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Ghanaian music can only triumph over Nigeria’s with dance -Ebo Anderson Jnr

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NANA KWESI COOMSON
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Ebo Anderson Jnr.

The Originator of Kizomba Dance in Ghana Ebo Anderson Jnr. better known as Kizomba King has made a staggering revelation that dance is the only way Ghanaian music can triumph over Nigeria’s.

Kizomba King’s comments come amid a long-standing debate about why the Nigerian music industry is more successful than the Ghanaian music industry. Some have attributed the difference to the larger population of Nigeria, while others have blamed the lack of talented musicians in Ghana.

In an exclusive interview with Citi News, Kizomba King asserted that “the day dancers will be taken seriously in Ghana and be on the same level with Ghanaian musicians, the music industry will surpass Nigeria’s.”

The originator of Kizomba Dance in Ghana, however, believes that the key to the success of the Ghanaian music industry lies in dance.

He argues that Ghanaian dancers are some of the best in the world, but they are not given the same respect as the musicians.

“To enhance the Ghanaian music industry, dance should receive the attention it deserves. The lack of emphasis on dance is one of the reasons why the industry is facing challenges. The day Ghanaian dancers would be elevated to the same level as the musicians, the Ghanaian music scene would exceed that of Nigeria,” he said

Credit: citinewsroom.com

Philippines condemns China for installing floating barrier in disputed Sea

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Disputed South China Sea

The Philippines on Sunday condemned the Chinese coast guard for installing what it called a “floating barrier” in a disputed area of the South China Sea, saying that it prevented Filipino boats from entering and fishing in the area.

In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said the floating barrier was discovered by Philippine vessels during a routine maritime patrol on Friday and measured around 300 meters (984 feet).

“The Philippine coast guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources strongly condemn the China coast guard’s installation of a floating barrier in the Southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc, which prevents Filipino fishing boats from entering the shoal and depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities,” the statement read.

China has not yet publicly commented.

Credit: cnn.com

Historians concerned after Queen Elizabeth II’s letters entrusted to aide

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Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II’s personal letters and diaries should be preserved in full in the National Archives, a leading academic has said.

Paul Whybrew, a retired footman and one of the late queen’s closest aides, has been appointed to sort through her private papers before they are transferred to the royal archive in Windsor, according to the Mail on Sunday.

The decision to assign Whybrew with the momentous task of filing through the documents has been criticised by academics and campaigners.

Scot Peterson, a researcher at the University of Oxford who specialises in constitutional matters, said he shared the concerns that someone without adequate training might get rid of things that should be preserved.

“I’ll go one step further and say I think it’s important to just preserve everything, and it should probably just be given to the National Archives,” Peterson said, “with the idea that all royal papers are subject to a 100-year embargo. Once 100 years has passed, it seems to me there isn’t very much reason to withhold things that were even scandalous at the time.”

Peterson said that therefore all documents – regardless of whether a historian or academic believed them to be important or not – should be preserved as the royal family was a public institution in the UK.

Credit: theguardian.com

Dozens killed in Benin after fuel depot explodes into flames

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Scene of Benin fuel depot explosion

At least 35 people have been killed in Benin after a fuel depot exploded into flames, sending a black cloud of smoke into the sky, according to officials and witnesses.

The fire broke out on Saturday at a warehouse for smuggled fuel in the town of Seme-Podji near the border with Nigeria, where cars, motorbikes and tricycle taxis came to stock up on fuel, residents said.

“The fire burned down the store and according to an initial assessment resulted in 35 deaths including one child,” Prosecutor Abdoubaki Adam-Bongle in a statement.

More than a dozen others were seriously injured and are being treated in hospital, he said.

A video of the fire widely circulated on social media, verified by Al Jazeera, shows a tower of black smoke and flames spewing into the air above what appears to be a marketplace as shocked people watch from a safe distance.

Credit: aljazeera.com

Plot for 30 simultaneous explosions in Tehran foiled, Iran says

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Explosions in Tehran foiled

Iran says it has thwarted 30 explosions that were planned to go off simultaneously in the bustling capital, Tehran, to create chaos.

The 30 “terrorist explosions” were meant to go off in crowded city centres, but all were prevented and 28 individuals were arrested in connection with the planned attacks during raids in Tehran, Alborz and West Azerbaijan provinces, according to a statement by the Ministry of Intelligence carried by state media on Sunday.

“The explosions were planned with the aim of breaking the country’s security authority, creating an unstable image of the country, sowing despair and fear in the society, and instigating chaos and protests exactly during the anniversary of last year’s riots,” it said.

That was a reference to months-long protests and unrest across Iran, which began in mid-September 2022 after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody following her arrest for alleged non-compliance with Iran’s dress code.

The Intelligence Ministry said the unnamed arrested individuals were all linked with ISIL (ISIS).

Large quantities of explosives, electronic devices to detonate them, 17 US-made pistols and corresponding ammunition, communication devices, military-grade clothing, suicide vests and foreign currencies were confiscated, the ministry said, adding that two of its agents were wounded during the raids.

Credit: aljazeera.com

At least four killed as gunmen battle police in Kosovo monastery siege

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Tensions in the Kosovo government's decision to install ethnic Albanian mayors

Gunmen in armoured vehicles have stormed a village in Kosovo, battling police and barricading themselves in a Serbian Orthodox monastery.

Kosovo police said one officer and three of about 30 attackers were killed in shootouts around the village of Banjska on Sunday. Monks and pilgrims were locked in the monastery’s temple, the church said, as the siege raged for hours.

Ethnic Albanians form more than 90 percent of the population in Kosovo, a former province of Serbia, but Serbs are the majority in the north and there were clashes in May that injured dozens of protesters and NATO alliance peacekeepers.

The Serbs have never accepted Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence and still see Belgrade as their capital more than two decades after the Kosovo Albanian uprising against Serbian rule.

It was not immediately clear who was behind Sunday’s violence, but Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla blamed “Serbia-sponsored criminals”.

The Serbian Orthodox Church’s diocese of Raska-Prizren, which includes Banjska, said men in an armoured vehicle stormed the monastery compound, forcing monks and visiting faithful to lock themselves inside the temple.

Credit: aljazeera.com

Political parties must not interfere with operations of state institutions -Chief of Domeabra

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ERNEST BEST ANANE
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Baffour Owusu Bediako - Domeabramanhene

Nana Baffour Owusu Bediako, the Paramount Chief of Domeabra, has implored political parties to refrain from interfering with operations of state institutions.

He said Ghana’s reputation as an island of peace and stability is threatened by a number of factors including frequent land disputes, unregulated mining operations, youth unemployment, the political elite’s desire to undermine state institutions, sensational media coverage and chieftaincy disputes among others.

It is unsurprising that Ghana’s ranking on the most recent Global Peace Index dropped from 40th to 51st, but it still holds the second spot in West Africa as the most peaceful.

According to him, the importance of peace in nation-building cannot be understated because without it, all of our efforts as a nation would be naught, stressing that peace is the only prerequisite for growth.

The dignitaries in the group picture

Speaking at the National Peace Council symposium, 2023 to mark International Peace Day in Kumasi, Nana Baffour Owusu Bediako stated that since the establishment of institutionalised peace-making entities, traditional leaders have acted as promoters and producers of peace.

He said with laws like the NPC Act 2011 (Act 818) that created the National Peace Council (NPC), Ghana continues to be one of the few nations in Africa with a well-developed national infrastructure for peace.

According to him, the NPC is required by law to facilitate and create methods for conflict prevention, management and resolution, as well as establishing a lasting peace in the nation.

This, he said, placed a heavy burden on every Ghanaian to contribute to the maintenance of peace and serve as its ambassador.

He noted that the goal of the celebration was to acknowledge the collective duty of people to promote peace, in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aim to strengthen the fundamentals of international peace for all nations and people and serve as a reminder of the value of peace and the potential fragility of our societies in the face of conflict and socio-political upheaval.

He stated that rethinking Ghana is still possible and would want to improve upon the peaceful and sustainable environment that our forefathers and predecessors left for us, as well as take care of it for the benefit of future generations.

Matthew Kojo Njourkone, Ashanti Regional Director – Inter party and CSOs

The Paramount Chief of Domeabra stressed that conflicts do not only pose a threat to the region’s peace, but also to its socio-economic growth, as every project aimed at enhancing human security is impacted and explained  that Armed conflicts frequently have a negative impact on economic activity, physical infrastructure and human capital.

He emphasised that the need for peace in the nation had never been more urgent than it was right now, when our socio-political structures did not appear to be able to handle new conflicts very well, as the lack of opportunities and the current economic challenges are making our youths more and more irate.

He said the country was becoming more and more disrespectful of cultural norms, customs and moral degeneration as impunity eats away the fundamental foundation of our society and the spectre of extremism hangs over the West African sub-region.

He reiterated that our progress has been hampered by the erosion of our traditional value system, unchecked social media usage by our youngsters and a pervasive desire among many people to become wealthy quickly.
Nana Baffour Owusu Bediako believes that the onus lied on friends, families, communities and traditional authorities to support the various security institutions to ensure our co-existence.
“It is also a moment for all institutions in a chain of peace building to execute their professional abilities in a more trusted manner”, he said, and advised that “We must continually work on establishing and preserving peace because recent national events have demonstrated how brittle it can be”.

He, however, cautioned that “we cannot take our current calm atmosphere for granted unless we make extra efforts to build peace”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Matthew Kojo Njourkone, the Ashanti Regional Director of Inter party and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has expressed concern over the Peace Council’s continued silence on the limited voter’s registration brouhaha.

According to him, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political parties in the country raised concerns over the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to limit the voter’s registration centers to their district offices, yet the response was negative.

The Director of Inter party and Civil Society Organisations stressed that considering political tension in the country before, during and after every electioneering period the EC’s continued rejection of every input and suggestion by political parties, except the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), must be a source of worry to every stakeholder, especially the Peace Council.

According to him, the NDC and the other political parties are surprised about the conduct of the Peace Council since the EC decided to limit the voter’s registration centers solely to their district offices, which could disqualify potential voters who have turned 18 years and above.
Mr. Njourkone indicated that the EC halted the exercise for the past three years and that the possibility of existence of new voters would be high, hence limiting the exercise to their district offices would not help the young ones, as well as political parties and stakeholders.

He lamented that the Peace Council would have itself to blame in the event of anything untoward if it did not ensure peaceful co-existence among the citizenry.

He reminded the Peace Council of what happened during the 2020 general elections when about eight people were killed in Techiman South, which the President overlooked.

The Ashanti Regional Director of Inter party and Civil Society Organisations  noted that the process to a peaceful election must  begin with the Peace Council  and the various stakeholders and institutions playing their roles effectively and he stressed that the time to act is now.

7 Home Remedies for Managing High Blood Pressure

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Blood pressure patient

There are several home remedies that can be used to help manage high blood pressure levels and improve heart health, including making changes to your diet and lifestyle.

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force at which blood pumps from the heart into the arteries. A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)Trusted Source.

When blood pressure is high, the blood moves through the arteries more forcefully. This puts increased pressure on the delicate tissues in the arteries and damages the blood vessels.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects about half of American adults, estimates the American College of Cardiology.

Known as a “silent killer,” it usually doesn’t cause symptoms until there’s significant damage done to the heart. Without visible symptoms, most people are unaware that they have high blood pressure.

  1. Get moving

Staying active is an important part of healthy living.

Along with helping lower blood pressure, regular physical activity benefits your mood, strength, and balance. It also decreases your risk of diabetes and other types of heart disease.

If you’ve been inactive for a while, talk with a doctor about a safe exercise routine. Start out slowly, then gradually pick up the pace and frequency of your workouts.

Not a fan of the gym? Take your workout outside. Go for a hike, jog, or swim and still reap the benefits. The most important thing is to get moving!

The American Heart Association (AHA)Trusted Source also recommends incorporating muscle strengthening activity at least 2 days per week. You can try lifting weights, doing pushups, or performing any other exercise that helps build lean muscle mass.

  1. Follow the DASH diet

Following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet can lower your systolic blood pressure by as much as 11 mm Hg The DASH diet consists of:

eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

eating low fat dairy products, lean meats, fish, and nuts

eliminating foods that are high in saturated fats, such as processed foods, high fat dairy products, and fatty meats

It also helps to cut back on desserts and sweetened beverages, such as soda and juice.

The 5 Best Foods for High Blood Pressure

  1. Limit salt

Reducing your sodium intake can be vital for lowering blood pressure.

In some people, when you eat too much sodium, your body starts to retain fluid. This results in a sharp rise in blood pressure.

The AHA recommends limiting your sodium intake to between 1,500 milligrams (mg) and 2,300 mg per day, which is a little over half a teaspoon of table salt.

To decrease sodium in your diet, try using herbs and spices to add flavor to foods in place of salt.

Processed foods also tend to be loaded with sodium. Be sure to always read food labels and choose low sodium alternatives when possible.

  1. Maintain a moderate weight

Weight and blood pressure go hand in hand. For people with overweight or obesity, losing even just 5 to 10 pounds can help lower blood pressure levels.

In addition to reaching and maintaining a moderate weight, keeping tabs on your waistline is also critical for managing blood pressure. The extra fat around your waist, called visceral fat, may negatively affect heart health and could lead to serious health problems in the long run, including high blood pressure.

In general, men should keep their waist measurement to less than 40 inches while women should aim for less than 35 inches.

  1. If you smoke, consider quitting

Each cigarette you smoke temporarily raises blood pressure for several minutes after you finish. If you smoke regularly, your blood pressure can stay elevated for extended periods of time.

People with high blood pressure who smoke are at greater risk for developing dangerously high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

Even secondhand smoke can put you at increased risk for high blood pressure and heart disease.

Aside from providing numerous other health benefits, quitting smoking can help your blood pressure return to normal.

Visit our smoking cessation center to take steps to quit today.

  1. Limit alcohol

Enjoying a glass of red wine with your dinner is perfectly fine. In fact, red wine might even be beneficial for heart health when consumed in moderation.

However, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can lead to lots of health issues, including high blood pressure.

Excessive drinking can also reduce the effectiveness of certain blood pressure medications.

What does drinking in moderation mean? The AHA recommends that men limit their consumption to two alcoholic drinks per day. Women should limit their intake to one alcoholic drink per day.

One drink equals:

12 ounces of beer

4 ounces of wine

1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor

  1. Reduce stress

In today’s fast-paced world that’s filled with increasing demands, it can be hard to slow down and relax. However, it’s important to step away from your daily responsibilities from time to time to help manage stress levels.

Stress can temporarily raise your blood pressure. Too much of it can keep your pressure up for extended periods of time.

It helps to identify the trigger for your stress. It may be your job, relationship, or finances. Once you know the source of your stress, you can try to find ways to fix the problem.

You can also take steps to relieve your stress in a healthy way. Try taking a few deep breaths, meditating, or practicing yoga.

The risks of high blood pressure

When left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to serious health complications, including stroke, heart attack, and kidney damage. Regular visits to a doctor can help you monitor and control your blood pressure.

A blood pressure reading of 130/80 mm Hg or above is considered high. If you’ve recently received a diagnosis of high blood pressure, a doctor can help determine the best course of treatment based on your needs.

Your treatment plan might include medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of therapies. Taking the above steps can help bring your numbers down, too.

Staying active, decreasing salt intake, and making other dietary changes may lower blood pressure even more.

Source: www.healthline.com

Feature: Unraveling the story behind use of illegal fishing nets in Ghana

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Seized mono-filament nets from fishermen

In some coastal regions of Ghana, fishermen are battling the devastating effects of illegal,unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and one of the main issues contributing to that is the use of wrong nets by these fishermen.

Knowingly or unknowingly, fishermen use these nets with blatant disregard for fishing regulations.The monofilament net is one of the illegal fishing nets commonly used in Ghana.It is a type of fishing net made from a single strand of material – mostly a synthetic material like nylon – that is smooth, round shaped and has a strength that can withstand maximum stress while being stretched.

In Ghana, the use of monofilament nets in fishing is illegal for several reasons.The nets are known to cause significant damage to marine ecosystems, including open ocean, the deep-sea ocean and seafloor habitats.

The fine mesh size of these nets allows for the capture of not only target species but also a wide range of non-target species, including juvenile fishes usually about the size of a human finger and other marine organisms. This results in over fishing and disrupts the balance of the ecosystem.

During fishing at sea, these nets are often discarded or lost and the synthetic material used to make these nets takes a long time to degrade or not degrade, causing long-term environmental harm, contributing to marine pollution and depleting the country’s fish stock.

With the use and importation of theses nets being one of the main issues contributing to IUU fishing in Ghana, the repercussions of such practices are severe, impacting not only the sustainability of fish stocks but also the fishermen’s ability to support their families due to the depletion.

The fishermen, at the forefront of this crisis, express their frustration and disappointment with the lack of education and guidance from the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development. Some claim they have never been sensitized about what is legal or illegal when it comes to fishing practices. Their knowledge about fishing is limited to what has been handed down from their parents and grandfathers, leaving them unaware of the intricacies of the law.

“We are not given any education or training by the Ministry. We rely on what our ancestors taught us. We use the nets that have been used for generations, without knowing if they are legal or not,’ a seasoned fisherman at the Korle Gonno landing beach in the Greater Accra Region, Nii Commey, shares his grievances. His words reflect the frustration felt by many in the fishing community.

Another fisherman, Nana Kwabena Donkor, boldly points out that the government and the Ministry cannot simply pass laws without consulting those whose livelihoods are directly affected.

“They can’t just sit in their offices and make decisions without involving us. We are the ones who suffer the consequences of their actions,” he posited.

SHOULD I BE BLAMED FOR BEING IGNORANT?

The Fisheries Act 2002 outlines the regulations regarding fishing practices in Ghana. It clearly prohibits the use of wrong nets, highlighting the importance of compliance in safeguarding fish stocks. However, this important legislation often remains a mystery to the fishermen who struggle to interpret its complex language.

Despite the challenges, the law says “ignorance of the law is no excuse,” meaning any fisherman unknowingly caught using the wrong nets will be punished by the law. Section 29(2) of the Criminal Offenses Act, 1960 (Act 29) reinforces this sentiment.

Nevertheless, the fishermen argue that the responsibility lies not only with them but also with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to ban the importation of illegal fishing nets if they know that is a problem.

While the fishermen express their frustration and disappointment, it was important to hear from the other side, since it will be unfair not to give each side a fair explanation opportunity.

The Fisheries Commission explains that the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) and the Fisheries Commission (FC) itself are involved in the importation of fishing nets in Ghana, although it is private sector led.

“The agency through the Integrated Custom Management System (ICUMS) recommend for approval the nets imported through our ports. The applications are vetted and any illegal net are not recommended for customs exemption,” they added.

On why some fishermen continue to use wrong nets despite existing regulations and effort to combat IUU they said “some of the nets are meant for the aquaculture sector but fishermen acquire and use them illegally but MoFAD/FC is enforcing the laws and anytime these fishermen are arrested, the nets are seized and destroyed and we will continue to enforce the laws.”

The Commission explains that Landing Beach Enforcement Committees are being established to assist the FEU to the fisheries Commission and the Ministry of Fisheries but their specific challenge is lack of logistics and presence in all the landing beaches.

It adds that the use of these unapproved nets is more of an attitudinal change than just replacing the nets. Writing about the story reminds me of how constant back-and-forth blame game can create these challenges and tensions.

HAVE WE FAILD AS THE FOURTH ESTATE?

What are we doing as the media, if the common Ghanaian does not know what has been written in the constitution and laws concerning what we ought to do and not do? The media play a vital role in disseminating information to the wider public and raising awareness about the detrimental effects of IUU fishing and the importance of responsible fishing practices. With a little push, the media can help foster a culture of compliance and accountability. We set the agenda; so, let us do that.

AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION

As efforts are being made to tackle IUU fishing, it is crucial to address the issue of wrong fishing nets being imported into the country. The responsibility for ensuring the availability of legal fishing nets lies with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.A possible recommendation to address this issue is for the Ministry to take a more active role in importing and distributing legal fishing nets directly to the fishermen.

Alternatively, the Ministry could consider partnering private entities, not entity with expertise in managing fishing gear distribution. This would allow for more efficient and effective distribution processes, ensuring that fishermen have access to the right equipment, while also benefiting from their knowledge and resources.

Regardless of the response given and approach taken, it is imperative that the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, all stakeholders under them and the media actively educate the fishermen and the general public on the importance of sustainable fishing practices and the legal framework surrounding fishing activities to protect the future of Ghana’s fishing industry.

By Edith Debrah

Karela United thump Berekum Chelsea at Tamale

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Midfield action in the Karela vs Chelsea game

Karela United put their matchday one disappointment behind them to overcome Berekum Chelsea at the Aliu Mahama Stadium on Sunday, September 24 2023.

A brace from Evans Adomako and a third by George Amomoo put Karela in comfortable right after the hour mark.

Adoamko broke the deadlock on 19 minutes and completed his brace by netting in the 53rd minute. George Amonoo made it three on 63 minutes.

Stephen Amankona got a consolation for Berekum Chelsea after converted a spot kick on 78 minutes to score his third goal of the campaign.

The Pride and Passion will be pleased to win their first match at home in Tamale. They are away to Kotoko for their next game while Berekum Chelsea will hope to return to winning ways when they host Accra Lions for their next match.

Credit: ghanasoccernet.com

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