Some traders present fake invoices to undervalue imports -Customs

-

January 23, 2023

A helicopter being repaired for galamsey fight

The fight against galamsey (illegal mining) is being intensified as the government teams up with the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Ghana Airforce (Western Command) to repair some specialised aircraft to undertake intelligence, surveillance and recognisance of areas where illegal mining is still ongoing.

Mr. George Mireku Duker, a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, in charge of Mines, who inspected the three aircraft at the Takoradi Air Force Base on Friday, said they had been out of service since 2014.

The repair work, being funded by the Ghana Chamber of Mines, is estimated to cost 700,000 Euros and would be completed in six months.

“This is an effort we are making to clampdown on recalcitrant miners who are determined to destroy our industry. We want to streamline and regulate activities in the mining sector,” he said.

Mr. Duker expressed the belief that repairing the aircraft was a cost-effective measure to facilitate the fight against “galamsey” as against procuring new drones and other equipment for mining surveillance.

Servicing the aircraft would see the replacement of crashes, hard drives, outdated softwares and engines, among other things.

Mr. Duker commended the Chamber of Mines for its immeasurable and patriotic effort towards the fight against illegal mining and lauded the Ghana Armed Forces for its support.

Source: GNA

707 LEAP beneficiaries registered for NHIS

By

-

January 23, 2023

Mr Isaac Robson Klu, Kadjebi District Director, Social Welfare and Community Development, says 707 Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) beneficiaries were enrolled onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (HNIS) in 2022.

The figure was made up of 416 females and 258 males, whose cards were renewed; and 19 females and 14 males who were newly registered onto the scheme.

Mr Klu, who made this disclosure at 2022 Performance Review Meeting at Kadjebi in the Oti Region, said the exercise was meant to help the vulnerable access healthcare without hindrance.

He said during the period under review, the office also received 13 child rights and protection cases and out of the figure, eight were successfully resolved, three withdrawn, one is pending and referred.

The District Director said, to reduce incidence of child rights abuses by Day-Care Operators, the operators were sensitised on the Day-Care Centres Regulations, 1979 (LI 1230) for their adherence.

Mr Klu said for improved collaboration and a better referral system, collaborating agencies should be trained in Integrated Social Service Operating Procedures (ISSOP) and regular meetings carried out between them for better termination of cases.

Mr Wilson Kwami Agbanyo, Kadjebi District Chief Executive (DCE), in his opening remark, said the review was necessary for them to know the various departments’ success stories, challenges and the way forward.

He said his outfit was ready to support departments to deliver their planned activities for the benefits of the residents in the district.

Mr Sulemana Alhassan, the District Co-ordinating Director, said the review was a requirement of their work, adding, “it’s an accountability forum, but not fault-finding mission.”

He said according to the Districts Performance League Table, they were part of the 10 poor performing districts in the country some time ago, although they had improved in 2020 and 2021.

Heads of Department of Agriculture, District Works, Environmental Health and Sanitation Service, and Education also did a power-point presentation on their departments’ performance for 2022.

From Daniel Agbesi Latsu, Kadjeb

GNA

Man to reconsider marriage after ‘repulsive’ wedding request by fiancée’

By

-

January 23, 2023

An engaged Reddit user is turning heads after sharing his fiancée’s “repulsive” wedding request.

On April 13, the Redditor, writing under the username GlassAlarm, shared his story on the Am I the A***** (AITA) forum.

In the post, he describes his fiancée’s request and asks whether it’d be overreacting to call the whole wedding off because of it.

‘Really might call this off’

The Redditor begins by explaining that he got engaged a few months ago. Everything was fine — but during some subsequent wedding planning, his fiancée revealed that “it is ‘family tradition’ to put a ball and chain on the groom at the reception as [a] ‘joke.”

“I am certainly not doing that, but she seems pretty firm on it. I feel like if you want to embarrass me like that, you can host your own reception without my family and friends there, and embarrass me all you want in front of your family and friends,” he said.

Because of his fiancé’s request, the Reddit user is considering calling off the wedding altogether. “I don’t feel like I’m being unreasonable,” he said, “but [my fiancé is] pretty f****** mad at me right now for my refusal.”

Credit: yahoo.com

Beyoncé performs on stage for the first time in 5yrs

By

-

January 23, 2023

Beyoncé’s return to the stage was a family affair.

Blue Ivy joined her mother on stage during her performance at Atlantis The Royal hotel’s opening in Dubai on Saturday night.

“Blue Ivy came out during ‘Brown Skin Girl,’” a source tells us. “She looked grown up in red, danced along and had a microphone, but didn’t sing.”

Beyoncé also told the crowd her husband, Jay-Z, was there with her parents, Tina and Mathew Knowles, as well as her 5-year-old twins Rumi and Sir.

During the hour-and-a-half performance, which, we’re told, started over an hour late, fans were forced to put their phones in pouches and were even reprimanded by security if they were spotted sneaking photos.

Despite the delay and strict cell phone restrictions, a source told Page Six, the 41-year-old “looked like a goddess” and “sounded perfect.”

She started her show with “At Last” by Etta James and performed hits including “Beautiful Liar,” “Halo” and “Crazy in Love.” We’re told, however, that she didn’t perform anything new.

This is the first time Beyoncé — who wore custom Dolce & Gabbana on the event’s red carpet — has headlined a live show in nearly five years, the last being the Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa, in December 2018.

The Dubai performance comes after she released her much-awaited seventh album, “Renaissance,” which includes bops like “Cuff It” and “Break My Soul.”

Credit: pagesix.com

Police resume air search for missing British actor

By

-

January 23, 2023

Authorities in California have resumed the air search for British actor Julian Sands, who disappeared last Friday while hiking. But the ground search for Mr Sands remains on pause due to poor road conditions.

The British actor was last seen a week ago in the Baldy Bowl area of the San Gabriel Mountains, north of Los Angeles.

Police said they had found his car near where he was reported missing.

“There has been no new update or witness information about his whereabouts since then,” Gloria Huerta, Public Information Officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department told the BBC on Friday.

He was reported missing at about 19:30 local time on Friday 13 January.

“The air search is being resumed, but we have not been able to resume a ground search yet due to icy conditions and a threat of avalanches,” said Ms Huerta.

Mr Sands, 65, is known for his roles in popular film and television shows, including A Room With A View, 24 and Smallville.

Police had previously said that they plan to continue looking for Mr Sands, and there is “no hard deadline” for ending their search mission.

They initially said phone pings appeared to show he was on the move two days after he was reported missing. They later clarified that these alerts were delayed and showed his movements on the day he went missing.

Mr Sands went missing after California had been battered for weeks by deadly storms, prompting an emergency declaration by US President Joe Biden.

Credit: bbc.com

Kanye West Gets “Married” Again, Confuses The Kardashians

By

-

January 23, 2023

Rumor has it that Kanye West got married this week. Confused? So are the Kardashians. According to Page Six, the family is puzzled and concerned over Ye’s latest move. Like the rest of the world, their eyes are peeled for updates to see if this is the real deal or just another one of his ridiculous attempts to get attention.

News of Kanye’s new relationship came as a surprise to literally everyone this week. Of course, Ye just settled his divorce from Kim Kardashian a couple of months ago. He’s been spiraling out of control, making headlines for horrible, anti-Semitic comments. Then paparazzi spotted him at an intimate dinner with a woman, Biana Censori. Days later TMZ reported that the two exchanged wedding rings and said “I do” during a small, private ceremony.

So, who is this mystery woman, Bianca? Although Ye hasn’t publicly shared details on his new relationship, his new “bride” has reportedly worked for the Yeezy fashion brand as an architectural designer for years, per Page Six. Last month, he released a song called “Censori Overload,” making it clear that he has his heart locked onto a new muse.

Bianca and Ye still need to get a marriage license, so it doesn’t seem like this union is legally binding. At least not yet. Still, the Kardashians are reportedly confused and concerned.

A source told Page Six, “The family isn’t taking this as a marriage yet.” The unnamed source added, “They don’t know what it is.”

Credit: yahoo.com

UK plan three-day celebration to mark King Charles III’s coronation

By

-

January 23, 2023

Buckingham Palace on Saturday revealed details of King Charles III’s coronation that will see three days of celebrations across the country in which the public will be invited to participate.

The coronation will take place on Saturday May 6, a “Coronation Big Lunch” and “Coronation Concert” the following day, and an extra bank holiday on Monday. The public will be invited on the last day to join “The Big Help Out” by volunteering in their communities.

“Everyone is invited to join in, on any day,” Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said in a statement.

“Whether that is by hosting a special street party, watching the Coronation ceremony or spectacular concert on TV, or stepping forward during The Big Help Out to help causes that matter to them.”

The coronation itself will be “a solemn religious service, as well as an occasion for celebration and pageantry,” conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the palace said.

It will, the palace reiterated, “reflect the Monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.”

Credit: cnn.com

Chris Hipkins confirmed as New Zealand’s new prime minister

By

-

January 23, 2023

Chris Hipkins, New Zealand prime minister

New Zealand’s former minister for COVID-19, Chris Hipkins, has been confirmed as the country’s next prime minister.

Hipkins got the unanimous support of legislators from the ruling Labour Party on Sunday after he was the only candidate to replace the charismatic Jacinda Ardern, who shocked the nation last week when she announced she was resigning after more than five years as prime minister.

Hipkins, 44, will be officially sworn in to his new role on Wednesday.

He will have less than nine months before contesting a tough general election, with opinion polls indicating his party is trailing its conservative opposition.

“This is the biggest privilege and biggest responsibility of my life,” Hipkins said at a news conference announcing his appointment.

“I am energised and excited by the challenge that lies ahead.”

Hipkins immediately acknowledged Ardern’s leadership, who he called one of New Zealand’s greatest prime ministers and an inspiration to women and girls everywhere.

Credit: Aljazeera.com

Israelis stage protest against Netanyahu court reform

By

-

January 23, 2023