Govt restarts N75,000 cash payment to citizens

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May 30, 2024

President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Anthem Bill despite the opposition from Nigerians.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio announced this on Wednesday during a joint session of the National Assembly.

He also announced that the president will not address the House but only flag off the new anthem. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said the president cancelled the address because June 12 is the official Democracy Day.

President Bola Tinubu has arrived at the National Assembly Complex as part of his itinerary to commemorate the 25 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria.

Tinubu’s motorcade arrived at the National Assembly at about 11:57am and he’s yet to enter the chamber.

Shortly after the president’s arrival, the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, alongside the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, entered the chamber.

Mr Akpabio announced that the President would not address the chamber but only listen to the Old National Anthem.

He urged the lawmakers to download the new anthem.

However, the President, thereafter, made a brief speech to the lawmakers.

This is coming amid confusion from the Presidency over conflicting statements of Tinubu addressing a joint session of the National Assembly.

On Monday, the National Assembly had announced that it would hold a special joint session on Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of democracy in Nigeria.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Tinubu’s promise to revive economy unfulfilled after 1yr in office –Atiku

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May 30, 2024

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted President Bola Tinubu for failing to fulfill his promise to grow the nation’s economy as well as end the misery of Nigerians. Upon coming on board last May, Tinubu unleashed a raft of reforms aimed at revitalising the economy and investment, but the initiatives have caused a short-term surge in living costs.

One year later, Atiku says the nation’s economy has worsened under President Bola Tinubu.

“Predictably, 12 months on, Tinubu’s pledge of growing the economy and ending misery remains unfulfilled,” Atiku said while appraising Tinubu’s performance in office.

“His actions or inactions have significantly worsened Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability. Nigeria remains a struggling economy and is more fragile today than it was a year ago. Indeed, all the economic ills – joblessness, poverty, and misery – which defined the Buhari-led administration have only exacerbated.

“Africa’s leading economy has slipped to the 4th position lagging behind Algeria, Egypt, and South Africa. Citizens’ hopes have been dashed (and not renewed contrary to the propaganda of the administration) as Nigeria’s economic woes have multiplied.”

The president has also already taken tough economic measures including the removal of fuel subsidies which has led to rising costs of living and transportation.

But Atiku said Tinubu has “embarked on a cocktail of policies” with no concrete plans to achieve the remodelling of the economy he promised. To Atiku, despite high hopes when Tinubu assumed the reins last May, Nigeria is worse off.

“Nigeria remains a struggling economy and is more fragile today than it was a year ago. Indeed, all the economic ills — joblessness, poverty, and misery — which defined the Buhari-led administration have only exacerbated,” Abubakar said.

Credit: channelstv.com

Anlo Traditional Council’s driver arrested for smuggling cocoa

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May 30, 2024

A driver driving a Toyota Hiace Van belonging to the Anlo Traditional Council has been arrested by the police for transporting bags of smuggled cocoa beans.

Abraham Senyaglo, a native of Keta, in the Anlo Municipality, was apprehended on Saturday night with 26 bags of smuggled cocoa beans, parked in fertiliser sacks on the Adomi-Atimpoku stretch.

The suspect, who was said to have been returning from an errand to Manhyia, after delivering some items donated by the Anlo Traditional Council to the Asantehene, was reportedly chased and arrested after failing to stop, upon signal by police around the Adomi Bridge in the Eastern Region.

According to him, he was sent to the Manhyia Palace by Chiefs and Elders of Anlo State to present some items to the Asantehene as part of his 25th Anniversary Celebrations and whilst returning to Anloga, a friend beseeched for his help to transport the cocoa beans from Suhum to Dzodze.

Having been convinced by the friend that it was a genuine business they have been doing routinely, he agreed to transport the cocoa beans only to find out later that they were allegedly acquired.

On why he failed to stop when directed by the Police on duty to do so, which resulted in the chase that led to his arrest, the suspect explained that he did not get the police signal to stop, even though account by the security personnel is to the contrary.

Meanwhile, the suspect and the seized goods are currently in the custody of the Sogakope Police awaiting investigations and subsequent prosecution

The onslaught against the illegal activities of cocoa smuggling by the Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce has in recent times witnessed positive results with several convictions being recorded over the last two months.

Fuel tanker drivers grateful to NPA

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May 30, 2024

Fuel tanker drivers have commended the petroleum downstream regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), for spearheading discussions on their condition of service.

They said the framework on the condition of service for more than 5000 of them is expected to be ready by the end of June, 2024 and payment to start in July, 2024.

Speaking on behalf of the tanker drivers at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, the Deputy General Secretary of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union of Trades Union Congress, Mr. Francis M.K. Sallah, said discussions on the framework convened by the NPA were going smoothly.

The meetings were attended by NPA officials, tanker drivers, tanker owners, oil marketing companies (OMCs) and union leadership.

Mr. Sallah, who was flanked by fuel tanker drivers, particularly commended the UPPF Coordinator of NPA, Mr. Jacob Amuah, for his leadership in chairing the discussions on the condition of service and commitment to seeing to the resolution of the issue.

He, therefore, expressed surprise about the purported call for the removal of Mr. Amuah.

“From us and those who sat in the meeting, the story is strange to us. We don’t know who is pushing the story.

“We don’t have any problem with the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) Coordinator. We are surprised to see the report. It never came up in our discussions”, he said.

The Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union announced an indefinite sit-down strike last week Tuesday, demanding improved conditions of service, especially concerning remuneration.

The fuel tanker drivers issued a communiqué last week Thursday to call off the sit-down strike after a meeting with all stakeholders facilitated by the NPA.

Mr. Sallah said the discussions, spearheaded by the NPA, led to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which ended the strike action embarked upon by the tanker drivers.

This, he said, paved the way for the discussion on the framework of the condition of service which spells out the responsibilities of tanker owners and tanker drivers and their assistants.

He mentioned remuneration, medicals, safety and insurance as some of the items in the framework

John Dumelo donates motorbikes, streetlights to Legon Security Dept

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May 30, 2024

The opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC] parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Dumelo, has donated motorbikes and streetlights to the Security Department of the University of Ghana, Legon.

The donation was made personally by Mr. Dumelo on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

In a post on X on Wednesday, May 29, John Dumelo expressed hope that this contribution would help combat incidents of phone snatching and petty thefts on both the Legon and UPSA campuses.

“Yesterday I presented 2 brand new Motorcycles and streetlights to the security department of the University of Ghana.” The actor cum Politician said.

“I hope this kind gesture will aid them to combat incidents of phone snatching and petty thefts on Legon and Upsa Campuses. The Students need to be protected,” he added.

Credit: citinewsroom.com

NPA Boss honoured for exemplary leadership at CEO Summit

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May 30, 2024

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has been adjudged the Best CEO of the Year 2023 in the petroleum sector (Regulations).

The award was in recognition of his outstanding contributions and exemplary leadership in the country’s petroleum downstream industry.

The prestigious ceremony to honour some well-deserving Ghanaian CEOs was held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast in Accra on Monday.

The summit highlights and commends the accomplishments of CEOs and businesses, emphasising their success, innovation, leadership and contributions to the economy.

This year’s event was under the theme: “Reigniting Business and Economic Growth; Charting a Path Forward; Economic Diversification and Artificial Intelligence Transformation; A Private-Public Sector CEO Dialogue and High Impact Learning.”

It was organised by the Chief Executives Network Ghana, in collaboration with Deloitte, Price water house Coopers (Pwc), Ministry of Public Enterprises, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), University of Ghana and Multimedia group.

In his remark, the NPA Boss, who doubles as the President of the Africa Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA), said he was grateful to the Board, Management and staff of the NPA for their continuous support.

It is recalled that Dr. Abdul-Hamid received the Outstanding Public Sector Leadership Award for the Year 2022 for his exemplary leadership, innovation and transformation in the petroleum downstream industry in the country.

He emerged as the Public Sector CEO for the Year 2022 at the Ghana Business Awards. Similarly, in 2021 the NPA Boss was awarded for his sterling leadership, business excellence, and professionalism at the Ghana CEO Excellence Awards.

‘The Legend of Aku Sika’ play faces copyright infringement allegation

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May 30, 2024

The National Theatre of Ghana has been notified about a possible copyright infringement regarding an upcoming play to be staged at the premises.

In a letter dated May 28, 2024, sighted by myjoyonline.com, George Apraku Dentu asserts that ‘The Legend of Aku Sika’, a play to be staged at the National Theatre on 1st, 2nd, 8th and 9th June, 2024 is the brainchild of his father L.D. Apraku.

“This is a dramatization of the novel Aku Sika written by the late L.D. Apraku,” the letter states.

He further indicates that the producers of the play Image Bureau and April Communication, did not seek permission from him.

“…there has not been any contact of the performing group with the copyright owners of the novel ‘Aku Sika’,” he writes.

Speaking to myjoyonline.com, Dentu said there was a possibility that ‘The Legend of Aku Sika’, written by Professor Martin Owusu, was inspired by his father’s book.

“I read online that the play which is about to be staged at the National Theatre is based on Nana Kwame Ampadu’s ‘Aku Sika’, and the song is based on the novel ‘Aku Sika’ written by my father,” he said.

Asked if he had read Professor Martin Owusu’s version to ascertain if it bears any similarities with his father’s, he said “no, I haven’t read it. That is why I said ‘possible infringement’.”

Meanwhile, the Team Lead for Image Bureau, George Quaye has explained that Professor Martin Owusu took the story from a folktale, which means that George Apraku Dentu’s father is not the original owner of the story.

‘The Legend of Aku Sika’ will be performed at the National Theatre on 1st, 2nd, 8th and 9th June, 2024 in honour of the author Professor Martin Owusu, a lecturer at the University of Ghana who has imparted generations of actors and theatre art professionals.

It stars actors such as Mawuli Semevor, EdinamAtatsi, Arnold Asamoah Baidoo, Roland Adom, Elvis Crystal, Adomaa, among others.

Credit: myjoyonline.com

Wendy Shay, King Paluta, Olivetheboy, others billed for Ghana Party in the Park

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May 30, 2024

Akwaaba UK, the organisers of the Ghana Party in the Park, have announced the first batch of artistes for the 2024 edition of the event.

Ghanaian musicians Wendy Shay, King Paluta and Olive the boy will perform for the first time at this years Ghana Party in the Park in London, at a new location.

They will be joined by KiDi, Lasmid, Tulenkey, A Kmot, dance group DWP Academy, and a few others to be announced later.

Dubbed the biggest ghanaian outdoor event in the United Kingdom, this year’s edition will take place at a new location, Oak Hill Park in Barnet on July 13, 2024.

The event is expected to attract music fans across various walks of life as they witness the best of Ghanaian culture.

Chief Executive Officer of Akwaaba UK, Dennis Tawiah in a recent interview stated that his outfit was ready to give patrons another remarkable and memorable experience.

“As you all know, Akwaaba UK has been at the forefront of putting together the biggest and best international events across Europe for the African community and beyond. All is set for this year’s Ghana Party in the Park festival, which happens to be the 20th edition, and we want to promise patrons another magical experience,” he said.

Mr. Tawiah also stated that a second batch of artistes would be announced ahead of the music festival, as well as some surprise appearances.

He further solicited support from all relevant state agencies, private entities, and key industry stakeholders in Ghana as well as the United Kingdom to help make this year’s GPITP festival a success.

Credit: myjoyonline.com

The viral nude photo with my son is my biggest regret in life-Akuapem Poloo

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May 30, 2024