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Southampton reject Liverpool’s £46m bid for Romeo Lavia 

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Romeo Lavia

Liverpool have reportedly had a third bid rejected by Southampton for midfielder Romeo Lavia as the Reds continue to chase the 19-year-old.

Jurgen Klopp’s side had already been turned away twice by the Championship side but have now returned with a third £46million offer.

Lavia sat on the bench for Southampton’s season-opening Championship victory over Sheffield Wednesday, spiking hope that a deal with Liverpool could be close.

However, Liverpool’s latest improved bid was similarly turned away by Southampton, according to Sky Sports.

Talks between the two clubs are reportedly ongoing with Southampton open to a deal but standing firm on their original asking price of £50m.

Lavia joined the south coast side last season from Manchester City after impressing during his formative years in the academy at the reigning Premier League champions.

The youthful midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough season in the English top-flight, making 29 Premier League appearances, but was unable to help steer the Saints clear of the drop zone.

Liverpool’s improved offer is a £5million increase on their second bid, but evidently still short of Southampton’s valuation as they continue to knock back offers under their set price.

Klopp is desperate to add further midfield reinforcements before the start of the new Premier League season following the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

Credit: dailymail.co.uk

West Ham agree £34m deal with Ajax for Edson Alvarez

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Edson Alvarez

West Ham have agreed a £34million deal with Ajax for Edson Alvarez.

Mexico international Alvarez is set to become the Hammers‘ first major signing of the summer and he will now fly to London to undergo a medical.

The deal will see West Ham finally spend part of the money that they received for the £105million sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal last month.

Alvarez started his career at Mexican club America before signing for Ajax in 2019.

He has made 147 appearances for Ajax and has scored 13 goals.  West Ham made an initial offer of £30million for Alvarez but were told to increase their bid.

They have already agreed a five-year contract with Alvarez worth £148,000-a-week. The 25-year-old was also the subject of interest from Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund but he is now set to join West Ham.

Moyes’ position as West Ham manager is under threat following a row over recruitment.

Tensions have been rising throughout the summer amid a difference in opinion

on transfer targets between Moyes, new technical director Tim Steidten and co-owner David Sullivan.

Credit: dailymail.co.uk

Tottenham reject latest Bayern offer for Harry Kane

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Harry Kane

Bayern had hoped to agree a deal for the England skipper but it is understood the two sides remain apart in their valuation of the 30-year-old.

The Bundesliga champions had suggested if their bid for Kane was unsuccessful on this occasion they would move on to other transfer targets.

However, with over three weeks of the transfer window left, it remains to be seen whether that is the case.

Kane, who has scored 280 goals in 435 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions, skippered Spurs in Sunday’s pre-season match against Shakhtar Donetsk.

He has one year left on his contract with Tottenham and there have been no indications Kane would be willing to extend it.

If chairman Daniel Levy elects to keep the England striker it would effectively be ending the club’s last chance to cash in on their talisman.

Bayern officials met Levy last week but a deal was not struck. Bild claim personal terms with Kane have already been agreed.

Tottenham begin their Premier League campaign at Brentford on 13 August. Bayern start their season with a German Super Cup meeting with RB Leipzig a day earlier.

The transfer window does not close until 1 September, but both sides would prefer a resolution before the new season begins.

Credit: bbc.com

Neymar informs PSG that he wants to leave

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Neymar

Neymar has reportedly informed PSG‘s management that he wants to leave the club this summer.

According to a report from L’Equipe, the forward informed PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi of his desire for a move away from the French capital on Sunday.

The Brazil international is said to have grown increasingly unhappy at PSG, with the report claiming the 31-year-old is determined to seal a sensational return to Barcelona before the end of the transfer window.

Back in May angry PSG fans gathered outside his Paris home to demand that he leave, prompting the club to release statement condemning the actions of their supporters.

‘Paris Saint-Germain most strongly condemns the intolerable and insulting actions of a small group of individuals that took place on Wednesday,’ a statement read.

‘Whatever the differences of opinion, nothing justifies such actions.

‘The club gives its full support to its players, its staff and all those targeted by such shameful behaviour.’

The incident is said to have influenced Neymar’s decision to desire a move away from the club, with the forward reportedly feeling that he is ‘exposed’ in Paris in way that he never had been during his time at Barcelona.

The news will serve as yet another headache for Les Parisiens, with Lionel Messi having already departed this summer to join Inter Miami while Kylian Mbappe’s future remains unclear.

Credit: dailymail.co.uk

88% Access To Electricity, Safe Water Are My Proud Achievements – President Akufo-Addo

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MAXWELL OFORI
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President Akufo-Addo interacting with Vice-president Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia (left) at the 2023 Founders Day celebrations at the Jubilee House

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stated that despite the challenges facing the nation, 88 percent of Ghanaians have access to safe water and electricity.

According to the President, the present turmoil should not cloud the minds of Ghanaians and cause them to forget the significant milestone achieved as a country.

“Yes, there are difficulties, but let us not forget that 88 percent of Ghanaians presently have access to safe water, the national electricity access rate increased from 79.3 percent in 2016 to 88.54 percent in 2022, making us among the top six in Africa, and we are still expecting to achieve the 90 percent universal access rate by 2024,” he said.

Gedu Blay Ambolley, a Highlife musician entertaining guests at the 2023 Founders Day celebrations at the Jubilee House.

The President said this on Friday, August 4, 2023 at the fourth edition of the Founders’ Day luncheon organised for senior citizens, held at Jubilee House.

President Akufo-Addo remarked that mothers no longer sell their “most treasured fabrics and jewelry” and fathers do not go to “money lenders” to see their children through Senior High school.
“Today, Senior High school education is free for every child. There are more children in secondary school now – 1.7 million – the highest in our history and we are nearing parity between boys and girls in terms of enrollment.

“We have changed the curricula and focused on education to meet the needs of the modern economy and prepare our young people to compete on a global scale,” he stated.

GOAL

President Akufo-Addo stated that, as President of Ghana, his preoccupation was to guide the country through the transition of its economy from an exporter of raw materials and retailer of imported goods to a modern value-added industrialised economy.

The President stressed that government was on course to change and solidify the economy until COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine warexacerbated the situation.

However, he intimated that those setbacks have not changed the goal of the government to get‘Ghana Beyond Aid’.
The President told the gathering that the positive impact of the policies of his government was changing the face of Ghanaian society.

He stated that the commitment of the government to improving the dignity of life for the Ghanaian people remained unwavering and “the record of my government points to this,” he observed.

DIGITAL
President Akufo-Addo spoke on the need to catch up with the third industrial revolution, also known as the digital revolution, which his government is investing in, as well as other sectors.
He maintained that by investing in the digital space, the economic and health sectors, the development of inner-city communities, the retooling of security agencies, anti-corruption initiatives and infrastructure development, “our country will shortly take a deserved place as a modern economy.”

RESPECT TO FOUNDERS
President Akufo-Addo paid glowing tribute to the nation’s founding fathers for their vision and sacrifices that paved the way for the country’s attainment of independence.
As a measure of respect for their efforts, he stated that the country must free itself from the economic arrangements devised by the former colonial power to fulfill its goal at the time, but which regretfully “continue to bind us.”
“As we celebrate our founders, we should believe in our capacity to build a modern, developed, and progressive nation.
“We must make concerted efforts to break away from the neo-colonial structure of the raw material-producing and exporting economy, which has been largely our lot and take decisive steps to reach our goal of building a Ghana beyond aid.

“The consensus is for all of us to work towards the prosperous, peaceful and happy Ghana we want. We all recognise that the responsibility we carry as the first sub-Saharan colonial country to gain independence is not simply to build an independent country; we owe it to the rest of the continent and the black race to demonstrate that indeed, we can build and run a prosperous and happy country,” he said.

The occasion was attended by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Chief Justice Getrude Torkenoo, Madam Akosua Frema Osei Opare, Chief of Staff, Office of the President, and other dignitaries such as; former first lady Nana Agyemang Rawlings and Mr. Sam Okudzeto, a member of the Council of State.

6 Ashanti NPP Founding Fathers endorse Afriyie Akoto

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Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto

Six out of seven surviving Founding Fathers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti region have overwhelmingly endorsed Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto as the party’s surest bet for its flagbearer position.

The elders of the party, who many describe as the ‘Big Six’ in contemporary Ghanaian politics because of their influence, pledged their support to Dr. Akoto when they paid a courtesy call on him at his residence in Danyame, on Saturday, August 5, 2023.

Led by their Chairman, Kofi Obiri Yeboah, the Founding Fathers of the UP Tradition had gone to Dr. Akoto to interact with him, listen to his vision for the party and Ghana in general, and also ponder with him over what they could do to rekindle the spirit of togetherness in the party, going into the 2024 general elections.

The other members of the group were; Akwasi Gyeabour Asante, William Asafu-Agyei, George Appiah, Nicholas Kofi Nyantakyi and Peter Kwabena Anokye.

The seventh man, Owusu Badu, who could not join the team, had sought permission from the Chairman.

The ‘Big Six’, as they are affectionately called, are convinced that Dr. Akoto has demonstrated without any iota of doubt that he is capable of managing the NPP and Ghana in general, considering his track record for the party and when he became a cabinet minister (Minister of Food and Agriculture) under President Akufo-Addo’s administration.

Last Saturday’s visit is one of several other meetings Dr. Akoto has had with the Founding Fathers of the NPP in the Ashanti Region, when he started his campaign for the flagbearer position of the NPP.

The endorsement of the ‘Big Six’ follows similar endorsements by some constituency chairmen of the party in the Greater Accra, Volta and Central regions of the country.

Just last month, constituency chairmen in Ashaiman, La Dadekotopon, Shai Osudoku and Prampram publicly showed their unwavering support for Dr. Akoto’s candidacy and urged delegates in those constituencies and beyond to show their love to the former Food and Agriculture Minister when they go to the polls on August 26, 2023 to exercise their franchise in the Special Delegates Conference.

Commenting on the gesture, Dr. Akoto said he was elated by the support shown him by the Founding Fathers and assured of contributing more to the progress of the NPP to justify their confidence reposed in him.

“I am elated by the endorsement of the Founding Fathers of the NPP in the Ashanti Region. The promise that their votes will be for me come August 26, 2023 signifies the confidence they have reposed in me and I am very grateful to them for expressing such huge support for my candidature to bear the flag of the NPP”, he noted.

He added, “this show of support by the Founding Fathers is very significant to me because as you know the origin of the party started with the intervention of my father, Baffour Osei Akoto, who together with others, on the 19th of September, 1994 performed certain rites for the creation of the National Liberation Movement (NLM),made up of the Northern Peoples Party, led by the late S.G Dombo;the Togo Congress and others from the Anlo Youth Organisation and the Greater Accra region came together to form the United Party (UP) soon after independence in 1957.

So, the Founding Fathers in the Ashanti Region are using the spirit of the time, that is the foundation laid by my father, to give their full support to me”.

The Deputy Ashanti Regional Secretary of the NPP and Coordinator for ‘Team Akoto’ in the Ashanti Region, Allen Gyimah, also commenting on the endorsement of the Founding Fathers of the party in the region said the action by the ‘Big Six’ is a clear demonstration that that the party wants a result-oriented person to lead the party to the 2024 general elections.

By Stephen Odoi-Larbi

Ghana-London by land: Oppong-Nkrumah commends expedition team

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Some members of the team that embarked on the expedition

The Minister for Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has lauded a Ghanaian expedition team that has made a road trip from Accra to London in the United Kingdom.

The story of the 13 Ghanaians, made up of 12 men and one woman, on the epic journey covering a staggering 10,000 kilometres, has attracted global attention on Ghana.

Accordingly, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah in a video call, congratulated the expedition team for their remarkable spirit as well as raising the flag of Ghana high and making Ghanaians proud.

The team leaving Barcelona to continue the London journey

“You have lifted the spirit of people all across the country that difficult things can be done with the right focus and many Ghanaians are extremely excited about this,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase/Ayirebi eulogised the expedition team.

The estimated arrival in London was scheduled for Sunday, August 6, or Monday, August 7, 2023, marking a historic accomplishment for the team.
According to the Information Minister, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom will be hosting members of the team on their arrival in London.

The staff the High Commission, he added, would also amplify the work the gallant Ghanaians as part of efforts to showcase the country as a tourism destination of choice in the West African sub-region.

Speaking from Spain earlier in an interview with Accra-based Peace FM, one of the team members known as Saka, shared their motivation for embarking on the bold trip.
He explained that they were inspired by stories of people traveling from foreign countries to Ghana and other African nations.

They decided to turn the tables and attempt this adventure as a fun activity, showcasing their adventurous spirit and passion for exploration.

“We are explorers and we are doing this for fun. We read about people driving from Europe to Ghana all the time, and we also planned to do it and we are almost there,” one of the explorers said.

Fascinated by their daring journey and curious about the logistics, the host inquired about their visas and how they managed to navigate through the various borders along the way.

The team’s courageous and exciting expedition has captured the imagination of many, as they face the challenges and adventures of crossing borders and experiencing diverse cultures on their road to London.

People from all walks of life eagerly await the team’s safe arrival in London, where the members will undoubtedly be celebrated for their incredible feat and indomitable spirit.

BECE results in Abuakwa South improve after introduction of Kingsley Quiz

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Dr. Kingsley Agyeman presenting the trophy to the winner of the quiz

The Municipal Director of Education for Abuakwa South, Mrs. Comfort Ofori Appiah, has disclosed that the performance of candidates in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) has improved over the past two years in the Municipality,as a result of the introduction of Kingsley Science and Math Quiz.

According to her, per the statistics available, schools within the Municipality after taking part in the quiz, have recorded a momentous improvement in the BECE results. According to her, she was hopeful that this year the Municipality will record single digit results in the BECE and also improve upon its previous performance.

“Last year, in 2022, the BECE results as analysed were 67.17 percent. We are yet to receive the standardised tests for Basic 2 and Basic 4. But we are hopeful that the performance will be massive,” she noted.

She made this observation last Friday at the auditorium of the Kibi Presbyterian College of Education, during the finals of the Kingsley Quiz, comprising the Kingsley Spelling Challenge and the Kingsley Science and Math Quiz.

Dr. Kingsley Agyeman presenting an award to one of the winners

She continued that while government has taken it upon itself to improve infrastructure in education across the country as a whole, it is very gratifying to see people like Dr. Agyemang doing their best to complement these efforts from the government.

“I believe Dr. Agyemang hasn’t exhausted his ideas in terms of education in this municipality and I also call on others to come on board. We have other interventions we want to enroll in, like the reading intervention at the lower level”.

Mrs. Ofori Appiah used the opportunity to call on the students to take advantage of the various quiz programmes.

“We shouldn’t disappoint Dr. Kingsley Agyemang.  We can see that the investment in these quizzes is huge and if districts are excelling, your Municipality shouldn’t be left out. Congratulations to all the contestants,” she said.

Commitment

Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, who is the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, in his speech tasked the students not to rest on their oars, but to continue to aspire higher because, according to him, he sees greatness in all of them, but that it will take hard work to get there.

‘’You are lucky to have all these educational interventions at your disposal, and the best you can do is take advantage of them and be great men and women for mother Ghana. Some of us did not have this opportunity, but with determination and hard work, we succeeded. How much more you who have all these interventions and tools at your disposal”, he said.

He firmly gave the assurance that his commitment to education was non-negotiable and that he would do all he could to keep improving education in the Municipality.

 Winners

Asiakwa Roman Catholic Basic School and Bunso M/A Junior High School won the Kingsley Spelling Challenge and the Kingsley Science and Math Quiz respectively.

The Kingsley Spelling Challenge, which is in its third year, saw three schools, namely Akosua Agyeiwaa Memorial Methodist Basic, Kibi M/A Experimental Basic and Asiakwa R/C Basic Schools shortlisted for the finals after competingwith some 72 primary schools within the municipality.

The Kingsley Science and Maths Quiz also had Bunso M/A JHS emerging as winners with KPCE Demonstration and Akosua Agyeiwaa Methodist JHS taking the first and second runners-up positions, with 41 points and 40 points respectively.

Honour

The Abuakwa South Educational Directorate used the occasion to honor Dr. Agyemang for his enormous investments in education in the Municipality.

He was honoured on the basis of his social interventions, such as the Kingsley Science and Math Quiz, Time with Kingsley, Kingsley Spelling Challenge, Kingsley Free Vacation Classes and the provision of free food and buses for BECE candidates, among others.

Party School for NPP youth wing to open soon -National Chairman

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BERNICE BESSEY
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Stephen Ntim, National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has indicated that a party school would soon be opened to mentor the youth wing of the Elephant Family.

He said the youth mentorship school would be opened this year to mark the ruling party’s 31st Anniversary.

The National Chairman was speaking at the National Youth Mentorship Forum held under the theme, “Building Youth Leadership for Party and Country,” in Accra on Friday, August 4, 2023.

According to him, the party acknowledged and appreciated the role and important contributions of young people to party politics and nation building, hence the school.

“Over the years, young people who subscribed to our political tradition have been very instrumental in promoting the ideas of our beloved party. You have served the forefront for which the party strategies evolve,” he added.

He admired the youth wing’s devotion, steadfastness, sacrifices, spirit of volunteerism and commitment to the cause of the party, particularly during the 2016 and 2020 General Elections.

Mr. Ntim stated that it was in this regard that the party, in the year 2010, amended its constitution to officially recognise the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON).

Therefore, to keep the youth in line with NPP tradition, a system ought to be created to achieve this aim.

Explaining the importance of the party school, he said through conscious strategies and appreciate monitorship rollout by the party over the years, young people particularly the product of TESCOM and the youth wing, have been able to transition to becoming top players in the country’s body politics.

The National Chairman said the likes of John Boadu, Anthony Kabo, Sammy Awmuoku, Nana Boakye, and Justin Frimpong Kodua are some of the shining examples.

With that, he stayed that the school as part of its standing objective would be committed to identifying and grooming students from the various educational institutions and imbibed in them the kind of leadership that resonant to the 21st century and also inculcate in the core values of centre-right orientation that underpins the NPP political establishment.

The school envisaged in the medium to long term to give training to appointees and potential appointees in NPP government as well as elected officers at national and regional electoral and polling station.

“I encourage each and every one of you to take advantage of this opportunity when the time comes to enroll in the party school” he urged.

Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister for Land and Natural Resources, said the key to a successful mentorship is patience, hardworking, commitment and perseverance.

While he has not had a structured mentorship but learnt through following those ahead but believes that the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom have shown the way for the NPP to follow.

He said members of the Conservative Party start their political career from school just like TESCON, and progress to a stage called kiss the envelope, attached to the private sector to work, becomes an assistant a member of parliament (brief case), then a parliamentarian, secretary of state (Minister) and a prime minister.

The Conservative principle propels individuals to serve through the ranks, making it the longest serving party in the UK.

He also charged the youth to take the central role of communication and abreast themselves the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Mr. Jinapor said: “We really have a big task ahead of us and the task we have ahead of us begins with ourselves. We live in a world which is saturated with information… The National Youth Organiser and his team have a lot of work to do because … garbage in garbage out. Who feed the information is going to determine who carries the youth.

He said if the youth organiser and his team does not control the narrative, they would have themselves to be blamed in case the electorates vote against the party.

“To what extent is the NPP youth wing brainstorming about Artificial intelligence, where one stream of information can be thrown out and get on everybody mobile phone and within a second, and it is put out in a manner that it is believable

Meanwhile, the NPP is more attractive than any political party on the market, albeit the current economic challenges the country finds itself.

He urged Ghanaians to exercise patience with us and give them the opportunity to calibrate the system to bring it back to its feet.

Salam Mustapha, National Youth Organiser, pledged his commitment to stand with the youth of the party through thick and thin.

He also urged the youth to be good ambassadors of the party by recruiting more members because the NPP is the only political party that recognises and rewards hardworking.

Editorial: Ghana must move toward embracing AI

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The third industrial revolution has come with technological advancements, threatening the relevance of mankind at the workplace. Hitherto, companies relied on several employees in a move to meet production targets, which in some cases did not happen, owing, but not limited to, the somehow lackadaisical attitudes of some employees.

However, with the advent of advanced technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the story will soon change. According to TechTarget, a technology-specific website, AI is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.

Other technology portals define AI as a wide-ranging branch of Computer Science that builds smart machines competent to perform tasks that require human intelligence.

AI requires a foundation of specialised hardware and software for writing and training machine learning algorithms.

AI programming focuses on cognitive skills that include learning, reasoning, self-correction and creativity.

In 2021, the market for AI in marketing was estimated at 15.84 billion U.S. dollars, statista.com, a financial website has published and added to that, the source projected that the value would increase to more than 107.5 billion by 2028.

Ghana undeniably would not want to lose out on this sector, as it works to tap every lucrative avenue for revenue.

AI is important for its latency, which changes how humans live, work, and play. Research has proven that AI has been effectively used in business to automate tasks done by humans, including customer service work, lead generation, fraud detection and quality control.

In our research to write this Editorial, we learned that AI can perform tasks much better than humans, particularly repetitive, detail-oriented tasks such as analyzing large numbers of legal documents to ensure relevant fields are filled properly, and can often complete jobs quickly.

At a symposium to celebrate the legacy of the late Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, former Prime Minister of Ghana, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikoi Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah advocated for “robust legislation to meet the growth of Artificial Intelligence,” arguing that it has broken into the daily activities of mankind.

We cannot agree with him any less, considering what experts in technology are telling us and what we can see with technology.

AI offers faster decision-making and unbiased decisions; when programmed properly, errors committed by humans can be reduced to null; and it is available anywhere and anytime.

It is argued that AI brings about laziness in humans, creates unemployment, and lacks creativity as it is programmed to function in a specific manner.

We acknowledge how important teamwork is for achieving goals, and considering that computers and other machines do not have feelings, AI should not have been entertained.

No nation would embrace a technology that poses a risk to its employed citizens, but since the world is also evolving, Ghana cannot be left behind.

We want Ghana to work towards embracing AI, as it can help in healthcare delivery, education, and transportation, among others.

The Chronicle believes that the disadvantages of AI in workplaces and the sectors mentioned, may not outweigh the advantages. For instance, the Zipline drone system is delivering medical products to hinterlands across the country at a snap of the finger.

However, we will suggest that employees do well to upgrade themselves to continue to stay relevant. Mind you, humans will be needed to programme the AI, monitor its performance and keep it in good condition to function properly.

Also, the government, like the Okaikoi Central MP proposed, should introduce robust legislation to guide AI in Ghana.

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