Matawalle, who spoke in an interview with DCL Hausa, released on its YouTube channel on Wednesday, said the incident should have been resolved through official channels rather than a public exchange.
He revealed that Wike had earlier contacted both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who advised him to allow the military to investigate the matter before taking any action.
Matawalle, however, maintained that Yerima acted strictly on instructions and maintained a professional and disciplined attitude throughout the encounter.
“What happened between Minister Wike and the officer is unfortunate. When he got there, the officer explained that he was simply obeying orders given to him.
“Wike should not have exchanged words with the officer; he ought to have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors,” the minister said.
“He (Wike) is our colleague, and Wike could have reached out to us to resolve whatever issue. The officer’s action was lawful because he was trained to be disciplined, loyal, and obedient to orders. Therefore, the young officer only carried out his duty worthy of commendation,” he stated.
According to him, the officer did not violate any military rule and conducted himself properly.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens to a report of senior Ukrainian officers
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited troops near the front line in the southern Zaporizhia region, as Ukraine’s military said it carried out an attack on a Russian-occupied oil facility in the area.
Zelenskyy posted on X that he visited the “command post of the 65th Separate Mechanised Brigade” on Thursday near the front-line town of Orikhiv, publishing photographs of his meeting with troops.
The Ukrainian military said earlier this week that the situation at the Zaporizhia front line had deteriorated, with Russian troops accelerating their advance there.
“I listened to a report on the operational situation in this sector, enemy activity, and losses among the occupiers,” Zelenskyy said.
“We are doing everything to strengthen our warriors.”
Coinciding with Zelenskyy’s visit to boost troop morale, the Ukrainian military said its forces hit an oil terminal in Crimea, which Russia seized and annexed in 2014, as well as an oil depot in the occupied Zaporizhia region.
The Ukrainian general staff said on Telegram that Russian oil facilities and other military targets were hit by domestically produced weapons, including Flamingo ground-launched cruise missiles and drones.
Israeli settlers torched a mosque and sprayed it with graffiti in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, according to Palestinian authorities, the latest in a surge of increasingly brazen settler attacks against Palestinians.
The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said settlers attacked the Hajjah Hamidah Mosque in Salfit in the northern West Bank, calling it a “heinous crime and a blatant assault on the feelings of Muslims.”
“The attack resulted in parts of the mosque being set on fire and defaced with racist graffiti by settler gangs, who carry out daily assaults on Islamic holy sites and citizens’ properties amid a systematic escalation in both the frequency and nature of these violations,” the ministry statement said.
Images shared by the ministry showed writing in Hebrew on the exterior of the mosque saying, “Mohammed is a pig,” a reference to Islam’s prophet, and “Not afraid of Avi Bluth.” Bluth is the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) commander in the West Bank, who issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the settler attacks and calling the perpetrators an “anarchist fringe youth.”
Images showed parts of the interior damaged by fire, with a pile of charred debris scattered across the ground. The walls appear blackened with smoke and heat marks, and the glass of the windows smashed.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the attack in a statement, saying it “holds the Israeli government fully and directly responsible for this crime and its consequences.”
The UAE is accused of supplying the RSF with weapons, which both parties deny
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for international action to cut off the supply of weapons to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who are accused of mass killings in el-Fasher.
At the end of a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada, Rubio said the RSF had committed systematic atrocities, including murder, rape and sexual violence against civilians.
Sudan’s army accuses the United Arab Emirates of propping up the RSF with weapons and mercenaries sent via African nations. The UAE has repeatedly denied these allegations.
The RSF has been fighting the Sudanese army since April 2023, when a power struggle between their leaders erupted into all-out civil war.
Rubio’s comments are some of the most outspoken so far by the Trump administration about the war in Sudan and the actions of the RSF, but it is not clear how much impact they will have.
A previous US-backed proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan has already been violated by the RSF, even though they agreed to it last week.
El-Fasher was captured last month by the RSF after an 18-month siege, meaning they now control all of the cities in the vast western Darfur region.
Only a small fraction of the population has managed to flee the city, where massacres are said to have take taken place. Piles of bodies on the ground and blood-stained earth are visible from space in satellite imagery.
Non-Arab groups in the wider Darfur region are being systematically targeted by the RSF in what amounts to genocide, according to the US and humanitarian groups.
US President Donald Trump shows the signed bill to reopen the federal government
United States President Donald Trump has signed a federal government spending bill less than two hours after the House of Representatives passed it, bringing an end to the longest government shutdown in US history, which hit workers and families in need and heavily affected air travel.
“With my signature, the federal government will now resume normal operations,” Trump said late on Wednesday, pledging to work to lower the cost of living.
The new spending bill, which extends federal funding until January 30, was backed by a margin of 222 to 209 in the Republican-majority House. It was approved by the Senate earlier this week, after seven Democrats and one independent agreed to support it.
Trump’s signature brings to an end a 43-day shutdown that began on October 1, during which all but essential government services had ground to a halt.
Federal workers will now return to their jobs as early as Thursday, but it is unclear how quickly full government services and operations will resume.
About 670,000 civil servants were furloughed during the closure, while a similar number worked without compensation, but will now receive back pay.
The shutdown’s end offers hope that services crucial to the country’s beleaguered air travel industry, in particular, will have time to recover before the Thanksgiving holiday travel wave, which is just two weeks away.
Restoration of food aid to millions of American families before Christmas may also make room in household budgets for increased spending during the festive season.
A vote on healthcare subsidies is due to take place in the Senate by December.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a group of liver diseases that happen when your body stores lots of fat in your liver. Over time, this fat in your liver can cause inflammation in your liver (hepatitis). Until recently, MASLD was known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD.)
MASLD is one of the most common forms of chronic liver disease.
MASLD is estimated to affect up to 40% of people globally.
It a potentially life-threatening illness, and is caused by a buildup of excess fat in the liver that isn’t caused by the consumption of alcohol.
Previous studies have found a link between MASLD and and increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancers of the liver, breast and thyroid.
The latest study, led by a team from the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria, reviewed 100 studies that highlighted risk factors, prevention and treatment options for MASLD.
The researchers looked at studies on MASLD that included adults aged 18 years or older which were published between 2000 and 2025.
The breadth of the research was substantial, with data taken from 99 articles, made up of 46 observational studies, 15 randomised clinical trials, 16 large reviews, 15 reviews and seven guidelines.
The analysis found that consuming more than two standard drinks for women, and three standard drinks for men, per day increases your risk of developing the illness.
One ‘standard drink’ is equivalent to three quarters of a pint of beer, a small glass of wine and 44ml of 40 per cent strength distilled spirits, for reference, in the UK a standard ‘single’ shot is 25ml.
This means drinking just three small glasses of wine raises men’s risk of developing MASLD, and the risk increases with just two small glassed of wine for women.
Writing in the journal JAMA, the authors said: ‘First-line treatment includes behavioural modifications including weight-reducing diet, physical exercise and avoidance of alcohol.’
The fresh analysis found that being overweight or obese was the ‘most important’ risk factor of the illness.
However, other risk factors they identified included having high blood pressure, having low levels of ‘good cholesterol’ and elevated blood sugar levels.
Other behavioural risk factors included a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and consuming too much sugar.
They identified that this high sugar intake was most commonly from having more than one sugar-sweetened beverages a day.
Genetics can also play a role in increasing the risk of the illness, such as having the hereditary PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 genes.
Having gone through menopause was also a risk factor as it lowers your levels of oestrogen – a hormone that typically helps the body regulate fat and sugar.
The NHS says the trouble with MASLD is that it doesn’t usually cause any symptoms, allowing it to fly under the radar. ondition
Symptoms can include feeling tired, feeling generally unwell and experiencing live pain or discomfort, felt in the abdomen, under the right side of the ribs, it says.
It warns you should see a GP if you think you could have the illness or think you’re at a higher risk of it.
MASLD is typically diagnosed after blood tests or scans are done for another reason, and signs show up with your liver.
However, if a GP thinks you may have the illness, they may arrange more blood tests or scans such as an ultrasound.
The illness comes in four stages – fatty liver (steatosis), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis and cirrhosis.
The first stage, steatosis, is where there is a build-up of fat, but not yet any damage to the liver.
NASH, the second stage, is when the build-up of fat has caused inflammation in the liver, but not yet serious damage.
Meanwhile fibrosis is the stage when there is damage to the liver, but it can still be working well.
The final stage, cirrhosis is when there is irreversible and severe damage, to the liver.
This can lead to internal bleeding, liver failure, liver cancer or sepsis, the NHS warns.
Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, Executive Director, Salt and Light Ministries
“…And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world just as I do not. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth – John 17:14a, 15 & 17 (New Living Translation)
UNHOLY “ENVIRONMENT”
The Christian life is lived within an unholy world and all believers face various forms of temptations because of this. Some go through some harrowing experiences, they live right bang in the midst of undeniably sinful environments. Christians in commerce and business may often come under extreme pressures to compromise both legal and ethical standards to satisfy the greed and dishonesty of influential members of the business community.
Rumours are rife in this country that one cannot get contracts unless one belongs to the right groups and is also prepared to pay certain quotas to certain circles. Patients and their relatives are also said to have to pay monies up-front to unscrupulous and inhumane medical and para-medical officials. Parents looking for placements for their wards are also sometimes compelled to bribe greedy school officials.
As Christians we must be aware that we face such diabolical and vicious assaults on our minds and in our hearts. Ignorance about the devil’s wiles will make it difficult to maintain our personal holiness because we will not know that we have power to overcome such wicked and destructive attacks.
PREPARE FOR WAR
Ephesians 6:10-18 makes it quite clear that because we are at the battle-front, God has given us the right armour for the battle. “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (New Living Translation)
We also read in James 1:27 that part of true religion is refuse to let the world corrupt us. We must daily engage in the battle of being separate from the world and yet living in it. Withdrawing is not the answer and that is why Jesus prayed in John 17:15 that God should keep us here on earth but protect us from the evil one. Jesus never promised (nor is it said anywhere in the Bible concerning God’s people) that it would be easy to live in this godless, reprobate world. On the contrary we are warned to expect ridicule Matt. 5:11-12 and abuse 1 Peter 4:3-4; 2 Tim 3:12.
If we stand against wrongdoing we might be even attacked BUT, part of the warfare is to resist and reject the world’s putrefying influence even in the face of extreme pressures. God’s Word is our guide and strength. Which is why James says that we should humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong to save your soul. And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey you are only fooling yourself – James 1:22 – New Living Translation.
NO HYPOCRISY OR DOUBLE-TALK
In Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan talks of someone called Mr. Talkative who prided on being adaptable in any kind of situation and company. Some of us are like Mr. Talkative: we have two types of life styles with their attendant vocabulary – one to suit our Christianness and the other to suit our worldliness. Again James says that those who profess to be Christians but live otherwise are like those who look into the mirror and as soon as they take their eyes away, forget what they look like.
There are many people who genuinely want to know who they are. They are in a serious crisis of identity. If we have genuinely believed in Christ Jesus as Saviour and Lord, we have had that crisis settled. We know who we are. We are children of God – John 1:12-1, beloved children – 1 John 3:1. We should set an example for others to come into this wonderful and blessed assurance. Being chameleons will not help them nor us.
DON’T BE ASHAMED OF CHRIST
One of the greatest strengths we have in maintaining our holiness in this depraved world is to openly identify with Christ. Like Paul we should be able to say that: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me – Gal. 2:20 – New King James.
We are to be gracious but firm in living according to this conviction because such gracious but open identification will spare us from some of the temptations even if it will earn us accolades such as Chrife, Holy, Holy or Wet blanket. If for nothing at all, it will save us from adapting to our sinful environment as Mr. Talkative did. A lot of students on our campuses and Christians in very “secular” job situation think they can avoid ridicule and abuse by playing it safe. Take it from me – it will not work to your advantage. You will be miserable! You have to maintain your stand in Christ.
“ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION”
The pollution from our unholy surroundings is pervasive and we still get into contact with it even though we openly confess Christ – what with obscene jokes and songs on the airwaves; lewd pictures on the TV; near pornography in magazines and newspapers! In addition to this are the institutionalized lies and half-truths, ‘official’ corruption and bribery, the injustices, constant gossiping of our co-workers and neighbors, the numerous dishonest shortcuts taken by businessmen and women and the political chicanery in high places.
We can only be sanitized from this pollution through the Word of God. When we study (diligently read to seek its whole counsel) and meditate on the precepts of the Bible our minds are cleansed and renewed and will serve as a whole and continues guard against the many temptations which assault our eyes and thoughts.
KEEPING PURE MIND AND HEART
In Psalm 119:9 David said: How can a young man keep his way pure?By living according to your Word. It is the Word of God that is able to garrison us against the marauding onslaughts of the world’s corruption because through the study of God’s Word our minds get renewed and such renewal impacts our lives by enabling us to be transformed. We are no longer as we used to but living in the power of God who lives in us by His Spirit as we read in Rom. 12:2“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.” (New Living Translation)
When we make it a deliberate habit to spend much time in the study of and meditation on God’s Word, the verses we memorize come in very handy as divine weapons of warfare against the corrupting influences and circumstances that assail us as we read in 2 Cor. 10:3-5 “It is true that we live in the world, but we do not fight from worldly motives. The weapons we use in our fight are not the world’s weapons but God’s weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; we pull down proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.” (Good News Bible).
To be Continued!
Stay Blessed!
Please note that the preaching program on Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays at 5:30 am has been temporarily put on hold. However, please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays at 5:30 am and YFM 107.9 – Sundays at 6:30 am for our Radio Bible Study, as well as on Sunny 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm for Hymns and Their Stories.
The tenth matchday of the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League fixtures kicks off tomorrow, promising plenty of excitement, as the competition gradually takes shape. Teams will be looking to bounce back from recent lapses, while those in good form will be eager to maintain their momentum.
However, as thrilling as the football has been so far, the image of the sport took a hit during the recent Super Clash between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium. Unfortunate scenes unfolded after the final whistle. Hearts of Oak’s Hussein Mohammed confronted the match official in a manner contrary to the rules of the game.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) acted promptly by writing to both the player and the club; a commendable step. Nonetheless, stricter measures must be implemented to ensure that such behavior is not repeated in future matches, as incidents like this tarnish the reputation of the league.
Below are the match day nine previews;
All Blacks host Hearts tomorrow
All eyes will be on the Swedru Stadium this weekend as Swedru All Blacks host Hearts of Oak for their first-ever Ghana Premier League meeting. The clash promises to be an exciting contest, with both clubs eager to make a statement at opposite ends of the table.
Newly-promoted Swedru All Blacks sit 15th on the log with seven points from nine matches and will be seeking a result against one of the league’s heavyweights. The Black and Whites have recorded one win, four draws, and four defeats, scoring eight goals and conceding ten.
Despite their struggles, Coach Ahmed Ibrahim Fathi side has shown glimpses of promise, especially at home, where they’ve held stronger opponents to close score lines.
Hearts of Oak, meanwhile, are gradually rediscovering their form after a shaky start to the season. The Phobians sit fifth with 16 points, having won four, drawn four, and lost one.
Coming off a defeat to archrivals Asante Kotoko on home soil, Hearts will travel to Swedru eager to bounce back to winning ways. Under new coach Didi Dramani, the team has tightened its defense and looks more confident in attack, with Hamza Issah and Mawuli Wayo leading their resurgence. Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare is away on national duty and will, therefore, be unavailable for this fixture.
Swedru All Blacks will hope to turn their home ground into a fortress, while Hearts of Oak will aim to return to form and continue their push toward the top of the table.
Kotoko, Aduana faceoff in Kumasi
Asante Kotoko welcomes league leaders Aduana Stars to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium this weekend in what promises to be a fierce Ghana Premier League Matchday 10 contest.
Aduana currently sit atop the table with 19 points after nine matches, having won six, drawn one, and lost two.
Lord Amoah, Asante Kotoko
Their recent form has been impressive, with four wins in their last five games; a sign of growing consistency under Coach Cioaba Aristica. The Ogya Boys boast the league’s best defense, conceding only four goals while scoring nine.
Kotoko, on the other hand, are beginning to find their rhythm after a slow start. The Porcupine Warriors are seventh on the table with 15 points and are unbeaten in their last four matches. Under Coach Karim Zito, they have tightened up defensively and look sharper in attack, with forward Morifying Donzo rediscovering his scoring touch.
The head-to-head record suggests this fixture is usually tightly contested. In their last five league meetings, Kotoko have won three, Aduana one, with one ending in a draw. Interestingly, Kotoko have managed to secure rare away wins in Dormaa in recent seasons a feat few teams have achieved.
With Aduana aiming to extend their lead at the summit and Kotoko seeking to break into the top four, fans should expect a tactical, hard-fought encounter in Kumasi.
Gold Stars, Karela in Western Derby
A Western derby is on the horizon as Bibiani Gold Stars host Karela United on Matchday 10. Both sides are determined to climb higher up the table.
Samuel Atta Kumi, Bibiani Gold Stars
Gold Stars currently sit fourth with 17 points from nine matches, enjoying one of their best starts to a season. The Miners have won five, drawn one, and lost three, scoring 10 goals and conceding 11. At home, Dun’s Park has become a fortress, with Bibiani Gold Stars showing resilience and attacking flair in front of their fans.
Karela United, positioned ninth with 13 points, have also displayed moments of brilliance but have struggled with consistency. They have three wins, four draws, and two defeats so far, scoring 11 goals and conceding 11. Despite defensive lapses, their balanced attack makes them a threat to any opponent.
Midfielder Hussein Mohammed
The rivalry between these two sides is intense, with close results over the years. In their last six meetings, Karela have won three, Gold Stars two, and one ended in a draw. Their most recent clash in May saw Karela claim a narrow 1–0 away win, proving they can handle the pressure in Bibiani.
With just four points separating the teams, this match promises to be an end-to-end affair. Gold Stars will count on home advantage to seek revenge, while Karela will aim to maintain their dominance in this regional rivalry.
The United States Embassy in Ghana has extended its condolences to the government and people of Ghana following the tragic stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium, which claimed the lives of six young women during a Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise.
In a statement shared on its official X handle (formerly Twitter), the Embassy said:
“The U.S. Embassy offers its deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives during the November 12 recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra. Our thoughts are with the people of Ghana in this painful moment.”
The incident occurred when thousands of job seekers converged on the stadium for the ongoing military recruitment exercise, resulting in overcrowding and a fatal stampede.
According to reports, apart from the six deceased, twenty-two other victims were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for emergency treatment, with five said to be in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS), a Non-Governmental Organization, has expressed concern that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is fast losing the hallmark of discipline for which it was once revered.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Point of View programme, the Executive Director of the Bureau, Dr. Nana Yaw Akwada, said recent developments within the military point to a worrying decline in professionalism and accountability.
“I am very, very disappointed that our military— and probably some officers may disagree with me on this— is, over time, losing its discipline,” Dr. Akwada lamented while reacting to the tragic El-Wak Stadium stampede, which claimed six lives and left several others injured during a military recruitment exercise.
Dr. Akwada cited a pattern of excesses by the military in civilian operations without consequences, saying,
“Whether they go into a town to avenge the death of one of their own, committing human rights violations without punishment, or act in excess during public safety operations where people die or lose their livelihoods — nothing happens. This development is growing, and if we don’t act now, we may one day wake up without a country.”
He therefore called for a comprehensive reassessment of the ongoing recruitment process before reopening it, stressing the need for accountability in the investigations surrounding the tragedy.
According to him, officials who authorised the mass messaging that led to the overcrowding at El-Wak must be identified and sanctioned.
“Those who had access to the data and sent text messages to thousands of people to converge at one location must be held responsible, so Ghana can rebuild the kind of disciplined military it deserves,” he asserted.
Dr. Akwada proposed that Ghana develop a standardized operational manual for all large-scale recruitment and public exercises. He further urged state institutions to adhere to occupational safety and health regulations just like private entities.
“If I, as a private individual, organise a programme at El-Wak or any venue, I am bound by occupancy regulations dictated by the National Fire Service. The same must apply to state institutions,” he said, adding that if he were a musician and people died due to overcrowding at his concert, he could be sued.
“If I were a relative of one of the deceased, I would be consulting a lawyer by now to hold the Ghana Armed Forces, the Attorney General, and all relevant parties accountable. We must grow beyond this,” he emphasised.
