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Assembly Member, 5 others remanded for illegal timber logging

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The six suspects

The Assembly Member for Akutereso Electoral Area in the Adansi South District of the Ashanti Region, Seth Koli, and five others have been remanded into prison custody by the Bekwai Circuit Court for timber logging in the Dampayaw Forest Reserve of the Akrofuom District.

The five other suspects are Baba Ben, Narteh Moses, Inusah Akosom, Kwadwo Akwah and Joshua Ahiable.

The suspects, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of entering a forest reserve without authority to fell trees among other charges, will reappear in court on September 4, 2023.

The prosecution officer, Detective Inspector Eric Okyere, told the court, presided over by His Honour Isaac Apeatu, that on August 15, 2023, the six suspects entered the Dampayaw Forest to cut timber. A Range Manager of the Forestry Services Division saw them and reported to the Bekwai Forestry Commission leading to their arrest.

Items retrieved from the suspects included a tractor, one chainsaw machine and three cutlasses, the prosecutor told the court.

From Frederick Danso Abeam, Bekwai

Baptist church members holding positions are not corrupt –GBC Prez

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ERNEST BEST ANANE
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Dr. Nii Narh Thompson, Executive President of GBC planting Eucalyptus tree

The Executive President of Ghana Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. Nii Narh Thompson,

has vouched for members of the church working in both public and private sectors of the national economy, saying they are not corrupt and do not also embezzle funds entrusted into their care by their employers.

Speaking at the 60th Convention of the Church at the Baptist Women’s Retreat Centre at Ejura, in Ashanti region recently, Rev. Dr. Thompson said the church is proud of its members because of the orientation they have given.

The Chronicle understands that Mr Kofi Nti, the immediate past Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Mr Christian Sottie, a former Accountant General, are all members of the church, who held public office without any blemish.

Rev. Dr. Nii Narh Thompson further noted that the Ghana Baptist Convention was focused on the creation of human capital, health and education towards improving the living standard of the people, as the church’s quota towards the socio economic development.

He revealed that the church had helped members to work in both public and the private sectors, with the orientation that makes them useful.

He further told his audience (mainly pastors), who gathered at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the church in Ghana, that the church has also oriented members against sexual abuse and gender confusion.

The church members, he continued, have been taught the original design and purpose of God for men to marry women and women to marry men.

The Executive President of Ghana Baptist Convention entreated Ghanaians, especially Christians, to remain men of truth, no matter the situation and to uphold fairness and respect for fellow humans.

He tasked Christians to always pray for the country in the face of political and economic challenges.

Rev. Dr. Thompson urged political leaders in Africa to make right decisions in order not to complicate matters in Niger in the name of restoring democracy.

He is of the view that, the church cannot take decision on governance of a state, but can offer counsel for those running affairs in terms of good governance and therefore would not interfere in matters of governance.

The church marked the 60th Convention with a tree planting exercise towards their quest to plant 100,000 trees to complement government’s Green Ghana project.

Automation of Supply, Distribution of Premix Fuel Ready

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The automated office

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MOFAD), in collaboration with Fuel Automation Ghana Limited and its technical partner, Universal Engineering & Consultancy Services Limited, as well as its local and foreign funding partners will on August 29, 2023 officially commission the Automation of Premix Fuel Distribution System at Elmina, in the Central Region.

This laudable and innovative project will be commissioned by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

The full Automation of the supply and distribution of Premix Fuel has been on the table of previous Governments, but largely due to financial constraints it was difficult achieving it.

The supply and distribution of Premix Fuel in the Fishing Industry was introduced in 1994 with the sole objective of powering outboard engines and helping Artisanal Fishermen to increase their catch.

This laudable initiative raised the living standards of the fishing communities as well as increased the supply and demand for fish stock in Ghana. The decision to subsidize Premix Fuel eventually made the product affordable and available to the fishing communities.

Under the current Government, the full Digitalization of the supply and distribution of Premix Fuel started with a Public-Private Partnership with Fuel Automation Ghana Limited.

Challenges Associated with the Premix Fuel since 1994

Smuggling, Diversion, Hoarding, Shortages and Politicization have been the major setbacks for the supply and distribution of Premix Fuel in Ghana since 1994.

Statistics from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) indicate the following Premix Consumption between 2018 and 2022(Consumption in millions);

2018       -73

2019       -72

2020       -101

2021       -104

2022       -39

Between 2018 and 2022, a total of 392 million litres of premix fuel was supplied to 300 landing beaches across the country.

However, despite efforts to supply Premix Fuel to the fishing communities, available data indicate that the following quantities of Premix Fuel were diverted in 2017 alone;

  1. 148, 000 litres in January
  2. 54, 000 litres in February
  3. 297, 000 litres in April
  4. 364, 000 litres in May
  5. 270, 000 litres in June
  6. 459, 000 litres in July
  7. 648, 000 litres in August
  8. 1, 107, 000 litres in October

The worrying trends of Premix Fuel diversion, smuggling, hoarding and politicization always lead to shortages of the product in the market. Hence the best solution to address these challenges was to fully automate the supply and distribution of the product.

However, financing was the major setback for previous governments to undertake the full automation of the Premix Fuel Distribution System in Ghana.

Novelty Intervention by Fuel Automation Ghana Limited

Fuel Automation Ghana Limited together with their technical partners identified the bottlenecks in the value chain of premix fuel supply and distribution and proposed technological solutions to the problems associated with the Premix Fuel ecosystem and a proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development after due process under the Procurement Act, engaged the services of Fuel Automation Ghana Limited and its technical partner to develop and build Landing Beach Fuel Outlets and Automation Solutions for 300 Landing Beaches across the Country under a Public-Private Partnership of Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT).

Financing of the Project

The financing of the Project is exclusively done by Fuel Automation Ghana Limited and its local and foreign funding partners.

The financing of national projects could be successfully done by the Private sector as Fuel Automation Ghana Limited has shown the way.

This approach of Private Financing reduces the unnecessary financial burdens on the Government of Ghana and it is something that future Governments should emulate for national development.

About Fuel Automation Ghana Limited

Fuel Automation Ghana Limited is a 360-technology award winning company with 27001 ISO Certification. Fuel Automation Ghana Limited is a member of the KGL Group.

BoG must be lauded instead of condemned –Duncan

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Mr Kwamena Duncan

The former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has come to the defence of the Governor and Deputies of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in the wake of a reported GH¢60 billion loss in 2022.

In a recent appearance on Peace FM’s Krokrokoo programme, Mr. Duncan lauded the Central Bank’s management record and highlighted that the global economic challenges had contributed to the unusual loss.

“You will recall that many people doubted if the economy was in crisis, because they did not hear about interest payment on bonds were not being paid in early 2022. They did not see queues at the pumps for petrol and diesel. There were no shortages for essential items on the market and they did not hear that public sector workers, including Civil Servants, the Police and the Military were not being paid their salaries. The reason was that the Bank of Ghana had provided the needed support to keep the economy going.

He noted that prior to 2022; the BoG had consistently registered profits. However, the positive streak was disrupted by the impact of global economic conditions that affected not only Ghana but also economies across the world.

The former Regional Minister underscored the gravity of the situation, which demanded comprehensive public policy initiatives to safeguard lives and livelihoods.

He said protecting lives and livelihoods at all costs required exceptional financing which the BoG had no option but to extend financial support to government to manage the situation.

He bemoaned the limited external funding available at the time to government and the necessity for BoG’s intervention as the lender of last resort.

Mr. Duncan noted that the BoG’s prudent management had equipped it with policy buffers and policy space, enabling the bank to trigger the emergency financing exception under Section 30(6) of the Bank of Ghana Act.

This exceptional measure, he said, involved the purchase of GHC10 billion of the Government’s Covid-19 bonds, bridging the financing gap.

Thus, he praised the BoG’s resilience and its fulfilment of the role in salvaging the economy from collapse.

Maritime defence strategies paying off -Navy

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BERNICE BESSEY
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Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu

Strategies adopted from previous maritime security Exhibition and Conference are paying off in the fight against sea crimes on the Gulf of Guinea, says the Ghana Navy, adding that in the year 2021 and 2022, Ghana did not record any incident of pirate activities on its territorial waters, due to the gains made from these conferences and exhibitions.

Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, disclosed this during a media engagement for the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference 2023 (IMDEC 23) at the Burma Camp, in Accra Wednesday, this week.

He said although in the year 2021, the country recorded five attacks on tuna vessels and 11 kidnapping incidents of sailors in its waters, with ransom paid for their release, but the story has since changed.

Rear Admiral Yakubu added that though Ghana has not yet recorded any criminal activities in its waters this year, but same cannot be said about other sister countries. Hitherto, he said the maritime sector had a huge potential for the country’s economic development but was not receiving the needed investment.

According to him, there is more to be explored and gained from the sea, therefore, “I believe it is time we turned our attention to the maritime domain.”

He added that 80 per cent of the country’s imports and exports are transported by the sea. On this year’s conference and exhibition, he said 27 countries and 17 international and two local exhibitors have applied to participate.

Chief Staff Officer (CSO) Commodore Prosper Mosey added that the IMDEC, which is sure to happen next week Tuesday and Wednesday, will bring together regional and international Chiefs of Naval staff to address critical issues surrounding maritime security on the African continent.

The conference will further foster dialogue and collaboration among other key stakeholders in finding solutions to the challenges of the Gulf of Guinea.

He stated that the Guest Speaker would be President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The conference looks forward to providing insight into successful application of variety of innovations to maritime needs.

The exhibition will showcase cutting edge technologies in maritime security and foster strong resolutions and recommendations to overcome the daunting challenges facing Africa’s blue ocean.

There was also a presentation on the National Integrated Maritime Security framework on how the country can harness it’s potentials from the blues economy.

There’s no substance in Afrobeats –Burna Boy

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Burna Boy

In a recent interview on Apple Music, the Nigerian music star Burna Boy caused a stir by boldly asserting that Afrobeats, a genre he is closely associated with, lacks substance.

As he gears up for the release of his new album, “I Told Them,”On August 25th, Burna Boy’s provocative words have ignited a fiery debate within the music industry.

In his exact words, Burna Boy stated, “I don’t even know what to say, ‘Afrobeats’ as you people call it; it’s mostly about nothing. Literally, nothing. There’s no substance to it; everybody is just having a great time…”

This audacious statement has divided opinion among fans, critics, and fellow musicians. Some perceive Burna Boy’s critique as a sincere reflection on the lyrical depth of Afrobeats, while others suspect it might be a strategic move to generate buzz for his upcoming album.

Paul Okoye on dumping girlfriend for ex-wife

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Paul Okoye

Paul Okoye, popularly known as Rudeboy, the other half Nigerian duo, P Square has reacted to allegations of him reconciling with his ex-wife, Anita, and dumping his girlfriend, Ivy Ifeoma.

This comes after the singer and Anita were spotted together at his Afronation music concert rehearsal, sharing beautiful moments together.

Videos of their hangout have gone viral and one could tell that the singer, his ex-wife, and their kids were on vacation ahead of his concert.

Netizens later flooded the comment section of Ivy Ifeoma on Instagram to mock her that Rudeboy had dumped her and had gone back for his wife.

Shortly after the comments ridiculing Ivy, Rudeboy commented under her post, “A babe.”

Replying, Ivy Ifeoma called Rudeboy “Baby Boy,” shutting down any further rumours of their separation. Even though much is not known now, their social media display of affection has brought an end to the online mockery of the two.

I wrote my hit song ‘16 Years’ in a Taxi -MzBel

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Mzbel

Musician and entrepreneur, Belinda Nana Ekua Amoah, popularly known as Mzbel, has shared that she wrote her monster hit song, “16 years” in a Taxi.

On 3Music’s Big Conversation where she was a guest, Mzbel said she was riding in a Taxi where she heard a conversation on radio about the girl child and rape by Maame Dokono.

MzBel shared that her experiences on the issue inspired her and she immediately got to writing.

“I was in a taxi when I came Up with the lyrics. I use to stay with alot of girls from James Town, so I watched how they talk and the way they behaved. And Maame Dokono was always on radio talking about rape, so we were in a taxi one day and we were listening to Maame Dokono and I was watching how people were reacting to the stories and I came up with the song (16 years),” she shared.

She added; “So I started writing in the taxi and when I got home, I built on it and that was it.”

When asked if she saw the impact of the song coming, the music diva responded;

“Not at all, I didn’t know it will go outside Ghana, it was just another nice song, but by the next minute it was in Nigeria, Togo and in Equatorial Guinea”.

Black Star International Film Festival kicks off Sept 18

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BERNICE BESSEY
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CEO of Ghana Film, Authority Juliet Asante

The 8th Edition of the Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF) will kick off from 18th to 24th September, this year, to provide more perspective on the Africa film industry.

The 8th BSIFF was launched under the theme: “Tech in Film: Exploring the role of technology in filmmaking in Africa,” in Accra.

The CEO of the National Film Authority and Founder of BSIFF, Juliet Asante, said the festival aims at focusing on the huge role technology plays in filmmaking on the continent.

“The future is tech and filmmakers need to advance with the times,” she said.

She urged that filmmaking should be contextualised to depict the culture and stories that people can relate to.

Ambassador of European Union of Ghana, H.E. Irchad Razaaly also said that filmmaking can foster social cohesion.

He pledged the EU’s continuous support to BSIFF to encourage conversations on films across communities, cultures and languages.

H.E Razaaly emphasised that the EU will continue to support the filmmaking sector and creative industries in Ghana because “they value investment in youth and their creativity and thus, want to create more opportunities for young people.”

The EU hinted that they will also provide some European films throughout BSIFF 2023 from September 18th to 24th.

The Director of BSIFF, Philippa Bentuma Arthur, reiterated that “the theme reflects the festival’s commitment to celebrating the advancements in cinema on the continent and advocating for an industry that continually pushes boundaries.”

She thanked the EU for supporting the festival which encompasses workshops and Awards Ceremony.

Ms. Arthur added that filmmakers and attendees will gain insight into how technology is transforming the filmmaking landscape in Africa.

The 8th Edition of the BSIFF is supported by the European Union, Mann Robinson Distribution, WiFlix, Indie Rights, Tecno Ghana, Silverbird Cinemas, Spanish Embassy, NAFTI, University of Ghana – School of Performing Arts, Infocus BCW, CompuGhana, the National Film Authority, Black Market Records, Hype.Flix, Ghana Cinema Week, Goethe Institute, GHMovieFreak and Elewa TV.

Film Screenings

Attendees will have the opportunity to view a diverse and thought-provoking selection of films from talented filmmakers across the globe. These films will showcase the innovative use of technology in various aspects of filmmaking, from pre-production to post-production.

Industry experts and tech enthusiasts will lead interactive workshops and panel discussions, shedding light on the latest trends and breakthroughs in film technology.

Black Star Vibes

BSIFF, in partnership with Hype.Flix, Afro Cinema Plus and the Ghana Cinema Week will offer fun and engaging film activities at the Black Star Square.

Activities at the square include Drive-in screenings, our Shorts on Shots program, the Blackstar Music Concert [BMC] and a film museum, film games.

The festival will serve as a hub for filmmakers, producers, distributors and other industry stakeholders to connect, collaborate and foster partnerships.

This networking environment will encourage the sharing of ideas and the exploration of potential collaborations.

Russian villagers report explosion before ‘Prigozhin’ plane crash

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A Wagner fighter stands in front of a makeshift memorial with portraits of Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and Wagner Group commander Dmitry Utkin in Novosibirsk, Russia

The residents of a nearby village where a plane crashed and killed all on board, possibly including the Wagner mercenary chief, say they heard a bang before seeing the jet fall to the ground.

On Wednesday, a private jet crashed near the village of Kuzhenkino in Russia’s Tver region on its way from Moscow to St Petersburg, killing all 10 passengers on board, including three crew members.

Kuzhenkino resident Vitaly Stepenok, 72, told the Reuters news agency: “I hear an explosion or a bang. Usually, if an explosion happens on the ground then you get an echo, but it was just a bang and I looked up and saw white smoke.”

“One wing flew off in one direction and the fuselage went like that,” he said, gesturing with his arms to show how the plane headed down towards the ground.

“And then it glided down on one wing. It didn’t nose-dive, it was gliding.”

Another villager named Anatoly said, “In terms of what might have happened, I’ll just say this: it wasn’t thunder, it was a metallic bang – let’s put it that way. I’ve heard things like that before.”

Source: Aljazeera.com

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