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Kumasi Academy wins maiden STEMNNOVATION contest

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Dr Adutwum with 3 finalist schools after the competition

The Kumasi Academy Senior High School last Friday put up a spirited fight to score 24.6 points to beat Pope John Senior High and Seminary and the enterprising Worawora Senior High School to win the maiden edition of the STEMNNOVATION contest.

Dr Adutwum presenting medals to the Kumasi Academy students who won the contest

For emerging winner, Kumasi Academy SHS took home a trophy, a laptop, a printer and a GH12,000 cash prize.

Pope John Senior High and Worawora Senior High scored 24.4 and 23.8 points to place 1st and 2nd runner-up respectively.

Pope John Senior High and Seminary was presented with a plaque, a laptop, printer and GH7000 cash for emerging 1st runner-up while Worawora SHS took home a plaque, a laptop, a printer and GH5000 cash.

Awards were also presented to 16 others as regional champions, overall best recycling project, overall best coding and programming project and overall best solar project.

Other awards went to the most popular project, overall best TVET school, most artistic STEMNNOVATION awards and best STEMNNOVATION award among others.

Great outcome

The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, speaking during the prize presentation ceremony at the University Of Ghana was very excited that efforts being made by the government in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in schools across the country were yielding good results.

He was particularly happy that the competing schools came from across the entire country and indicated that STEM education was catching up with all schools irrespective of location, grade and resource availability in a particular school.

The Education Minister eulogised the Free Senior School Secretariat (FSHS) for their innovation to introduce the competition which aims to test what students were studying in the areas of robotics, coding and other science-related practical lessons.

He stated that with the enthusiasm shown by the competing schools, an effort would be made to increase the number of institutions to take part in the competition next year through collaboration with other stakeholders.

Dr Adutwum said the study of STEM was not just an academic exercise but a means to help in the effort at transforming the nation’s economy.

He was upbeat that with the study of STEM, many more critical-thinking students would be trained to help find a solution to the many challenges confronting the nation and the rest of the world.

Assurance note

The Education Minister assured the nation that at least two of the projects submitted by the contestants would be implemented in collaboration with other investors to ensure that the nation derive the best from the projects.

He appealed to the FSHS secretariat to extend contest to the Junior High School level to help whip up the interest of the younger generation as well as test what they were also learning.

Dr Adutwum indicated that extending the contest to the JHS level would help create a pipeline of enthusiasm among the JHS students so they could add their knowledge and skills towards empowering the nation with requisite skills and knowledge.

Projects 

The project that helped the Kumasi Academy SHS to win the contest was “Building a smart home using local materials and Arduino”, the Pope John SHS and Seminary had a project on “Corn cob water filtration system” while that of Worawora SHS focused on “lighting and charging system” using solar.

There was a two-day exhibition of the various projects by the contesting institutions.

All the participating schools who were from Senior High, Senior High/Technical Schools as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions apart from exhibiting their projects also made oral presentations justifying the processes, authenticity and economic importance of the projects towards resolving challenges in their communities and the nation as a whole.

Background

A total of 200 schools submitted videos of their projects meant for the contest but only 97 of the schools qualified, after going through vetting by the team of experts put together for that purpose.

The event, which was launched on 5th September, 2022 and started on October 2022 has been held virtually since its commencement but the grand finale brought the contestants face-to-face with the judges for the first time.

In charge of the contest were six local judges and six international judges who have been painstakingly analysing the authenticity of the innovations of the contestants before scoring them.

By Felix Baidoo

PIAC, GNPC evidences contradict minority claim on oil money       -Censure c’ttee

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Ken Ofori-Atta, Finance Minister

The Ad Hoc Committee probing the motion of Censure moved against the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has stated that evidence adduced with respect to ground 3 of the motion, contracted the claim. Therefore, the committee did not let the Minister for Finance respond to that ground.

“On account of the evidence adduced, which kind of contradicted the evidence that was led by the proponents of the motion, the committee has taken the decision that you will not be called upon to deal with this matter,” Co-chair Ayine told the minister.

The Minority, in its ground three of the seven grounds, had alleged an illegal payment of oil revenues in offshore accounts in violation of Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution.

The proponents relied on the 2021 report by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) which said in parts that $100 million of petroleum lifting revenue was not paid in the Petroleum Hold Fund.

The Committee invited officials of PIAC to speak to the evidence the proponents were relaying on, and also invited the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation to hear its side.

CO-CHAIR SPEAKS

Addressing the person of interest in the censure motion, the Minister for Finance, one of the co-chairs of the committee, Dominic Ayine, told Ken Ofori-Atta not to respond to the issue relating to the oil revenue.

He explained that PIAC said they could not confirm that fact and the GNPC could not corroborate the evidence supporting motion.

He said, “When the evidence was adduced, there was a specific piece of evidence relating to the payment of $100 million into an offshore account. And the documentary evidence that was tendered was the report of PIAC. Because we wanted the evidence corroborated, we invited PIAC to appear before us yesterday.

He continued that “They did appear, a specific question was put to them with respect to whether or not they are aware that you in particular instructed that the money should be transferred into an offshore account. PIAC did say that they could not confirm that fact.

“Subsequently the GNPC was called upon in respect of that issue because these were proceeds of the liftings of oil by Jubilee Holdings, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of GNPC. And so, we called upon the GNPC to corroborate or disconfirm the evidence which was led with respect to this matter by the proponents of the motion.

“And GNPC describes the transactions as follows; that the monies were paid by Tullow Ghana Limited and they were paid to Jubilee Holdings into an account that is held by Jubilee Oil Holdings (JOHL) with Ghana International Bank in London. They also did not say anything to the effect that you gave any instructions with respect to that payment.”

KEN NOT RESPONSIBLE -GNPC

When the GNPC appeared before the committee, they were asked specifically in terms of the allegations made, relating to the Minister for Finance.

The GNPC stated that as far as JOHL is concerned, “the Finance Minister is not responsible for their revenues.”

According to the GNPC, payment was indeed made into an account in London, but that was done by the buyer of the crude, which was Tullow Ghana.

DJ Khaled offers his house on Airbnb

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DJ Khaled

DJ Khaled is giving two lucky fans a chance to walk in his shoes as he offers his house on Airbnb.

The stay also comes with a version of his own sneaker closet. The hip hop mogul is giving away two exclusive one-night stays at a beautiful home in the heart of Miami.

The house has all the bells and whistles, including an outdoor lounge and the obligatory pool. Best part is that, it is loaded with some of Khaled’s most prized possessions.

Whoever gets the keys will be able to sleep in gym shoe heaven. Khaled recreated his legendary sneaker closet, and it features a ton of his personal kicks, but not all of them; he has more than 10,000 pairs.

Guests will also get a pair of ‘We The Best Jordan 5s,’ a private shopping session at a premiere sneaker store made up of 305 sneakers. and they’ll even get catered dinner from his restaurant, The Licking.

The one-night stay is on Decemeber 5 and 6, and guests will be greeted with a handwritten welcome note from DJ Khaled himself.

Guests only have to pay $11 (a nod to his shoe size) a night for the one-time experience in the 305.

Fans can request to book their stay, starting Tuesday, November 29 at 1 PM ET.

“A few of us could have done a better job” –Samini on Black Stars song

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Samini

Reggae-Dancehall Artiste, Samini, has shared his view on the official theme song for Black Stars for the World Cup in Qatar.

Titled “Osey,” the song is to whip up support for the Stars ahead of the games at Qatar, which commenced on November 20.

Expressing his opinion on the song, the ‘Linda’ hitmaker wondered how easy it is to learn the song and added that, some “a few of us could have done a better job.”

In a series of rant posts on Twitter, Samini stated that the song is not up to standard to be the theme song for the Black Stars’ World Cup football match this year.

According to Samini, “the new black starts song tho, do we have to learn it before the world cup? whoever chose it probably wrote it too. Eiiiii track na 3y3 yasaaa no! Hmmm. A few of us could have done a better job at that Chaleanaameeb)dam lol. but vim is still for the boys. Go Ghana.”

“I did Germany 2006,performed the official song at the closing ceremony at SA 2010.2014 was yawa and 2018 we no fit go.Been there done that 4get hype.The morale of my statement beyond politics,typos and grammatical errors remains the fact that the track is wack in my Opinions” Samini added.

“Ok last one to the newbies lol. Been on this app before you got a smart phone chale lol. so chill .. it’s not that serious my guy. Opinions are like what ???exactly Chale peel my nkati3 for me make I take face pitonankwasiafu) egyimi dodo” he said.

Kweku Flitz’s song, ‘World Cup’ was used on November 18 when Black Stars arrived in Qatar ahead of their World Cup tournament. For King Promise, he teamed up with Ghana Football Association (GFA) to release an official song for World Cup titled (Black Stars).

Highlife Musician, Akwaboah also released the visuals for his black Stars them song ‘Bring Back The Love’ ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.

Music was my ‘plan B’ in life –Black Sherif

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Black Sherif

Black Sherif, born Mohammed Ismail Sherif Kwaku Frimpong has revealed that he needed a plan B during his days at the Senior High School (SHS).

Speaking about how he ventured into music, the ‘Second Sermon’ hitmaker disclosed that, at some point during his school days he realized that he wasn’t performing academically.

“At some point during my Senior High School days I realized that my performance in academics was nothing good to write home about,” he said.

He added, “And looking at my results I saw that it wasn’t good enough and so I knew I wouldn’t do well in my final exams and that’s when I told myself that I need a plan B.”

In a virtual interview on Accra-based Asaase Radio, Blacko who was speaking from London said realizing that he was about to fail his final exams, he decided to come up with an alternative to his education.

He narrated “I remember that in my SHS days I used to play beat on tables with my hand for my friends to sing and rap with it so one day I decided to do a freestyle and they loved it so that was when I decided to try it.”

“My first time in the studio was somewhere in the year 2019 and the experience was something else and after I completed SHS in June 2019 I decided to venture into music full-time,” he concluded.

Ken Ofori-Atta – The new name in Honesty and Integrity

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Opinion

What differently has Hon Ken Ofori-Atta done that his predecessor Ministers of Finance have not except to handle his position with better integrity and whole new level of honesty which had brought better circumstances to Ghana until the unfortunate exogenous burdens bedeviling the whole world, AND NOT JUST US!!!!

If you have well-tuned ears, the vibrations will be decoded in honesty and truth, unlike the skewed and misconstrued, willfully or ignorantly, perceptions that we rather wish to toy with to the detriment of our own cause of progress and development.

Instead of chastising Ken for overly protecting the public purse and having to adopt measures to save our lot, albeit quite stringent sometimes, we should rather be engaging in a positive discussion with ideas that would turn around our fortunes and put us ahead of many countries as President Nana Akufo-Addo’s handling of the pandemic did that propelled Ghana onto the international stage, which caused praises to be heaped on us. What has come over us in this country?

It is very true that we are like the receiver of alms. For as long as it is coming we are full of praises, but the day it stops for a legitimate reason, we crucify the payer and apportion him hell like an infidel or blasphemer!

Yesterday, at the censure of Ken Ofori-Atta, it was quite obvious that he was being questioned on allegations of wrongdoing that were thrown at him hoping he would fall, much like hurling a fishing net into the Jordan sea; what else were they supposed to get?

Nothing! If we were a lot that always saw the glass half full rather than half empty, we would certainly realise that striving to maintain a steady flow of fuel at the pumps, food in the markets, constant supply of electricity as John Mahama’s dumsor was done away with, and manageable general living conditions even though these are not normal times, quite difficult make no mistake about that though, we would appreciate that the man still lives in spite of the covid that had ravaged his body because he is under the favour and cover of Almighty GOD!

How else then would you explain the energy that he continues to exude as the pressure of this country takes its toll on him.

“I am truly sorry,” he said. He knows that we are suffering. It is not his fault, yet he takes responsibility for it. Ken Ofori-Atta is one man whose honesty is misconceived as conflict of interest. Fortunately, he has been absolved of that.

You see, my NPP people are gullible to the point that they wait for the propaganda of the NDC to pick and run along with, making all sorts of inferences to spread panic amongst themselves. We talk too much in this country! Why do we want to have an opinion about everything? If you do not know, learn and learn well so you do not exhibit ignorance and foolishness to disgrace the NPP!

Life is a constant learning platform. One cannot say that they know everything, but from what I see and read on social media, it seems Ghanaians know it all. How come they do not know how to conquer space like the less talkative people in other parts of the world? Argh!

Left to me alone, I would say that Hon Ken should continue in office. Well, the idea is that no one will come and do anything differently from him. Look at the British Ghanaian Finance Minister of the UK, who was sacked less than one month after getting his appointment.

His must be a case study. He came in with absurdly unconventional ways to curb the British economic meltdown and in the process melted the bowels of Britons! Look at the former British PM, Boris Johnson, who was pressured to resign due to hardship in the UK. His predecessor did not survive two months.

Her Indian successor is struggling to cope, and I am not too confident that he can survive the situation either. Had they kept Boris Johnson in office, although Britain would not be better, it would certainly not be in this extreme crisis like not having bread that remains a common food item in Ghana.

So please, let us endure these tumultuous days in peace and unity. In my opinion they are numbered, and the turnaround would soon be here. The same people shouting “Ken Must Go” would be laughing and praising his dexterity, forgetting that a few weeks back they were snarling and howling like bamboozled wolves not knowing why some members of their pack had broken away. Well, if you have sense, you cannot remain amongst fools!

Have you even stopped for a minute to ponder about the massive road infrastructure and how it is being paid for? You may choose not to see, but I am as unable to heal your blindness as I am unable to heal a bat’s.

Have you stopped for a minute to ponder about the unbreachable electricity purchase contracts that is putting us some one billion dollars in debt every year, a noose, which John Mahama wickedly tied to our necks? Let me say that after this is over, John Mahama and his incompetent crooks must be made to face the music in court, and where found culpable be made to rot in jail.

I am neither being a sycophant nor a paid propagandist. Everyone knows that I do not engage in such lowly acts of buffoonery. I speak my mind without fear and favor, and that is exactly the essence of this article!

Ghanaians, wake up! The wickedness of the NDC does not stop at Ken Ofori-Atta. It took us all by storm years back and we have been struggling to clear the skies since.

By Fadi Dabbousi

#neverNDCagain

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.

Kwankwaso denies stepping down for Atiku

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NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso

With a few months to the February presidential election, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has reacted to insinuations that he stepped down from the race.

Kwankwaso said he has not stepped down for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

He disclosed this during a meeting with the Nigeria Guilds of Editors, NGE, in Lagos.

Kwankwaso explained that he would not have left PDP if he would step down for Atiku only a few months to the presidential election.

“Some people are saying that I am stepping down for Atiku; why then did I leave the party? These are the issues; you see the problem with that party was that there are so many people who believed that they are highly privileged.

“In a democracy, people are free to follow any political party, you cannot sit there and start dictating that I like this one, or you do not like the other one.”

The NNPP candidate said his ideology and experience is different from his opponents which can be traced back to when he was a governor in Kano State.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Skyrocketing prices, scarcity of foodstuffs hit popular Kaduna

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Scarcity of foodstuffs

Market women and foodstuff consumers who came to buy foodstuffs at the popular Monday Market in Kurmin Gwari, Kaduna, could no longer hold their tears as foodstuff was not only sold to the highest bidders but sold out before noon.

Many retailers of rice, beans, garri, yam, and groundnut who were in the market with the expectation to, as usual, buy in large quantities and resell to consumers at retail prices were disappointed as only a few of the items were brought to the market and sold straight from pick-up van to customers without offloading.

Most housewives who wanted to buy in small quantities went home empty-handed.

The few available items, mostly rice, beans and yams were sold in bags, which most consumers could not afford.

Many retail buyers and consumers pleaded to buy in small quantities, but the sellers ignored their plea, only to sell to those who can afford to buy in bags.

Within an hour, all available bags of rice, beans and other foodstuff vanished from the market.

One of the drivers who conveyed yams and beans to the market, Mr James Obilikwu told DAILY POST that many farmers were afraid to go far into the bush to farm due to fear of bandits’ attack. Besides, he said, some of those farmers are not even willing to sell the little harvested, adding that fuel scarcity has also compounded the problem as no driver would like to go far.

” There is not enough foodstuff this year. Movement of foodstuffs from a different state to the other is also hindered due to bandits’ attacks. Besides, there is an acute shortage of fuel supply in the country. The movement and transportation become difficult,” he said.

Mrs Ruth Ojoeima, astonished that she could not find any foodstuffs in the market, expressed fears that Nigerians might be in trouble by next year as foodstuff is no longer available.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Eight on GH¢100k bail each over illegal money changing

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Court

Eight persons, including a woman, have been granted a GH¢100,000.00 bail with two sureties each by an Accra Circuit Court over illegal money changing business. The Court presided over by Ms Adelaide AbuiKeddy ordered that the sureties be justified with any property valued GH¢100,000.00.

She asked Mohammed Ali, Barikisu Yakubu, Shaibu Suleman Issah, Barry Ali, Bashiru Saadu, Saadu Hamidu, Muhamadu Shamshudeen and Karim Yahaya to report twice in a month to the police until the determination of the case.

They have pleaded not guilty to operating forex business without license and will make their next appearance on December 12, 2022.  Police Inspector Isaac Babayi told the Court that between November 9 and 10, 2022, a team of police officers and the Bank of Ghana embarked on an exercise to clamp-down on illegal forex trade at Tudu, Accra business centre.

The prosecution said the suspects were arrested when investigations revealed they were engaged in the trade without license, adding that a search on them revealed thousands of cedis and foreign currencies such as Naira and the United State’s dollars.

The prosecution said their accomplices managed to flee the scene and that efforts were being made to get them to face the law. It said GH¢2,300.00 and US$87 were seized from Mohammed, GH¢10,010.00 and 6,002 Naira from Barikisu, GH¢3,850.00 and 65,000 CFA from Shaibu and GH¢848.00 and US$70 from Barry.

The prosecution said police found GH¢52 and 25 Naira on Bashiru, GH¢360.00 on Hamidu and GH¢42.00 on Karim.A team of lawyers led by Mr. Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, in praying for bail, said the accused persons were arrested on Thursday, November 10 and arraigned on Monday, November 14, 2022, which breached the constitutional injunction of 48 hours.

The defense counsel said all the accused persons had denied the offence because they had no idea about the business and not engaged in it. He said some of them lived and traded around the business area and were caught in the swoop, adding that Barikisu, for instance, was travelling to Lagos, which had its terminal close to the area.

Mr. Adawudu said Bashiru, the son of Barikisu, was also caught in the swoop as he was escorting his mother to the bus terminal to go to Lagos. He said both Hamidu and Shamshudeen, commercial motorbike operators, were also passersby.

Mr. Adawudu said there were family and friends to stand sureties, adding they had fixed places of abode within the jurisdiction of the Court, and that they were not flight risk.

However, the prosecution disagreed and said they should be kept in police custody to assist police in investigations. It argued that some were flight risk and that their travelling documents were seized during the arrest. The prosecution also feared they would interfere with investigations.

By Gifty Amofa

Source: GNA

Kumawood actor OkomfoKolege loses wife and baby during childbirth

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Kumawood actor Okomfo Kolegae

Kumawood actor OkomfoKolegae, known in private life as Collins Oteng, has been hit by a big tragedy. The actor’s wife who was pregnant died while delivering her baby at the hospital. Recounting the incident to Zionfelix, Oteelge said that OkomfoKolege had refused to attend a program with them because his pregnant wife needed him. He disclosed that Oteelge told him he was expecting his wife to go into labour soon.

“Our brother’s wife is dead. Kolege’s wife is dead. She was going to give birth. God rest her soul. I was listening to Hello FM on Saturday where I first heard the news of Kolege’s wife’s death, I was so shocked. Now I’m in Kumasi. I just came from his house to confirm and its true. The family confirmed. Before that, I went to the lady’s house at Koforidua Tabre together with Otele and it was a sad scene,” he stated in a video spotted on his page.

Zionfelix added that actor, Kolege, is currently inconsolable as he has been struck with two huge loses (his wife and child).

“Kolege is inconsolable. His wife died in the labour ward, together with the baby when they went to give birth. His wife was a nurse and he loved her so much. There is a saying that men don’t cry but my brother has cried his eyes out. We pray God consoles him. If you know him, kindly call him and console him,” he added.

Credit: pulse.com.gh

The Ghanaian Chronicle