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I’ll support your gov’t to succeed -UBA Ghana MD assures Akufo-Addo

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President Akufo-Addo addressing the UBA Ghana MD
UBA Ghana MD, Chris Ofikulu (L), in a picture with President Akufo-Addo (R)

The newly appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Chris Ofikulu, has assured President Akufo-Addo that he would support his government to succeed.

The MD says it was his interest to support the administration of President Akufo-Addo to leave a monumental mark before his tenure of office elapse.

Mr Chris Ofikulu was at Jubilee House on Thursday, May 19, 2022 to meet President Akufo-Addo to officially present himself to him, as the new MD of UBA Ghana.

The UBA Ghana MD and his entourage in a photograph with President AKufo-Addo

During the conversation, the MD cited a word that President Akufo-Addo had used earlier and said during “my reign here if there is any way I can support to get this going for the state and for the government, as I said we are interested in supporting you to leave the type of mark you want to leave and that I am giving you my support.”

King of Masquerades

The MD, in his initial address told President Akufo-Addo he took over office in February, this year, but did not think it was necessary to meet him to pay homage.

Referring to where he comes from, the MD said there are different types of masquerades, but for him, President Akufo-Addo “is the one I am seeing as the king of all masquerades and I felt that there was no way I can walk freely in this country without coming to pay homage.”

Job Creationn & Support

Mr Ofikulu informed President Akufo-Addo that UBA Ghana has 768 staff spread across all the branches in the country. He added that out of the number 99.7% are purely Ghanaian staff, with 5 being other nationals.

He said that the bank has supported the government in several ways especially when COVID-19 struck, by giving GH₡2 million to support the fight. He mentioned the bank’s support in the educational sector by way of giving back to the society.

Entrepreneurship

Mr Ofikulu further indicated that the bank was strong in promoting entrepreneurship because it believes in self-reliance and as such the bank was putting together resources to support the government to implement YouStart.

President Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo recalled that the UBA Ghana came into fruition under the tenure of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, when he was the Foreign Minister.

He said that the performance of the bank in the country has been very positive, but was concerned with the intercourse between African businesses.

According to President Akufo-Addo, collaboration between businesses on the continent was a sure way to develop the bloc and as such, commended the bank for moving outside of Nigeria to have branches in Ghana.

“So, I have every reason to welcome you to my office and to let you know that on the part of government, we are here to support the private sector,” he said, and assured the MD of the government’s outmost support.

“So, count on this government to support your enterprise here in Ghana to grow, to make money because there is no investment [and] there is no expansion to see that the business continues to grow.”

Josephine Nkrumah presents letters of Credence to Prez Weah

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Ms Josephine Nkrumah presenting her letters to Prez Weah

The newly appointed Resident Representative of the President of ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Madam Josephine Nkrumah presented her letters of credence to the President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. George Manneh Weah, Sr., on 17th May 2022 at 14:00hr.

Subsequently, she held a close-door discussion with the President of Liberia and high-level members of his cabinet.

Her Exellency, Madam Nkrumah conveyed fraternal greetings from His Excellency the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Jean Claude Kassi BROU to President George Manneh Weah.

In her remarks, she commended the President for his commitment to ECOWAS goal towards peace and stability in Liberia, the sub-region and specifically his support for decisions that have come out of the various ECOWAS summits, relative to peace in Guinea and Mali.

She also congratulated him for Liberia’s first role as the Head of an ECOWAS agency – GIABA, under His Excellency’s tenure.

On behalf of ECOWAS, she assured His Excellency of ECOWAS commitment to supporting the peace and stability of Liberia and its young democracy.

President Weah, in his response, reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to ECOWAS’ goals and objectives for regional peace, stability and reintegration. He urged ECOWAS to take decisive and expedient interventions in resolving the crisis in Guinea.

He also assured ECOWAS of the Liberian Government’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for ECOWAS to execute its mandate under the Office of the Resident Representative.

Achimota Forest will never be sold -Bio

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An aerial view of achimota forest reserve

Mr Benito Owusu Bio, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Lands and Forestry, has reaffirmed government’s resolve to protect the Achimota Forest.

“The Achimota Forest has not been sold, it is not for sale and will not be sold. It is intact,” he assured.

He continued that the forest itself has not been declassified, but rather the peripherals, which he said the Owoo family is constitutionally entitled to, as compensation.

According to the Deputy Minister, giving the monetary value of the parcel of land, government would have paid more in compensation to the custodial owners of the portions in EI 144.

“Government is also committed to ensuring that whatever happens to the peripheral potions of the land, did not affect the ecological integrity of the forest”, he pointed out.

Speaking to the media during a tour of the forest, yesterday, the Deputy Minister explained that the media tour is specifically to show the general public the various activities currently ongoing in the Forest to maintain the integrity and structure of it.

As part of efforts to maintain the forest, Benito said different species of trees, including Melina trees, have been planted to give a border to the forest reserve and protect it from intruders and also and make it much greener.

He continued that aside the afforestation drive, there are many other efforts government is embarking on to conserve the forest, which is contrary to the reports being circulated.

He also re-echoed government’s intention to revamp the forest into a national park where Ghanaians can visit to enjoy the beauty of nature, as seen in other parts of the world.

The Deputy Minister said the Achimota Forest remains an integral part of government’s plan to protect the ecosystem and the vegetative cover of the country.

Owusu-Bio also said moving forward, all prospective plans of government, regarding the Achimota Forest will be handled with utmost transparency and integrity. He also used the tour to call on the media and the public to support government’s flagship afforestation program, the Green Ghana Day scheduled for June 10th 2022.

The CEO of Forestry Commission, Mr John Allotey, said the trees in the Achimota Forest could be classified as shrubs, but the commission through the Youth in Afforestation Program have been planting trees since 2017 to make it “a real forest reserve”.

The CEO also led the team to visit trees planted during the 2021 Green Ghana Day, including that of the sector Minister, Samuel A. Jinapor, which is doing very well.

On the tour, the media got the opportunity to see at first hand seedling preparations towards the Green Ghana Day.

The team also visited the nursery, where the CEO of the Forestry Commission said there are over 100 nurseries of that kind nationwide, prepared and ready for the June 10 Green Ghana Day.

As part of the tour the team, which includes the Technical Director for Forestry, Mr. Joseph Osaikwan and the Technical Director for Lands, Mr. Maxwell Adu-Nsarfoa visited the Zoo and other areas, such as the peripherals of the reserve.

Ghana Post pleads for more gov’t business

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President Akufo-Addo (M) in a photograph with Ghana Post Board Chair (L) and MD (R)
President Akufo-Addo with board members of Ghana Post after a meeting at the Jubilee House. Also with them is Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful, Minister of Commun

Ghana Post, the company primarily responsible for postal service in the country, has pleaded with President Akufo-Addo to help secure more government business as they are capable of delivering quality service.

The Managing Director of Ghana Post, Bice Osei Kuffuor, popularly known as Obour as a musician, made the appeal on Thursday, May 19, 2022, when the Board of the company paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House.

He told the President that they had studied the posts of other countries, including Kenya, and realised because of transformation and digitisation, organisations were also transforming, adding that Ghana Post itself was also changing, but needed a core base to propel its growth.

He opined that in some posts across the globe, the base had been achieved through getting businesses from governments.

Narrowing it to Ghana Post, he opined that the government, through its agencies, already does courier services, and that it was their major plea that a certain government policy direction could come to their aid for the agencies to use Ghana Post instead.

“Your Excellency, if there is a certain government drive, or certain policy direction to support Ghana Post with government business…but unfortunately for us, Ghana Post is not getting these businesses. If we look at our books, the portion of government business that Ghana Post receives in our monthly revenue is 3%,” he stated, citing that of Kenya received 45% and Japan 80%.

He argued that these government agencies, both local and the missions abroad, rely on foreign courier companies, which Ghana Post is able to undertake.

Payment of Dividends

The MD told President Akufo-Addo that the management was poised to make the company a dividend paying business to the government.

This will be after over three decades of none payment of dividends by Ghana Post to the government, but one of the key visions of the new board, the MD indicated was to change the narrative.

Though they have resolved to do that, the MD asked for the government’s support.“Your Excellency we have two main requests which we believe strongly if you’re able to consider will make Ghana Post paying dividends a reality and not a saying,” Obour stated.

Legacy Debt

The MD said if more government business were directed to the Ghana Post, the company would be able to clear its debt. He informed the President that Ghana Post has legacy debt in the region of GH¢40 million.

He said in the old administration there were debts to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), and end of service benefits to former staff from 2016 to 2021.

Prez agrees

In his response, President Akufo-Addo said there was a particular concern about the possibilities that Ghana Post represents. So, he was not surprised about the changes that had taken place at the company, and also the trajectory of the thinking of the MD and the board.

According to the President, it was feasible for government businesses to be directed to Ghana Post, and said the sector minister, who represents the government,which is the 100% shareholder, should bring the matter up for consideration.

“I wouldn’t like to go further on that…it makes sense to me that instead of government paying foreign private sector operators to do this necessary job, it should pay a public sector agency to do the same business if the capacity is there,” he remarked.

President Akufo-Addo asserted that one issue people have with doing business with the public agency is capacity, if not competence.

In view of that, if the public agency proves competent, he could not agree why business should go to foreign agencies which does the same business like indigenous companies in the countries.

Court of Appeal resolves leadership impasse at 7th Day Pentecostal

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Elder Enoch Ofori Jnr. - Head Pastor of Seventh Day Pentecostal Assemblies

The Court of Appeal has upheld an appeal against a judgment of July 17, 2020 by a Kumasi High Court.

The trial court had dismissed claims by the plaintiffs on the grounds that they had broken away from the church and formed their own.

But the Court of Appeal, on April 28, 2022, in a unanimous decision read by the Presiding Judge, ordered the Association of Seventh Day Pentecostal Assemblies to elect a new President to end the impasse.

A consequential order by the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice A.M. Domakyaareh (Mrs.), directed Michaiah Addai, defendant/respondent in the suit, to convene a general meeting of all the constituent Assemblies of the Association in Ghana to elect a new President, in line with the Constitution of the Church within six months from the date of the order.

The order follows the claim by the appellants that upon the demise of Elder Enoch Ofori, Founder of the Association of Seventh Day Pentecostal Assemblies, who was the father of Elder Enoch Ofori Jnr., the first plaintiff/ appellant, the respondent/defendant, Michaiah Addae, (nephew of the deceased Founder) and Pastor of the Krofrom branch of the Church, claimed to be the leader of the church, having been appointed the customary successor of the Founder.

As a result of the ensuing differences, court action was instituted to ascertain who was the leader of the Church. The appellants stated that the court action was settled and the terms of settlement were filed and adopted as a Consent Judgment, but the defendant reportedly organised a meeting, at which he was purportedly appointed the President of the Association of Seventh Day Pentecostal Assemblies.

This claim by the defendant provoked the appeal at the Appellate Court before which the defendant/respondent also contended that the plaintiff/appellant had never ever been elected or appointed by the Church as President.

The respondent further explained that the terms of the settlement of May 15, 2009 referred to by the appellant, evolved from the association’s Constitution, which allegedly provides that the most senior pastor becomes the Acting President upon the death of a substantive President.

The Court of Appeal upheld the appeal in part, and directed that the Association of Seventh Day Pentecostal Assemblies elects a new President by October 2022 to resolve the impasse.

The court also awarded cost of GH¢15,000 against the defendant/respondent.

It, however, denied other reliefs sought by the plaintiffs/appellants and thus refused to grant the declaration for the nullity of all appointments, elections, proclamations, sales and transfers and the return of some listed properties including vehicles by the defendant respondent.

Other members of the panel of Appeal Court judges that gave the April 28, 2022 unanimous judgment were Justice Alex B. Poku Acheampong and Justice S.K.A. Asiedu.

Charles Agbanu Esquire represented Elder Enoch Ofori Jnr and three others as plaintiffs/appellants while Andrew Acquaye and Michael Agyemang Anokye are counsel for the defendant/respondent.

Editorial: Police brutalities becoming the norm?

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Editorial

It is said that people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. The rough men here are the police personnel who are supposed to work on behalf of the people.

Frank Herbert, in the God Emperor of Dune, said, “police are inevitably corrupted…Police always observe that criminals prosper. It takes a pretty dull policeman to miss the fact that the position of authority is the most prosperous criminal position available.”

Raymond Chandler, in The Lady in the Lake, said “police business is a hell of a problem. It’s a good deal like politics. It asks for the highest type of men, and there’s nothing in it to attract the highest type of men. So, we have to work with what we get.”

The above quotes readily come to mind when one attempts to analyse the extrajudicial killings by the police, which, according to the Nkoranza South Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Emmanuel Agyekum, is now becoming a norm in this country.

The Chronicle is alarmed about the increasing cases of personnel of the Ghana Police Service killing citizens suspected to have engaged in one crime or the other without due legal process.

We share in the fears of the Legislator and other well meaning Ghanaians that the practice of extrajudicial killings is gradually becoming a norm.

The development, if not handled properly, could jeopardise the confidence we have in our security and judicial systems.

The Chronicle recalls police brutalities in Ashaiman, Ejura, Techiman and other parts of the country. Attempts to investigate and find solution to police brutalities have not yielded any positive results.

We find it extremely difficult to understand why the police always claim they have suspects, but do not seem to want them (suspects) to be given a chance to be prosecuted at the courts.

Why are the men in black uniform quick to offer excuses when they commit errors in their line of duty?

The killing of a trader, Albert Donkor, and a student, Victor Kwadwo Owusu, by the police at Nkoranza, once again, raises credibility questions about the conduct of personnel of the Ghana Police Service.

The account of the Service of happenings so far does not add up, and we call for independent investigations.

We are calling for an independent inquiry because whenever there is an extra judicial killing, the likely story line by the police will be that there was an exchange of gunshots.

This time, The Chronicle is calling on stakeholders to ensure that the story is narrated to reflect what actually happened.

All around the globe, the general belief is that the police are the public, and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interest of the community’s welfare and existence.

Again, we all expect that police officers know that each time they put on their uniform, they are taking on risks to protect others, and not to kill them.

Unfortunately, the conduct of police officers and other public officers has made people lose trust in them.

To us, at The Chronicle, if we, indeed, wish to have a safe nation, we must begin to address some of these issues in a holistic manner.

Letter to Senior Opupulepu (186)

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Opinion

Rapid Results College Approach Can Be Acceptable

Dear Senior Opupulepu,

How are you do? As for me and my shordies, we are do fine.

Senior, are you are following the happenings in that hamlet in this Yahweh bless our village land, Ogyakrom, called Koranza? It is in that region where people can cultivate and eat banchi-akesie aka big, big plantain.

Senior, you heard about the cacophony of noises coming out of that hamlet and in fact the truth be told, a certain Koranzanese was walking his somewhere and chanced upon some people in black who seem to be mourning their dead okusie.

Senior, upon approaching the mourners this guy man who loves betting a lot and thus was outdoor with the name All-Bet, saw that each and every one of them had bunches of plantain carefully tucked into the pockets, front back, side and top.

Senior, a closer look at the plantains made him identified the farm where they were from. They were from his side chic’s uncle’s farm and are been forced to relocate to a yet to be known destination.

Senior, All-Bet then started shouting, “Eeeiii, I will tell! I will tell! I will tell!!!”Suddenly the men in black descended upon him and beat the morning dawn lights out of his system.

Senior, All-Bet would not be moved and proclaimed that since he was a member of the Katolici clan, he was ready to die for the truth, just as his Lord and Saviour, Yesu Christus Emmanuel died for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Senior, they say where persuasion fails, then force. But in the case where force comes first then it will become, where force fails, persuasion. So, the men in black, knelt down and made the sign of the cross, saying, “bless us akupa, for we have sinned. It is about one hundred and eighty moons since our last confession, and we are here to confess that we indeed took these plantains without the knowledge of their master and without the consent of the plantains themselves.”

Senior, All-Bet told them he had absolved their sins in the Name of Yahweh, His Son Yesu Christus and His Spiritus Sanctus. They were to go and sin there no more. For their forgiveness to be assented to by Yahweh, they were to do penance. And for their penance they were to put all the plantains back on the branches they were hanging on, as if no one had touched them.

Senior, this angered the men in black, small. It was beneath them, in the first place to confess their sins and now that they have reluctantly done so, they are being asked to return the plantains. “Whow!!!” they combined What with How.

Senior, All-Bet’s insistence that the penance must be done by fire by force, made the men in black to decide on the decision that since All-Bet was insisting that the right thing must be done, he must be a good person and since only good people acquire visas to Heaven, where they get eternal stay and permanent resident permits, he does not belong to ewiase here on earth, in this world. He must therefore join the Elect in the Kingdom of Yahweh by the Holy Spirit’s fire.

Senior, these men in black did the unthinkable and transferred All-Bet into a ghost. As in they truncated his life here and made him go into the life hereafter.

Senior, when this story got to All-Bet’s kindred, behold there were wailing and mourning and gnashing and grinding of teeth. Seven days of mourning was declared and every family member was ordered that when using the drying lines, they should dry cloths at half-mast during these seven days.

Senior, All-Bet’s uncle, who is a Roman Father of the Roman Katolici Church and also the spiritual director of the clan, was consulted so that he could consult Yahweh to find out from the Most High, whether All-Bet’s death was natural or unnatural, fake or true, artificial or real and also name the names of all those who killed him.

Senior, All-Bet’s uncle who goes by the name Father Mat-Maths, went into the presence of Yahweh and sought permission to transform all the killers of his nephew into ghosts as quickly as possible so that they can join the last train to hell.

Senior, what Yahweh told him did not sweet his ears. Yahweh told him to forgive and forget and fast, pray and give alms so that these callous killers will make a “U-Turn” in life and know and follow Yahweh.

Senior, very disappointment, Father Mat-Maths decided to consult some rapid results lesser gods to quickly get what he had wanted. He openly announced that he was going to consult Kpelekpedzi (the stone god), Amekadziavu (the god who books no nonsense and always demands, who born dog) and Kanfi (Say ‘fi’- the god who will attack you immediately you open your mouth) to handle these killers.

Senior, all these gods declined to help because, they thought Father Mat-Maths was luring them into a clash with Yahweh. In fact, they have vowed never to cross Yahweh’s path ever again and here now comes Yahweh’s servant to give them an assignment which only Yahweh can do.

Senior, Father Mat-Maths decided to consult other lesser gods, but unfortunately for him every fetish grove he visited, he was told the gods have gone on accumulated leave. It turned out that the first three gods he consulted went about warning their colleagues that a certain somebody who he knows that temptation is inevitable but woe on the one tempts, yet has decided to disobey Yahweh’s bye-law and tempt the gods into committing offence against the Most High.

Senior, Father Mat-Maths was contemplating doing sabbatical in the offices of the lesser gods, but they saw through this fast and they quickly responded that there was no vacancy available to get him some job at the shrines, not even cleaning job. He was viewed to have bad mind and his intention was to put the lesser gods in collusion with the Almighty, the Most High Yahweh.

Senior, the fear of the lesser gods was that, they recalled sometime way back when they were they and were powerful angels in Heaven, they plotted a coup against Yahweh, something they regrated doing to this day, but because of vain pride they will not openly say it. During the coup attempt, Yahweh sent Free SHS angels and new recruits to fight off these powerful, well trained and well-equipped rebels.

Senior, the rest is history. The rebels were beaten black and blue like it was as if they were day-nursery kids been taught, My First Copy Book.

Senior, if even they were beaten and left in Heaven with their ranks and benefits all marked down to zero, they would have loved that. But, apart from the beatings they were driven out of Yahweh’s Kingdom and made to lodge in a rough and deserted wilderness, where there is no locust and wild honey to eat, like the wilderness John the Baptist lodged in.

Senior, the lesser gods were on their guard because this Father Mat-Maths want to resurrect the fight between Yahweh and them, fight which they underestimated the power of Yahweh and got beaten up severely by small, small pikin angels… daabida! Once beaten, a million times shy.

Senior, I am Dan, sorry, I am Done.

It’s Me!

Police officer enstooled as Omanhene of Seikwa

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Osabarima Debra Adjei II, Seikwa Paramount Chief

The Seikwa traditional area in the Tain District in the Bono Region has out-doored Nana Osabarima Debra Adjei II as its Paramount Chief.

Known in private life as Alex Frimpong, he was an Inspector with the Ghana Police Service at the Akosombo Frankadua Police District in the Volta Region.

Osabarima Debra Adjei initially was installed on November 2, 2016, as Chief of the area, but his enstoolment was challenged by the Abusuapanin, who summoned him, together with the Seikwa Traditional Council, to the court of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs.

The protracted case was finally settled about two weeks ago, to pave the way for his out-dooring as the Paramount Chief for the people of Seikwa.

The event attracted high-profile personalities, including political figures, government officials, the clergy, traditional leaders and tourists.

The enstoolment of Osabarima Debra Adjei ended a chieftaincy dispute that lasted seven years after the demise of his predecessor, Nana Kwaku Gyimah Ankoana II.

Addressing the durbar in his honour, Osabarima Debra entreated his people to embrace peace for development in the Seikwa Traditional Area.

Osabarima Debra stated that he would collaborate with stakeholders to harness the natural and human resources to enhance the livelihood of the people. He expressed readiness to dialogue with all groups for the maintenance of peace for socio-economic development in Seikwa.

Netflix cuts off 150 staff after losing subscribers

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Netflix

Streaming service Netflix has rendered about 150 staff redundant, a month after it disclosed that it was losing subscribers for the first time in a decade.

The redundancies, announced by the entertainment giant on Tuesday, will mainly affect its US office in California. They account for about 2% of its North American workforce.

Netflix said the job losses were due to the slump in the company’s revenue.

“These changes are primarily driven by business needs rather than individual performance, which makes them especially tough as none of us want to say goodbye to such great colleagues,” the company said in a statement.

It wasn’t disclosed which parts of the business would see job losses, but the Los Angeles Times reported that recruiting, communications and also the content department were all affected.

In April, the streaming giant shocked the industry when it revealed it had lost 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of 2022, and warned another two million were expected to quit in the coming quarter.

The news sparked an investor sell-off, with the firm’s stock plunging 35% in one day. It is now trading at $190 (£152), a 46% drop on its previous premium.

While Netflix has 220 million subscribers globally and remains the clear market leader, it has faced fierce competition in recent years with the arrival of competitor platforms such as Disney Plus, HBO, and Amazon’s Prime Video.

In its earnings report last month, the company also said the war in Ukraine and the decision to raise its prices in the US had cost it subscribers.

Pulling out of the Russian market alone had cost the service 700,000 members, it revealed.

Ayesem out with new single ‘Julie’

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Ayesem

‘Koti’ hitmaker, Ayesem is out with a new single ‘Julie’ which according to the Artiste is a true-life story of a friend’s younger sister.

In the song, Ayesem, who used an alias to tell the story of the lady whose preoccupation was using every means available to her to belong to the upper class prescribed the end of every gold-digger.

“Julie used her body as the fastest means to chill with the big boys. She ended pregnant and the man she was pregnant for jilted her,” Ayesem narrated in the song.

In the amapiano Willis Beat produced song, Ayesem continued; “Julie had no option than to give birth. The child had no father as none of the men Julie had affair with took responsibility. Now it is up to her to raise the child as a single parent.”

Julie later died according to Ayesem and before her passing away, she was paralysed. “It is a very sad story but I had to keep it short in the song” Ayesem added.

He mentions that even though he felt the strong urge to compose a song on the incident, he had to release the song after the demise of the said lady because he did not want to revisit the pain of the family whilst she was alive and paralyzed.

Known officially as Stephen Siaw, Ayesem who is celebrated for his prolific song writing skills mentions that the song is to admonish ladies to be responsible and work hard and not depend on men for survival.

Ayesem has also revealed that he will release his ‘Journey to the West’ album later this year.

The Ghanaian Chronicle