate. Your specific symptoms depend on the type of anxiety disorder you have.

Causes of Anxiety Disorder

There isn’t a complete understanding of where anxiety disorders come from. Some causes of anxiety disorders include:

Genetics. Anxiety disorders can run in families.

Brain chemistry. Some research suggests anxiety disorders may be linked to faulty circuits in the brain that control fear and emotions.

Environmental stress. This refers to stressful events you have seen or lived through. Life events often linked to anxiety disorders include childhood abuse and neglect, the death of a loved one, or being attacked or seeing violence.

Drug or alcohol withdrawal or misuse. Certain drugs may be used to hide or decrease certain anxiety symptoms. Anxiety disorder often goes hand in hand with alcohol and substance use.

Medical conditions. Some heart, lung, and thyroid conditions can cause symptoms similar to anxiety disorders or make anxiety symptoms worse.

Certain medications. Withdrawal from certain medications, such as anti-anxiety drugs, can cause anxiety symptoms.

Anxiety Disorder Diagnosis

If you have symptoms, your doctor will examine you and ask questions about your medical history.

Source: webmd.com

Mireku Duker, Armah Buah file nomination forms

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KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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George Mireku Duker (extreme left) at the EC Office in Tarkwa

The Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency, George Mireku Duker and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah have both filed their nomination forms in their respective constituencies in the Western region.

Duker, who is the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), is going into the race for the third time, while Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, who is also the Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, is seeking to represent his constituents for the fifth consecutive time.

Armah Kofi Buah (left) presenting his nomination form at Ellembelle EC office

Armah Kofi Buah is famously known for defeating Freddie Blay in 2009 and since then he has represented the constituency as a legislator on the ticket of the NDC.

In the last parliamentary election, he beat his main challenger, Kwasi Bonzo, with over a ten thousand vote difference.

Duker filed on the day of the opening of the nomination and he was accompanied by a crowd of party supporters to the Electoral Commission’s (EC) office to formally present his nomination form, received by Returning Officer Bismark Adu Minkah.

Speaking with journalists after the submission of his nomination form, George Mireku Duker indicated the journey to represent his people for the third time has just begun with the filing of his nomination form.

Describing his filing as ‘filing of victory, Legislator Duker indicated that he was ready and more poised than before to lead his people.

He continued, “It’s a filing of victory and indeed I have filed to secure victory. I am going to widen the gap and it’s not going to be like what happened in 2020, where I won by a slim margin.”

The NDC has presented a new face, Issah Salisu Taylor, who would be going into the race with the incumbent, together with one independent candidate, Joy Joycelyn.

Joy polled over 20,000 votes in the last parliamentary race.

Given the slim margin incumbent Duker used to retain his seat, there are fears the seat may be up for grabs.

But incumbent Duker parried off the fears, saying “This time around it’s going to be a different story and they should watch out.

“I have not rested since the day I was sworn in as MP in 2021. And I believe if voting is dependent on provision of development projects, then I should be retained.”

He continued and assured, “I am going to win and the gap is going to widen, and convincingly I am going to be exonerated. It’s two people in the contest, Duker and the others, and I will beat them convincingly.”

The Tarkwa MP indicated that he was resting on the oars of God and believing that He that has started a good work with him and would end with him.

He told journalists that in terms of development, there were so many things he has done in the area of health, education, infrastructural development and sports.

“These are thematic areas that I have developed tremendously and I believe these are tangibles that work and are out there for people to see.”

The incumbent legislator for Ellembelle, on the other hand, was accompanied by a large crowd of party supporters, local party executives and community leaders to the EC office to file his nomination form.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Minority Leader Armah Kofi Buah assured his readiness to continue to serve the people.

MP Armah Buah arrived at the EC office in the hours of 11:30 am where he submitted his nomination forms to seal his candidature on the ticket of the opposition party.

6 Times We See The Heart Of Jesus In Action – And What It Means For Us

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Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, Executive Director, Salt and Light Ministries

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matt 11:29

Introduction

While exploring resources that delve into the heart and character of Jesus, we came across an insightful piece by Dane Ortlund titled “Jesus Proves His Heart.” This article profoundly illustrates how Jesus’ actions throughout the Gospels embody the very words He spoke in Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

As you read, you’ll see how Christ’s deepest desires and impulses are revealed in His merciful responses to those in need, proving that His heart is one of boundless compassion and grace.

Jesus Proves His Heart

What we see Jesus claim with His words in Matthew 11:29, we see Him prove with His actions time and again. What He is, He does. His life proves his heart.

Consider these Gospel accounts, taken as a whole:

  1. When the leper says, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean,” Jesus immediately stretches out His hand and touches him, with the words, “I will; be clean” (Matt. 8:2–3). The word will in both the leper’s request and in Jesus’s answer is the Greek word for “wish” or “desire.” The leper was asking about Jesus’s deepest desire. And Jesus revealed His deepest desire by healing him.
  2. When a group of men brings their paralyzed friend to Jesus, Jesus is so eager to help He doesn’t even wait for them to speak first: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven’” (Matt. 9:2). Before they could open their mouths to ask for help, Jesus couldn’t stop himself—words of reassurance tumbled out.
  3. Traveling from town to town, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless” (Matt. 9:36). So, He teaches them, and He heals their diseases (9:35). Simply seeing the helplessness of the crowds, pity ignites.
  4. Compassion comes in waves over and over again in Christ’s ministry. His compassion drives Him to heal the sick: “And he had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matt. 14:14). It drives him to feed the hungry: “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat” (15:32). It causes Him to teach the crowds: “And he had compassion on them. And he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34). And it brings him to wipe away the tears of those who are sad: “He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep’” (Luke 7:13). The Greek word for “compassion” in all these texts refers to the guts of a person. It’s an ancient way of referring to what rises up from deep within. This compassion reflects the deepest heart of Christ.
  5. Twice in the Gospels we are told that Jesus broke down and wept. And in neither case is it sorrow for himself or his own pain. In both cases it is sorrow over another—in one case, Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), and in the other, his friend Lazarus, who has just died (John 11:35). What was his deepest anguish? The anguish of others. What drew his heart out to the point of tears? The tears of others.
  6. Time and time again it is the morally repulsive, the socially hated, the disobedient, and the undeserving, who do not simply receive Christ’s mercy but to whom Christ most naturally draws near. He is the “friend of . . . sinners” (Luke 7:34).

             Compassion reflects the deepest heart of Christ.

Actions Show Our Insides

When we take the Gospels as a whole and consider the total picture given to us of who Jesus is, what stands out most strongly?

Just as dolphins can’t help jumping and apple trees can’t help bearing apples, what’s happening inside us always shows itself through what we do. The heart reveals itself in our actions. And if the actions of Jesus reflect who he most deeply is, we cannot avoid the conclusion that it is the very fallenness, which he came to undo, that is most irresistibly attractive to him.

This is deeper than saying Jesus is loving or merciful or gracious. The testimony of the four Gospels is that when Jesus Christ sees the fallenness of the world all about him, his deepest impulse, his most natural instinct, is to move toward sin and suffering, not away from it.

Time and again in Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, his heart refused to let him sleep in. Sadness confronted him in every town. And wherever he went, whenever he was confronted with pain and longing, he embraced others with cleansing mercy.

The English preacher Thomas Goodwin said, “Christ is love covered over in flesh.” Picture it. If compassion clothed itself in a human body and went walking around this earth, what would it look like?

Conclusion

In every encounter Jesus had during His earthly ministry, He consistently demonstrated that His heart is one of boundless compassion and relentless mercy. The very essence of Christ is revealed in His actions—actions that prove His words in Matthew 11:29 to be undeniably true. He doesn’t merely sympathize with our sufferings; He is irresistibly drawn to them.

Through healing the sick, feeding the hungry, comforting the sorrowful, and extending grace to the undeserving, Jesus shows that His deepest impulse is to move toward us in our brokenness. His heart is one that cannot help but respond to our pain with profound love and empathy. In Christ, we see not just a Savior who performs miracles, but a friend who walks with us in our struggles, offering rest and renewal for our souls.

The heart of Jesus is the same today as it was then—gentle, lowly, and full of compassion. And in Him, we find the true rest our souls long for.                                                             Stay Blessed!

Please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays 5.30 am., Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays 5:30 am; and YFM 107.9 – Sundays 6.30am; for our Radio Bible Study as well as Sunny FM 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm. for Hymns and their Stories.

Feature: Galamsey-Enough Is Enough

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Africanus Owusu Ansah (Hot Issues)

“The government must declare a state of emergency over our water bodies and get the

Military to clear everyone found on the water bodies (mining on the water bodies is

illegal)….Repeal L1 2462 immediately…” – PRESS STATEMENT BY GHANA BAR

ASSOCIATION: KNUST 11/09/14

 

GOLD COAST – that was the name the early colonizers gave this country of ours.

The Portuguese who arrived here early in 1491 with Don Diego D’Asambuja, and

subsequently the French, the British, the Dutch, the Swedes, the Brandenburghers (of

Prussia) were enchanted about the availability of immense wealth of gold.

It enchanted the colonizers seeing people wearing gold as an ornament, and they built

Castles along the coast and the littoral to facilitate their trade in the lucrative gold business.

The name Gold Coast is said to have been given by Arab geographer, A1 Fazari in

AD 773 in his book Al Masudi but whether it was originally meant for this country or not, is a matter for the ardent and investigative historians.

After many wars and struggles among the European colonizers, and after various negotiations, the British finally won a foothold on our land, from 1754 when Thomas

Melvil took office as Governor, representing the Queen of England, to Sir Charles

MacCarthy….to Sir Charles Noble Arden Clarke, to Sir Arku Korsah and Lord

Listowel as Governor-Generals.

The Europhobia of independence given by the Independence Act 1957 caught up with us, and we wanted to wipe off the “vestiges” of colonialism and imperialism save the

English language and social, political, legal norms of Britain. We got enamoured with the new name, Ghana. Nobody questioned the new name and its appropriateness; because, as we were made to believe, we had once lived in the Old Ghana Empire, Ghana, meaning the land of gold.

We did not question the nature of failure that led to the collapse of the Old Ghana Empire with its capital Koumbi Saleh and the rise of the Mali Empire. Its King, Mansa Musa, in his long and expensive pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 with 60,000 people and an immeasurable wealth of gold dissipated the abundant wealth of Mali.

(Mansa Musa is considered as the wealthiest man in history) and the gold bounty he carried diluted the value of gold by 25% and this impacted the Egyptian (Cairo) economy for more than 10 years. Gifts to people, construction of mosques at towns along the pilgrimage route, marrying off many wives made him broke, leading to borrowing on his return journey.

Gold is so abundant in Ghana that it is safe to say all our buildings are sitting on gold, and given the greed of ‘galamseyers’ all our buildings should be pulled down to make way for the diggers to scramble for the gold. We see nothing, but greed alluring the galamseyers and now the ‘elite galamaseyers’ to act with impunity.

We are equally blessed with rich land capable of sustaining agriculture – for cocoa, timber, food – and we have greedily abandoned this and are rather focusing on gold! And we do not seem to care how destructive our galamsey activities are – endangering our very existence and rather playing ‘chaskele’ with the insensitive people.

The President, who is the Commander-in- Chief of the Ghana Armed Force per Article

257 (1) is entrusted with all the country’s mineral wealth.

Article 257(6) states: “Every mineral in its natural state in, under or upon any land in

Ghana, rivers, streams, water courses throughout Ghana, the exclusive economic zone and any such area covered by the territorial sea or continental shelf is the property of the Republic of Ghana and shall be vested in the President on behalf of and in trust for the people of Ghana”.

Does the President need any prompting or goading from anybody before taking a decisive action? In an interview with “3 news”, Professor Kwaku Ansa Asare, a former Director of the Ghana School of Law has called on the President to “resign,” because the President himself had said: “I am prepared to put my presidency on the line……” Professor Asare who is not known to be anti-NPP says: “The President is getting away with impunity.” In May this year, the same Ansa Asare had alleged on Citi FM:…” As far as I am concerned, our President does not respect the constitution……

That is the problem. It is not the Constitution that is the problem. It is the Chief

Executive of the state which is the problem……” And the President is a lawyer!

In his first year in the first term, he made the pronouncement: “I am prepared to put my

Presidency on the line…” He did not say: “I have put my presidency on the line”. The catchword here is “prepared” the lawyers will tell you in interpretation… words that are

clear and an unambiguous require no interpretation (See R v HC ex-parte Zanetor

Rawlings). Unlike “double – speak” in George Orwell’s “1984”. It is just like: “Akonta

Mining is not doing anything illegal as we speak….” with emphasis on “as we speak”.

So before the President spoke, had Akonta mining done anything wrong?

Do we sit idle when our very existence/survival is threatened? Do we have to import water? Why should we denigrate Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s Report and the good old internationally acclaimed surgeon appears to be a pariah.

Some Ghanaians think the persons closest to the President (kitchen cabinet) will not tell him the truth; others will sing his praises for their personal gains or pittance …he will remain “Tintintininti” (stubborn) adamantine…and like Biblical Jeremiah in 580 BC, he will lament: “I’m aware that there’s a deliberate politically motivated effort to stigmatise my government, my family and myself as corrupt.

I suspect that this is payback for the damaging allegations of corruption levelled against members of the erstwhile Mahama administration, some of which have led to criminal convictions, while others are still being prosecuted in court…I leave it to the judgment of the Ghanaian public and people to decide whether it is preferable to be a Clearing Agent or Government official one…..” and some people cheered at KNUST Great Hall.

What is better to do: wait till after the 2024 election and write a second edition of

“Chasing the Elephant into the Bush” or point out the shortcomings and peccadilloes of the Executive, to correct themselves and help to break the 8”?

The running mate of NPP, Napoleon Opoku Prempeh on a political platform at Prestea-

Huni Valley says “We will give back the seized excavators…” Who has not heard Pat

Thomas’ song:” Sika ye mogya” Did we hear anybody say:” Napo, yere tu wo fo no, na wore posa wo biribi” (You scratch your ‘something’ when we are busy advising you)?

But is it different from the Mahama /NDC of releasing jailed galamseyers? Equalisation

on the prowl. Sad, so sad, the jinx of NPP- NDC! And Ngugi Wa Thiong’o (James

Ngugi ) would say: “Weep Not, child”.

Weekend European Leagues Fixtures & Previews

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Manuel Pellegrini, Real Betis coach

Real Betis clashwith Leganes today

Real Betis will be aiming to secure their first victory of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign when they welcome Leganes to Estadio Benito Villamarin on Friday night.

The hosts have picked up two points from their three league games this season to sit 17th in the table, while Leganes are ninth, having collected five points from their opening four games of the campaign. Real Betis’ start to the 2024-25 La Liga season has been underwhelming at best, drawing two and losing one of their three matches, scoring just once in the process.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side drew their opening two league fixtures of the campaign against Girona and Alaves, before suffering a 2-0 defeat to the champions Real Madrid before the international break, but they have managed to post two European wins early in the season.

Real Betis actually now have three straight home league games against Leganes, Getafe and Mallorca, and they will be looking to put some wins on the board in order to rise up the table, with the team currently in 17th. Leganes, meanwhile, secured a return to La Liga as 2023-24 Segunda Division champions, with El Lega back at this level of football for the first time in five seasons.

Borja Jimenez’s side have made a solid start to the campaign, picking up five points from their four matches, which has left them in ninth spot in the table ahead of their return to the field. Leganes have made a solid start to the season, and they are certainly capable of making this an uncomfortable match for Real Betis.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Manchester United travel away to face Southampton

Southampton and Manchester United is the first Premier League game back after the
international break. Both sides have made a disappointing start to the new season with only one win between them. The Saints won promotion back to the Premier League by winning the play-off final at Wembley.

United travel to the south coast for the Saturday lunchtime match with the pressure mounting on Erik ten Hag following two defeats from their first three games of the season.
They started brightly with a 1-0 win over Fulham but collapsed to a 2-1 defeat at Brighton before being well beaten 3-0 at home to rivals Liverpool.

Ten Hag, Manchester United coach

There is hope for United in the shape of midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who has joined from Paris Saint-Germain for an initial £42million.

Ugarte could make his debut for United after playing for Uruguay over the international break. Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund are all unavailable.

But a match against one of the only two winless teams in the Premier League as it stands presents a great opportunity for United to get back on track in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Credit: standard.co.uk

Bournemouth welcome Chelsea to the Vitality Stadium

The international break came at an ideal time for Chelsea, who seek to put an end to a two-game winless run in Saturday’s Premier League showdown with Bournemouth.
The Blues could only muster a point from a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace two weekends ago, while the Cherries pulled off one of the greatest comebacks the competition has ever
seen against Everton.

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea coach

Chelsea’s off-field activity has generated far more debate and furore than the on-field exploits of Enzo Maresca’s men so far this season, but with the transfer window now
closed for business until January, the newly appointed manager can focus purely on footballing matters for the next few months.

The Blues’ season had seemingly kicked into gear with back-to-back victories over Servette and Wolverhampton Wanderers, hitting the latter for six at Molineux, only for Maresca’s men to suffer an embarrassing – albeit inconsequential – second-leg loss to the Swiss side in their Europa Conference League qualifier second leg.

Chelsea playing away from home almost always means no clean sheet for the men in blue, who should not end their streak without a shut-out against a goal-happy Bournemouth
crop, even if the two-week hiatus came at the worst time for Iraola’s side.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Unbeaten Empoli and Juventus meet at Stadio Castellani

Two unbeaten teams meet at Stadio Castellani on Saturday evening, as Empoli play host to Serie A giants Juventus. While Juve have made an impressive start to life under new management – and are yet to concede a single goal – the Tuscan club are surprisingly thriving at the start of their 2024-  25 campaign.

Thiago Motta, Juventus coach

Despite breaking up for international football with a grim goalless draw against Roma, in which only two shots on target were recorded, Juventus have begun the Thiago Motta era with both a new look and a more proactive approach.

The Bianconeri made a sparkling start to the new season, scoring six times without reply to go top of the very early Serie A standings after two games, as several summer signings and youth products were introduced into Motta’s starting XI.

Now level with Udinese and two old foes – Inter Milan and Torino – on seven points, Motta’s men will try to get back to winning ways this weekend, ahead of a much-anticipated return to the Champions League. Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven are due in Turin next week, but first Juve aim to keep clean sheets in their first four Serie A matches for just a fifth time in their illustrious history.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Premier League
Saturday 14th September
Southampton 12:30 Man. United
Brighton 15:00 Ipswich Town
Crystal Palace 15:00 Leicester City
Fulham 15:00 West Ham United
Liverpool 15:00 Nottingham Forest
Manchester City15:00 Brentford

Aston Villa 17:30 Everton
Bournemouth 20:00 Chelsea
Sunday 15th September
Tottenham Hotspur 14:00 Arsenal
Wolves 16:30 Newcastle United
Spanish La Liga
Friday 13th September
Real Betis 20:00 Leganés

Saturday 14th September
Mallorca 13:00 Villarreal
Espanyol 15:15 Deportivo Alavés
Sevilla 17:30 Getafe
Real Sociedad 20:00 Real Madrid
Sunday 15th September
Celta de Vigo 13:00 Real Valladolid
Girona 15:15 Barcelona

Las Palmas 17:30 Athletic Club
Atlético Madrid 20:00 Valencia
Italian Serie A
Saturday 14th September
Como 14:00 Bologna
Empoli 17:00 Juventus
Milan 19:45 Venezia
Sunday 15th September

Genoa 11:30 Roma
Atalanta 14:00 Fiorentina
Torino 14:00 Lecce
Cagliari 17:00 Napoli
Monza 19:45 Internazionale

Bawumia’s Master Plan For Railways …to partner private sector investors to develop network across the country

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MAXWELL OFORI
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Veep Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

The 2024 manifesto of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) promises a well-thought-through plan to develop the railway sector of the country.

The next government of the NPP, should Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia win the December 7, 2024 presidential election, plans to partner with private sector investors to boost the railway industry.

Page 25 of the NPP manifesto states that, the development of the railway sector will be based on “the Master Plan” focusing on the Western and Eastern lines. Through partnerships with private sector investors, develop the railway network across the country based on the Master Plan, with strategic focus on the Western and Eastern lines,” the manifesto read.

EXPAND INFRASTURCTURE

The policy on the railway forms part of the Bawumia-led NPP plan to expand public infrastructure from 2025, should the Ghanaian voters look with favour upon the party to break the eight.

The manifesto also states that the next NPP government will partner with the private sector to finance, build and rent or lease-to-own to the government’s public infrastructure, including schools, housing, water and roads, as well as equipment.

The NPP said it will revive and resource, including with modern equipment and state-of-the-art workshops, the Public Works Department (PWD) to be the primary government agency responsible for maintenance of public infrastructure across the country.

The party plans to “fully implement and expand” the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) to help maintain roads in their districts.

The Bawumia-led NPP says if it wins the 2024 elections, the government that will be formed will facilitate the establishment, by the private sector, of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Tamale Airport, to develop it into an aviation cargo, horticultural cargo and logistics hub.

The development of the Cape Coast Airport has found space in the 2024 manifesto of the NPP. It said should the NPP win the December polls, it will commence the development of the airport.

According to the manifesto, “funding has been secured under the Korean $2 billion facility.”

The manifesto further states that the NPP government will collaborate with the private sector to build an airport in the Upper East Region and also achieve universal access to electricity.

ACHIEVEMENT

The manifesto at page seven highlights the achievements of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government under the public infrastructure.

Among others, the government has “initiated or oversaw” the construction and rehabilitation of more railways than any other government since 1992.

The manifesto mentioned Achimota-Nsawam, Accra-Tema, Kojokrom-Tarkwa, Kojokrom-Manso and Tema-Mpakadan.

The manifesto said that the government has constructed fish landing sites at Axim, Dixcove, Moree, Mumford, Winneba, Senya Breku, Gomoa Fetteh, Teshie, Osu, Ekumfi and Mfantseman. They have also constructed two fishing harbours in Elmina and Jamestown.

The party’s manifesto said that the government has constructed 817 sanitation facilities, more than any other government since 1992.

“We have constructed more sports facilities than any other government since 1992. We have completed six multi-purpose sports stadiums and four ongoing in each of the ten old regions; completed the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon; built multi-purpose sports facilities at Borteyman for the African Games and increased public AstroTurfs in Ghana from 3 in 2016 to 150, with many more at various stages of development,” the manifesto stated.

Regional Ministers Tasked to Intensify Actions Against Galamsey

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Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has urged regional ministers to intensify the fight against illegal mining in their jurisdictions.

The Minister made the call on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 during extensive engagements with regional ministers to review ongoing efforts at dealing with the canker of illegal small-scale mining.

The minister said, “Regional Ministers, alongside their respective Regional Security Councils (REGSEC) have been mandated to intensify enforcement actions within their various jurisdictions to contain incidents of illegal small-scale mining.”

In a statement released by the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources, it indicated that the meeting, held at the instance of the Minister for Lands adopted additional measures at tackling the age-old national problem of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) through a comprehensive approach.

The statement also said that the government will continue with the dual strategy of reformative measures and strict enforcement.

Additionally, the release noted that the Minerals Commission will enhance our reformative efforts, particularly through ramping up the establishment of responsible and legal community mining schemes, which have regard to the preservation of our nation’s environment and landscape.

However, the ministry has reiterated that the government remains steadfast and committed to continuing to restore order and ensure that mining activities are conducted sustainably and legally in the national interest.

As a result, they entreated all and sundry to support these efforts to enable them to protect the environment, preserve water bodies, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

The ministry’s statement urged that discourse on galamsey should be devoid of partisanship so as to enable them to galvanise the needed national and collective support to root out this canker.

Small Scale Miners Reject Call To Ban Mining

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admin
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Galamsey operations underway along the Kumasi-Accra Highway under the watch of the Konongo assembly

Mr Reginald Owusu Boampong, a leading member of Licensed Small Scale Miners, has called on government to tread cautiously, not to succumb to pressure and impose an outright ban on all forms of small scale mining across the country, despite the mounting demand.

According to him, operating a responsible small scale mining is not a criminal activity as it is being currently perceived by the public and, therefore, government should find alternative solutions to curb the illegal mining menace rather than banning mining altogether.

In a press release issued yesterday, Mr Owusu Boampong argued there will be dire consequences for the country should government impose a total ban on all forms of small scale mining activities.

“I do not support the pollution of the rivers and water bodies in the country and the destruction of the country’s forest reserves through illegal mining (galamsey) activities, but there are other forms of measures and approaches government could apply to curb the situation rather than putting an outright ban on small scale mining activities which Ghanaians are advocating,” he said.

Mr Owusu Boampong’s call follows a similar argument espoused by the General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), Godwin Amarh, asking not to tag every small mining business as illegal (galamsey). Mr Amarh said there was the need for a clear understanding of small-scale mining before labelling it as illegal.

Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, Mr Amarh said, “In small-scale mining, we do not work on river bodies. Anyone you see on a river body is not a small-scale miner. Any person you see by the roadside working close to a river is not a small-scale miner. These are illegal miners.”

He stated some miners operated as legitimate entrepreneurs, adhering to legal mining regulations.

Mr Amarh said since only a small number of individuals are involved in illegal activities, the association does not support a total ban on the entire sector.He noted the association had worked to improve the Bia River, reducing turbidity levels from around 2000 to approximately 50 within one to two weeks.

Mr Amarh acknowledged, like in any profession, some small-scale miners may engage in illegal activities.

“There are people who, in one way or another, fall victim to the defects of their industry, so I would not claim that small-scale miners are a hundred per cent adhering to everything.

“We cannot say we have everyone doing everything hundred per cent. The same way we have journalists, doctors — they work and there are mistakes; issues also happen. So, I am not holding brief for any small mining, that the sector does not have any challenge in terms of environmental issues by one or two people,” he clarified.

Meanwhile the following is the full press statement issued by Mr Reginald Owusu Boampong.

Why the calls by well-meaning Ghanaians including Civil society organisations, labour unions, health service practitioners etc piling up so much pressure on the government to place a total ban on all sort of Small Scale Mining activities in the country?

In recent times, the issue of illegal mining (Galamsey) activities have generated public discussions in the country, due to the rate at which the country’s rivers and water bodies have been polluted by illegal miners.

The government, under the able leadership of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, has been highly criticised for not winning the Galamsey fight as he wished to do when assumed office in the year 2017.

Even though the management of Ghana Water Company have come out to complain bitterly about the rate at which it is spending huge amounts of money in treating the polluted rivers to get clean, hygienic, portable drinking water to serve the nation, not every responsible small scale miner in the country is engaging in illegality.

It baffles my mind to be hearing from some health practitioners in the country that deformities associated with new born babies are as a results of small scale mining activities, because of the poisonous substances we use to wash the soil to in order to extract the gold.

I don’t agree with those who make those comments because activities of small scale mining has been carried over centuries and that these deformities associated with new born babies have been persisting for years, so why do these health service practitioners claim it’s the activities of small scale mining?

As a responsible and licensed small scale miner, I dispute the fact that our operational activities are killing innocent people and deforming people?

Doesn’t deformities occur to new born babies in the advanced countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom and other European countries, and could one say it is as a results of small scale mining activities?

As a responsible and licensed small scale miner, I see this call on the government of the day as untimely and an agenda being perpetuated to undermine the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to enable the political party in government to lose votes in the upcoming December 7th general elections.

I do not support the pollution of the rivers and water bodies in the country and the destruction of the country’s forest reserves through illegal mining (galamsey) activities, but there are other forms of measures and approaches government could apply to curb the situation rather than putting an outright ban on small scale mining activities which Ghanaians are advocating.

It will be more disastrous consequences when government bans all forms of small scale mining activities because research has shown that over 3,000, 000 people benefit direct and indirect jobs from the activities of responsible small scale mining activities in the country.

I thank you for your attention and God bless our homeland Ghana.

Signed. 

Reginald Owusu Boampong.

(Responsible/Licenced Small Scale Miner).

Agric Minister Refutes COCOBOD Financial Crisis Claims

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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COCOBOD

Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Minister for Food and Agriculture, has discounted claims that the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is in financial difficulties and revealed the new cocoa producer price for the 2024/2025 season.

Addressing concerns about COCOBOD’s financial health at a press conference yesterday, Dr. Acheampong firmly rejected any suggestions that the board is facing monetary issues.

According to him, claims that COCOBOD lacks the funds capacity to purchase cocoa are unfounded, stressing that the board is financially sound and well-positioned to support the purchase and trade of cocoa crops.

He told journalists, “I’m not too sure why you said COCOBOD has no money. It is a wrong impression. It should never be put out there. COCOBOD is well positioned to buy its crops from its farmers and trade same. So nowhere has government reported or COCOBOD mentioned that it has no money to buy cocoa.”

Dr. Acheampong reaffirmed that the board’s financial stability is robust, countering any misinformation about its ability to finance cocoa purchases for the new season.

New Producer Price 

The new price has been pegged at GH¢48,000 per ton, translating to GH¢3,000 per 64kg bag, representing a 129.36% rise from the previous season’s price of GH¢20,928 per tonne (GH¢1,308 per 64kg bag).

Dr. Acheampong noted that earlier this season, the price had been adjusted from GH¢1,300 to GH¢2,070 per 64-kg bag.

The latest price increase he said reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to improving the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and sustaining the cocoa sector.

The new producer prices, margins, rates and fees will take effect immediately from Wednesday, September 11, 2024 marking the official opening of the 2024/2025 cocoa season.

Dr. Acheampong underscored the significance of this price adjustment, stating that it highlights the government’s dedication to supporting the cocoa industry and ensuring that farmers receive fair compensation for their produce.

Furthermore, the increase also aligns with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision of maintaining a resilient and sustainable cocoa sector for future generations.

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