Tamale City and Hearts players in a tussle for the ball
Tamale City FC exhibited a five-star display to wallop Hearts by a resounding 4-1 at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Match-week 28.
The homesters began the match on an explosive note in search of the opener, taking the game to the Phobians. In a quick response, Linda Mtange nearly took them by surprise with a strong hit which missed the target narrowly in the 7th minute. Ten minutes later, inform Sampson Eduku scored to put Tamale City in front.
Hearts suffered a huge blow three minutes later, when experienced goalkeeper Eric Ofori Antwi sustained an Injury and was replaced by young Nana Yeboah.
Tamale City’s constant pressure earned them a penalty in the 35th minute. Sampson Eduku stepped up and made no mistake by putting the ball at the back of the net to double their lead.
In the second half, the ‘Phobians’ dominated possession in the early stages of the game, but with no dangerous incursions.
Yahaya Mohammed scored for Tamale City to make it 3-0 for the host after 56 minutes of action. In the 79th minute, Victor Aidoo’s clever pass to Isaac Mensah saw the latter scoring with ease to reduce the deficit.
Tamale City scored again in added time to make it 4-1 for the Citizens, who have now moved out of the relegation zone.
In the wake of another comically catastrophic few days at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Lilywhites return to the capital to take on Premier League top-four rivals Manchester United on Thursday night.
Tottenham were thumped 6-1 by Newcastle United on Sunday and just over 24 hours later, caretaker coach Stellini – who had only been promoted to the top job after leaving boss Antonio Conte behind – was inevitably sacked from his post, the latest in a long line of farcical episodes for the North London club as Ryan Mason takes charge for the time being once again.
Tottenham’s top-four chances are wilting away, sitting fifth in the rankings but six points behind Man United and Newcastle – who have both played fewer games.
Man United could have easily been sent packing by Brighton in the FA Cup, and Spurs should certainly capitalise on any fresh concerns over the fitness of creator-in-chief Bruno Fernandes. Red Devils fans will need no reminding of how they coped without the Portuguese against Sevilla last week.
There has not been a Premier League draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since 2021, but with Spurs sure to enjoy at least a little lift under Mason and still finding the back of the net with ease during their troubles, the Lilywhites can restore some sense of order with a hard-earned point.
Everton lock horns with Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United side in an important clash at Goodison Park. Newcastle United are currently in third place in the Premier League standings and have consistently punched above their weight so far this season. The Magpies thrashed Tottenham Hotspur by a stunning 6-1 margin in their previous game and will look to achieve a similar result this week.
Will Everton be smiling after the game
Everton, on the other hand, are in 18th place in the league table at the moment and have struggled this season. The home side played out a 0-0 stalemate against Crystal Palace last week and will look to take it up a notch in this fixture.
Everton have been in dismal form this season and cannot afford to slip up in this match. Newcastle United are the better team at the moment and should be able to win this game.
Despite the return of Calvert-Lewin, Everton remain a very feeble side in attack and may struggle to penetrate what has been such a strong Newcastle defence this season.
The visitors will be extremely confident of taking all three points against an out-of-form side to show their top four credentials.
Last-placed Southampton will entertain 15th-placed Bournemouth at St. Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League. The hosts are winless in their last seven league outings. They avoided a fourth-straight defeat last time around as they played out a 3-3 draw against league leaders Arsenal.
Mohammed Salisu
The Saints have just two wins at home in the Premier League this season. Interestingly, they have suffered just one defeat at home against the Cherries in all competitions and will be hopeful of a positive outcome.
Bournemouth have recorded back-to-back wins in their last two away games. They have also scored three goals apiece in their last two games at Thursday’s venue against the hosts.
The visitors have been in relatively better form than the Saints but, considering Southampton’s home advantage, we expect them to hold the visitors to a draw. Credit: sportskeeda.com
Fresh from sealing a dramatic late victory over Villarreal, Sevilla will look to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when they face Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Thursday night.
Inaki Williams
Thanks to a six-game unbeaten run of their own, the hosts lead Sevilla by eight points in the La Liga table, while Athletic find themselves just one point shy of the European places.
Athletic Bilbao extended their winning streak to three matches with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Almeria on Saturday, courtesy of goals from Nico Williams and Oscar de Marcos.
Williams has now bagged six goals and five assists in the league this season, while his older brother, Inaki Williams, has scored three goals in his last three appearances, including a brace in last week’s 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad.
As a result, Ernesto Valverde‘s men find themselves two points behind fifth-placed Real Betis, meaning that Europa League qualification remains a real possibility.
Sevilla have lost just two of their previous 10 games across all competitions, picking up six wins and two draws in the process, with a memorable 3-0 victory over Manchester United sending the club in the Europa League semi-finals.
Both sides enter Thursday’s showdown in strong form, so we expect Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla to dish up a closely-fought battle as they look to continue their respective hot streaks.
Pfizer has called for the maximisation of gains made on immunisation due to the backsliding effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pharmaceutical company said this while joining a week-long celebration of World Immunisation Day to mark the importance of diseases prevention in public health.
The theme for the celebration is “The Big Catch-up,” representing a global push to vaccinate millions of children, and return to pre-pandemic vaccination levels.
Pfizer, therefore, finds this year’s celebrations special, as it formed a critical turning point for immunisation.
In a news release, Pfizer says it acknowledged the disruptions caused by the pandemic, and a reason countries must catch-up, restore, and strengthen immunisation services to reach the millions of people missing out on the life-saving benefits of vaccines, and stop outbreaks from accelerating. Kodjo Soroh, Medical Director of Sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to the discussion, saying: “At Pfizer, we have a long history in vaccine research and development, including a pivotal role in the eradication of polio and smallpox.
Through the development of innovative delivery systems and technologies (the term often used is novel vaccines) we’ve created innovations for preventing deadly bacterial infections.”
He said vaccines underpinned global health security by preventing and controlling over 30 infectious diseases, reducing unnecessary hospitalisations, and controlling infectious disease outbreaks.
Mr. Soroh added that vaccines were one of the world’s most powerful and cost-effective public health tools available to successfully help to eradicate, eliminate, and manage many deadly infectious diseases.
He said, diseases like smallpox have been eradicated, as well as polio which is nearly gone, adding: “Cervical Cancer could become the first cancer to be eliminated.”Mr. Soroh continued that vaccines also played a critical role in combating antimicrobial resistance, as they could reduce antibiotic use by preventing bacterial infections in the first place.
He explained that vaccines such as pneumococcal and meningococcal could prevent viral infections like flu, which could provoke secondary infections requiring antibiotics.According to him: “Today, more than at any time in history people are benefiting from safe and effective vaccines to prevent infections and diseases.
These injections have protected people of all ages, from newborns to seniors. “However, our work is not done. Many viruses and bacteria still present a serious health risk, and so we continue to focus on research and development in new areas, with the goal of adding more approved vaccines to tackle pathogens.
”He emphasised that a person was protected when vaccinated, and also avoids spreading preventable diseases to other people in his or her community.”
Some people cannot get certain vaccines because they are too young or too old or they have a weakened immune system or other serious health condition.
Those people are less likely to catch a preventable disease when you and others around them are vaccinated against it.
Help protect yourself and the people you love by staying up to date on recommended vaccinations,” he urged.
Global vaccination coverage figures are looking up, but they still mask huge inequalities that we cannot afford to ignore.
To help protect as many people as possible from life-threatening illness, Pfizer, working to develop and distribute vaccines throughout the world.
Insp. Ahmed Twumasi, the police officer who has been accused of killing his girlfriend in Kumasi, a few days ago, wept intermittently when his colleagues hauled him before the Asokore Mampong District Court, in the Asokore Mampong Municipality yesterday, on a provisional charge of murder.
Insp. Ahmed Twumasi after his arrest by the police
Whilst the suspected killer was weeping, saying “I didn’t intend to kill my lover; what happened is between God and I”, relatives of the lady he allegedly killed at Adum, a suburb of Kumasi, were also seen weeping uncontrollably in front of the court building, which was heavily guarded by the police.
Family members of the deceased crying in front of the court building
The prosecutor of the case, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kofi Blagodzi also joined the ‘mourning party’, when he told the court, presided over by Samuel Buabin Quansah that, “My Lord, the Inspector General of Police is doing his best to change the phase of the police service only for this to happen. We are working so hard and you know we don’t even sleep.”
Briefing the court about the alleged murder, ACP) Kofi Blagodzi said on April 19, 2023 around 10:30pm, that Emmanuel Sarpong, a brother to the victim went to the Central Police Station in Kumasi to lodge a complaint about a shooting of his sister, Victoria Dapaah, also known as Maa Adwoa, at Adum, near Dufie Towers, by the accused officer.
ACP Blagodzi continued that, the police swiftly moved to KATH to find out about the condition of the victim, but when they arrived at the hospital, they were told that the victim had died.
According to him, the police requested for the preservation and autopsy of the body of the late Maa Adwoa, after which they went to the bereaved family at Adum to express their condolences to them.
the accused being driven out from the court premises
ACP Kofi Blagodzi further told the court that police preliminary investigation has established that on Thursday April 20, 2023 around 07:30 pm, Insp. Ahmed Twumasi, who is a member of the SWAT unit of the Ghana Police, approached Eunice Boakye, a friend of the late to call her friend (Maa Adwoa) for him. Eunice obliged and called the deceased for the accused person.
Victoria Dapaah, the deceased
The court heard that when the late Maa Adwoa came out, the accused person demanded GHC 5,000.00 from her, but the latter told him she was not having that money. The response of the deceased rankled the accused police officer who shot her in the abdomen and the chest with a gun, given to him by the state and fled the scene. He was later arrested at Sekyere, near Effiduase, Ashanti region.
The prosecutor described the action by his colleague police officer as ‘barbaric’, assuring the bereaved family that the police will leave no stone unturned in getting justice for them. The case has been adjourned to May 30, 2023.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has waded into the controversy that has characterised the recent leaked report written by the former Minister of Science, Environment, Technology and Innovation, Prof Frimpong-Boateng, with a call on the Special Prosecutor to act.
The controversial report, which implicated some top government officials for being complicit in the fight against illegal mining, and has since found its way into the media domain, has received reactions from some of the people mentioned in the report.
According to the NDC, the report by the German-trained Cardiothoracic Surgeon “shows clearly that, the so-called fight against galamsey was a charade calculated to enable top government and NPP functionaries to appropriate and takeover the illicit galamsey trade”.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, the party’s National Communication Officer, Mr Sammy Gyamfi, highlighted some of the several damning revelations contained in Frimpong-Boateng’s report.
In the view of the NDC, “the only way to establish the truth and get to the bottom of the issues contained in the Frimpong-Boateng report is for Parliament to institute a publicly-televised and bi-partisan enquiry into this report”.
The Special Prosecutor, the party said, must act with alacrity by probing the famous Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s leaked report and prosecute all government officials, NPP functionaries and persons who have perpetrated serious crimes against the State, as contained in the report.
According to Lawyer Gyamfi, the people of Ghana deserve this probe because millions of tax payers’ money has gone down the drain in the name of fighting illegal mining, which was famously trumpeted by the NPP government.
“Now that it has been confirmed that all the so-called fight was a charade, our nation stands united in crying for justice. Anything short of a bi-partisan enquiry into this matter will be fiercely resisted”, the party warned.
The NDC refreshed the minds of Ghanaians on a moratorium placed on April 1, 2017 by president Akufo-Addo, which suspended artisanal and small-scale mining in the country for a combined period of one year, three months.
However, Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s leaked galamsey report indicated that in 2018, the same Akufo-Addo government, acting through the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, somehow contrived to give out all forest reserves in Ghana for mining activities.
Lawyer Gyamfi indicated that more illegal miners, including Chinese gangs, invaded our forest reserves with the help of government officials and caused unprecedented destruction to our forests, water bodies and environment, during the period that the ban on small scale mining was in force.
Mr Sammy Gyamfi elaborated on the concerns and facts as contained in the leaked report and further mentioned the names of some top government functionaries whose names were captured in the leaked report
The National Democratic Congress further hinted that it would formally submit requests to both the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana and the office of the Special Prosecutor to initiate a public enquiry and the needed investigations into the leaked galamsey report.
According to Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi, “we have always maintained, President Akufo-Addo’s proclaimed fight against galamsey was the biggest scam ever to be perpetrated on Ghanaians.”
Furthermore, the NDC felt vindicated by the damning content of “the report authored and presented by the former Minister of Environment and Science and former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee against Illegal Mining, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.”
The party suggested that their long-held position that there has never been any genuine commitment or any attempt to fight galamsey by the government has been validated and insisted “the so-called fight against galamsey was a charade calculated to enable top government and NPP functionaries to appropriate and takeover the illicit galamsey trade.”
President Akufo-Addo, who is also the Chairman of the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) has advocated for a joint force to battle illegalities at sea.
The President holds the view that a well-coordinated collaboration and cooperation among the states of the region is crucial, due to the interconnectivity of maritime activities.
President Akufo-Addo swearing in new executives of the Gulf of Guinea Commission in Accra.
President Akufo-Addo was addressing the Commission at its third extraordinary session of the Assembly, held yesterday in Accra.
The President called for oneness “so that collectively we can make a significant difference in maintaining maritime peace and security in the Gulf of Guinea region.”
He added that working together would enable the member states to build a “safe, secure and prosperous” Gulf of Guinea region for sustainable development.
PURPOSE
President Akufo-Addo, as chair, tabled for discussion measures to safeguard the region and make it prosperous, as well as the deliberation on whether to open up the Commission.
He wanted the Commission to comprise all countries on the coast of West and Central Africa, from Cape Verde to Angola, instead of the existing Côte d’Ivoire to Angola.
According to him, if his proposal is accepted, the 2001 Treaty that established the Commission would have to be amended.
“These are the items on our agenda for our closed-door session and it is important that we have some serious discussions on these items in order to come up with strategies geared towards strengthening peace and security and winning the fight against maritime-related crimes in the region, such as piracy…”
SWEARING IN
The first part of the meeting swore in new executive members and then moved into a conclave with the second part.
Ghana, which joined the Commission in 2017 has taken over the chairmanship of the Commission from Nigeria, chaired by its president, Buhari.
The new executive committee members would steer the affairs of the Commission for the next three years.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs speaking at the meeting
President Akufo-Addo congratulated them and urged them to give their best in the interest of the Commission.
He also commended the immediate past executives, particularly its Executive Secretary, Florentina Adenike Ukonga, for their work for the Commission, regardless of the challenges that faced them.
The outgoing Executive Secretary, Florentina Adenike Ukonga gave an account of her reign, which detailed the challenges the Commission faced and steps put in place to address them.
She mentioned the non-payment and delay in payment of contributions by member states to the Commission.
She also mentioned the vacancy available for Director of Finance, which needs to be filled as soon as possible.
President Akufo-Addo and Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, added their voices separately on the need for the position to be filled.
They urged other member states that do not hold positions on the Commission to apply.
Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchway made a strong case for member states to pay their contribution to the Commission.
On this call, the new Executive Secretary, Jose Mba Abeso also spoke to it in his acceptance speech.
Former President Buhari, Nigeria and the President of Equitorial Guinea were among the heads of state who attended the meeting.
ABOUT GGC
The Gulf of Guinea Commission is an international body that was established by the Treaty signed in Libreville, Gabon, on July 3, 2001, and comprises Angola, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe.
The Commission is now made up of nine states, for which President Akufo-Addo advocated for expansion to include all 19 coastal states.
The Commission is mandated to constitute a framework of consultation among the countries of the Gulf of Guinea for cooperation and development, as well as for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts that may arise from the delimitation of borders and the economic and commercial exploitation of natural resources within the territorial boundaries, particularly in the overlapping Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of our States.
The movie stars in a picture with deputy minister for Education, John Ntim Fordjour
The highly anticipated German-Ghanaian film, “The Recruitment” has been launched yesterday and set to premiere on the 13th May 2023 at the Silverbird Cinema.
The film was directed by an award-winning Writer-Director, Divine Jones in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture and KULTUR TRIF(F)T German.
This powerful story delves into the complexities of the youth employment landscape, shedding light on the struggles and triumphs of those who navigate this terrain.
The film is believed will resonate deeply with audiences, sparking important conversations and inspiring change.
“The Recruitment” promises to be a gripping thriller and drama that will keep audiences glued to their seats. With its unique storyline, talented cast, and impeccable direction, it is sure to be a hit with moviegoers around the world.
The press launch which took place at the Silverbird Cinema brought together dignitaries including the Deputy Minister for Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour and movie stars such as Fred Amugi, Edinam Atatsi, Emmanuel France, Salma Mumin, Vicky Zugah and many others.
The Deputy Minister bought 100 tickets at the spot and Director of the GH Media, Leslie Addo Listowell also bought 50 VIP tickets on the spot to support the premiering of the film.
Delivering a short address at the launch, the Deputy Minister of Education, stated that the film will not only serve as a source of entertainment but also touch on the social economic challenges in the country.
According to him, it is high time that opportunities are created for the youths especially unemployed university graduates searching for job opportunities in the country.
He bemoaned the challenges that comes with having all the requirement to acquire a job but finds it difficult to be employed so the movie will serve as an eye opener for the young on job recruitments.
The deputy Ministry of Education has shown interest in the film and would be holding a private conversation with the Director and Producers of the film, a means to buy the tickets so every youth can have access to watch the film
Film synopsis
The film follows the story of eight young individuals who receive a text message in the middle of the night, inviting them for a job interview with a reputable Secret Intelligence Recruiting Company, USP Firm.
The interview is for a single vacancy, and the competition is tough. The applicants arrive at the venue, and the co-ordinator sets the ground rules for the interview. However, things take an unexpected turn when conflicts arise leading to complications and crisis. The film is filled with suspense, drama, and unexpected twists, which will leave audiences breathless.
The film is shot in English and any local dialect and has a running time of 1 hour and 45 minutes. The 4k final cut rendition promises to be an immersive experience for viewers. The stereo mix adds to the overall cinematic experience.
The Municipal Director of Health Services for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Caroline Effah Otoo, has commended AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine and the German Cooperation (GIZ) for their role in promoting quality healthcare delivery in the municipality.
She made this commendation, following a partnership between the two companies to donate some assorted medical equipment and consumables worth more than 125,000.00 Euros to augment healthcare delivery in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, especially the Mine’s host communities.
The items donated included Patient Resuscitation machines, Nebulizers, Hospital beds, Autoclaves, Thermometers, Bedside screens, Examination couches, Dressing & Suturing instruments, Pulse Oximeter, Glucometers, Pharmacy fridges, Ultrasound Scan machines, Disposable Hand gloves, Disposable Medical Aprons and Detergents among others.
Some of the items on display
Speaking at the brief handing over ceremony, Senior Manager -Health, Safety and Environment for AngloGold Ashanti, Iduapriem Mine, Samuel Koffie reiterated the Mine’s commitment to working collaboratively with its partners to promote healthy lives and well-being for all ages, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3).
Technical Advisor for GIZ, Mary Bonsu, noted that the donation formed part of efforts to strengthen the health system of mining host communities in the municipality through investment in health infrastructure and training programmes.
She said the partnership had embarked on several interventions even before the donation.
“Prior to this donation, Iduapriem and GIZ had organised free health screening and NHIS registration for over 10,000 community residents,” said Mary Bonsu.
“Additionally, last year, the partnership commenced a yearlong distribution of about 19,000 sanitary pads to adolescent girls in the Mine’s host communities and conducted several training programmes for health workers within the municipality.”
Receiving the items, Madam Caroline Effah Otoo lauded the partnership between Iduapriem Mine and GIZ, which has birthed several interventions towards improving quality healthcare delivery in the municipality and pledged to ensure the items serve the intended purpose.
Two cable thieves, Mohammed Hudu, 21, and Alhassan Abubakar 22, have been sentenced to a total of 27 years imprisonment in hard labour.
They were sentenced 12 and 15 years respectively by an Asokwa Circuit Court, presided over by Mr. Fred Obikyere, last week.
The convicts admitted on oath for conspiring and stealing cables valued at GH¢25,000.
Prosecuting the case, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Ofori said the complainant was Benjamin Boateng, a pastor of the Truth Faith Church International at Ahinsan in Kumasi, and had an ongoing housing project at Sewuah New Site.
The convicts, he said, were scrap dealers and residents of Aboabo Dagomba Line.
For some time, the complainant was experiencing a series of thefts at his said site, and several efforts made to curtail the situation proved futile, he said.
ASP Ofori further said on April 13, 2023, at about 10:00 hours, the Asokwa Police Day Patrol Team, in the course of their patrols, arrested the convicts, together with two sacks of electrical cables of various types.
Prosecution said Hudu and Abubakar, during interrogation, confessed to the thefts of the electrical cables from the complainant’s site.
The court heard that they led the police to the complainant’s project site, and demonstrated how they caused damage to some of the complainant’s burglar proofing before gaining access to the ongoing housing project.
ASP Ofori said they further caused damage to the entire electrical system of the complainant’s house before making away with various types of electrical cables.
After the convicts had confessed to the offences in their cautioned statements, they were charged and put before the court.
Nii Markwei Marmah, John Martey Marmah, Adam Nii Akwei Oklemckuku and Eric Laryea Larbi have been remanded for deliberately failing to follow the right procedure to destool a Chief.
They were charged before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah, last Friday.
Nii Markwei Marmah and the three others pleaded not guilty to the charge and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Reading the facts of the case to the court, Superintendent Augustine Yirenkyi said the complainant, Humphery Nii Boye Mantey, and his witnesses were elders of Gbugblah Quarters of Teshie.
He added that the accused persons – Nii Markwet Marmah Ben, John Martey Marmah and Adam Nii Akwei Oklemckuku – were members of the Ataa Nii We of Gbugblah Quarters.
The court was told that on April 15, 2023, the complainant had information that the accused persons had performed rituals intended to install one Laryea Larbi as the “Atofotse”, when there was already an existing one by name Nii Laryea Odonkor II.
Meanwhile, the said rituals were performed without destooling the current “Atofotse” at a time the accused persons were aware that Nii Martey Odonkor III, who is domiciled in the United Kingdom, had been gazette, and in his absence Stephen Martey Laryea had been acting as “Atofotse”.
The prosecutor added that the accused persons were invited by the police and admitted having nominated one Laryea Larbi and confined him to undergo the necessary customary rites for his ordination as the “Atofotse.”
The accused persons, however, failed to produce any evidence as to having rightfully destooled the current “Atofotse,” hence, being charged with the offences.
The film is believed will resonate deeply with audiences, sparking important conversations and inspiring change.
The deputy Ministry of Education has shown interest in the film and would be holding a private conversation with the Director and Producers of the film, a means to buy the tickets so every youth can have access to watch the film
