Home Blog Page 664

We will welcome you to APC whenever you decide, Tinubu tells Wike

By
admin
-
0
President Bola Tinubu (L) and ex-Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike

President Bola Tinubu says he will welcome Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) whenever he chooses to join officially.

Speaking during the commissioning of the Arterial Road N16 and other infrastructure in the Katampe District of Abuja, President Tinubu commended Wike’s contribution to governance and light-heartedly referenced the minister’s signature tune from his previous political rallies.

“We have somebody—Nyesom Wike—he is not a member of my party (APC), not yet.

“But the day he changes his mind and registers with the progressives, we will welcome him. Because we will enjoy singing ‘as e dey pain dem, e dey sweet us,’” Tinubu said.

The President’s remarks drew laughter from the audience, including Wike himself, reflecting a continued mutuality between the two political figures.

Wike, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has stirred political discourse since publicly supporting Tinubu during the 2023 general election.

Though he remained in the PDP after Tinubu won the highly contested presidential seat, he accepted a ministerial appointment from the APC-led administration and was sworn in as FCT Minister in August 2023.

His decision to serve on the platform of a rival party, while still maintaining his PDP membership, deepened internal rifts within the main opposition party.

His political trajectory has increasingly aligned with President Tinubu. After losing the PDP’s presidential primary in 2022, he refused to support the party’s eventual candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the general election.

Since then, Wike has publicly pledged to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, even stating on 3 June that he was prepared to lead the campaign in Rivers State.

Credit: channelstv.com

Nigeria Is Sliding Back Into Civilian Dictatorship -Dele Momodu

By
admin
-
0
Dele Momodu

Former presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, has expressed concern over the current state of Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the country is sliding back into what he described as civilian dictatorship.

The PDP chieftain, who spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, lamented the erosion of democratic values, especially in the lead-up to this year’s Democracy Day.

“I’m very happy that today coincides with the lead-up to June 12 (Democracy Day), so that if we still have any iota of conscience left, we’ll realise we have damaged this democracy,” he said.

“The summary of it all is that on the eve of June 12, Nigeria is virtually back to civilian dictators who don’t care how you feel or what you think. Nigerians are hungry.

“We’ve damaged this democracy, and I hope we’ve not damaged it beyond repair because the audacity, the effrontery of this set of politicians—whether in the executive, legislature, or local government—is totally unbelievable.”

He added that those who fought and died for democracy, particularly during the June 12 struggle, would be heartbroken if they could witness the current state of the nation.

“All those who suffered for this democracy—especially those who are now in heaven—if they can see us, they would be crying,” Momodu said.

Credit: channelstv.com

Ghana’s economy expands 5.3% in first quarter of 2025  

By
admin
-
0
Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, Govt statistician

Ghana’s economy grew by 5.3 per cent in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, up from 4.9 per cent in the same period of 2024, driven by the services sector and recovery of the agriculture sector.

The agriculture sector grew by 6.6 per cent, compared to 2.4 per cent in Q1 of 2024, where fishing saw the biggest jump in agriculture, growing by 16.4 per cent.

Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician, at a media briefing said industry grew by 3.4 per cent in Q1 of 2025, compared to 6.7 per cent in Q1 of 2024.

He said the oil and gas sector declined sharply by 22.1 per cent, dragging the industrial sector down but the manufacturing sector was strong, growing by 6.6 per cent, showing that local production was holding up.

He said services including trade, transport, ICT, banking, and health constituted 46.8 per cent of the economy.

“The services sector grew by 5.9 per cent, with ICT leading the way at 13.1 per cent growth,” he added.

The Government Statistician said “if we remove the oil & gas sector, the rest of the economy grew by 6.8 per cent and

this shows that Ghana’s economy is becoming more balanced, relying less on oil.”

Dr Iddrisu said seasonally adjusted, Ghana’s provisional real GDP increased by 1.4 per cent in Q1 of 2025 from 0.9 per cent in Q4 of 2024; this was 0.5 percentage points higher than what was recorded in Q4 of 2024.

He said Crops, Information and Communication, Manufacturing, Trade, Repair of Vehicles, Household Goods, Transport and Storage and Finance & Insurance were the main drivers of GDP growth in Q1 of 2025, all together contributing 84.5 per cent of the 5.3 per cent growth.

He said with agriculture growing at 6.6 per cent and the strong momentum in crops and fishing, households could benefit from government’s input subsidies and training under the Agriculture for Transformation Programme to support food security and income.

He said households could also benefit from the resulting declining inflation, adding that the services grew by 5.9 per cent, particularly in ICT (13.1 per cent), trade (7.1 per cent) and transport (8.6 per cent).

Dr Iddrisu said households should explore night-shift opportunities under the 24-Hour Economy initiative in the expanding service economy.

He said with transport, ICT, and trade services expanding, businesses in logistics, delivery, customer service, and manufacturing should adjust working models to 24-hour cycles where feasible.

He said manufacturing grew by 6.6 per cent despite oil sector decline and SMEs should leverage infrastructure, including roads, irrigation, and storage facilities to source local inputs and access markets under the AfCFTA and the Big Push Programme.

On recommendation for the government, he said mining & quarrying grew modestly by 1.4 per cent, but oil & gas declined sharply by 22.1 per cent, adding that scaling up Gold Board activities could stabilise earnings and broaden impact beyond extraction.

Dr Iddrisu said accelerating the Big Push investments in power, roads, and digital infrastructure could support private sector expansion and enhance regional competitiveness, thereby unlocking industrial growth beyond the 3.4 per cent growth.

By Morkporkpor Anku  

GNA  

Roadmap to train youth in poultry and livestock farming unveiled

By
admin
-
0
Dr Peter Otokunor speaking at the launch

The government has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for a training program that sets the stage for the nationwide rollout of the ambitious young poultry and livestock farmers initiative, popularly known as ‘Nkoko Nketenkete’, under the Feed Ghana flagship program.

The initiative, a public-private partnership (PPP), seeks to target 20,000 Ghanaian youth, mostly women, farmer groups and agric entrepreneurs over a four-year period, with phase one targeting 10,000 between 2025 and the end of 2026.

The program is expected to create about 1.7 million direct and indirect jobs. The roadmap outlines regional training in two sessions every month across the 16 regions of the country, with a blended learning module that combines digital platforms, field demonstrations and one-on-one mentorship.

The training will be delivered in local languages spoken and understood by the participating public in each region.

Speaking at the launch of the roadmap in Accra on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness at the Presidency, said the country’s poultry and livestock industry was at a crossroads and could only be revitalised through the ‘Nkoko Nketenkete’ farming module to achieve food sovereignty and job creation.

“Agriculture is no longer just about hoes and cutlasses. It has transformed into a business that requires innovation, focusing on productivity and modern application of technical and digital tools,” he noted.

Dr. Otokunor emphasised that President Mahama is poised to roll out a series of ambitious programs through his office that target young people under the Feed Ghana flagship program.

He hopes that these programs will eliminate the structural barriers limiting the full participation of women and young people in agriculture, agribusiness, and its value chain.

The subsequent rollout of the young poultry and livestock farmers module will target 55,000 households to produce improved broiler breeds of about one million. The government also plans to establish and upgrade some feedmills to produce cheaper feeds for farmers.

“With strong partnerships and political will, Ghana’s livestock and poultry sector will rise again,” Dr. Otokunor declared.

Dr. Doris Yaa Osei, Ag. Deputy Director, CSIR-Animal Research Institute, highlighted the difficulties the country faces in meeting its growing meat demand.

She emphasised that the Grains and Legumes Development Project being pursued by the government under the Feed Ghana flagship program is a key intervention initiative that would scale up the production of maize, rice, soybean and sorghum to enhance the provision of feed for poultry, pigs and micro-livestock.

The Chief Executive Officer of Feedico Ghana Limited, Chief Nathaniel Ebo Nsarko, highlighted the importance of the roadmap leading to the rollout of the ‘Nkoko Nketenkete’ farming module, which is projected to revolutionise smallholding farming in the country.

“Through the ‘Nkoko Nketenkete’ program, the government is aiming to certify and empower over 10,000 Ghanaian youth to become skilled and business-oriented in the poultry and livestock industry,” he noted.

The program is designed to support several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 2, 8, 12, 13, and 7.

The use of local languages to impart knowledge to the beneficiary youth is a unique aspect of the training program.

“Knowledge must not be blocked in translation. It must reach the people who need it most in the language they understand,” Chief Nsarko emphasised.

The roadmap was jointly developed by the Animal Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-ARI), Feedico Company Limited, Presidential Initiatives, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Local Government and other government agencies.

It addresses two of Ghana’s most urgent challenges: low sufficiency in poultry and livestock production and high youth unemployment rates, especially in rural areas where agriculture remains underutilized due to lack of training, mentorship, and financial access.

By Stephen Larbi

Eminem’s savage diss that ignited Mariah Carey feud finally revealed

By
NANA KWESI COOMSON
-
0
Eminem

Eminem and Mariah Carey’s famous feud began two decades ago — and music producer Damion “Damizza” Young may have finally revealed the diss that started it all.

The 50-year-old, who began working with Carey in 1988, revealed on the “TFU Podcast” last week that he is responsible for introducing the singer, 56, to the rapper, 52.

According to Young, Eminem was interested in casting Carey in “8 Mile.” However, he told Carey, who is only four years his senior, during a three-way phone call, “I want you to play my mother.”

Young recalled, “She did not like that s–t at all. Her insecurities kicked in big time.”

Kim Basinger, who is 19 years older than the rapper, ultimately ended up playing Stephanie Smith, Eminem’s character B-Rabbit’s mom, in the 2002 movie.

Young told listeners that he had warned Eminem against making the offer in the first place.

“Don’t do this. I know where you’re going with this,” he remembered saying. “I’m managing this girl, and it’s gonna cause me a problem.”

Young, who knew Carey wanted to branch out into movies, had already cautioned her against doing “Glitter” and wasn’t a fan of the “8 Mile” opportunity — but decided to let Eminem tell her about it anyway.

“If I don’t say something and then it comes another route in the business or something, then I’m the bad guy,” he explained.

Reps for Eminem and Carey did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.

Eminem has long claimed that the Grammy winners’ beef originated from a failed romantic relationship — which Carey has continuously denied.

Young claimed in last week’s podcast episode that Carey “was chasing” Eminem and took a trip to Detroit. Young left while the artists were allegedly “f–king” in Eminem’s room.

The radio executive went on to claim that while Carey was “on” Eminem at the time, she was later “not doing well” after Eminem “had done this and that.”


Eminem blasted Carey in multiple diss tracks beginning in 2002, from “Superman” to “When the Music Stops” in 2002.

Carey claimed to Larry King that same year that she and Eminem only “hung out … a total of four times,” which she did not “consider dating somebody” — and he subsequently referenced her in another song “Jimmy Crack Corn.”

This led Carey to sing about Eminem — and portray him in the music video — in “Obsessed” in 2009.

Credit: pagesix.com

Kanye West changes his name for a second time

By
NANA KWESI COOMSON
-
0
Kanye West

Kanye West, who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021, has modified his moniker for a second time. Page Six obtained new business documents in California that the “Gold Digger” rapper’s chief financial officer, Hussain Lalani, filed under the name “Ye Ye.”

West’s previous paperwork listed his name as “Ye West.” However, his businesses, including Yeezy Apparel, Yeezy Record Label, LLC and Getting Out Our Dreams Inc., all list his new moniker under “manager or member name.”

Ye Ye has yet to publicly announce his new moniker on social media. Page Six has reached out to West’s rep for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Earlier this month, the 24-time Grammy winner took to X to announce that he was doing away with his X account, which had his birth name as the handle.

“Ima finally stop using the @kanyewest twitter cause my name is Ye,” he tweeted June 1.

“Gonna start a ye account and it is what it is.” The dad of four shared on X in 2018 that he would be going by the name Ye.

“the being formally known as Kanye West. I am YE,” he wrote at the time.

West was also using that name as the title of his 2018 album, which he spent months recording at his ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Three years later, the “All of the Lights” emcee filed paperwork to legally change his moniker for “personal reasons,” documents stated at the time.

Two months later, a judge approved West’s name change to Ye.

In March 2024, the Yeezy founder’s chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, demanded in a letter that West be referred to as Ye and not his “slave name.”

“Ye is one of the most recognizable people in the world, on par with presidents and popes,” the letter obtained by Page Six at the time read.

“He didn’t take the decision to change his name, potentially sacrificing some of the immense value captured by the brand of ‘Kanye West,’ lightly. The change was made fully, legally, and permanently. This is who he is now. His name is Ye.”

Credit: pagesix.com

World’s most popular TikTok star leaves the US after being detained by ICE

By
NANA KWESI COOMSON
-
0
Tik Tok star Khaby Lame

Khaby Lame, the world’s most popular TikTok personality with millions of followers, has left the US after being detained by immigration agents in Las Vegas for allegedly overstaying his visa.

The Senegalese-Italian influencer, whose legal name is Seringe Khabane Lame, was detained Friday at Harry Reid International Airport but was allowed to leave the country without a deportation order, a spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed in a statement.

Lame arrived in the United States on April 30 and “overstayed the terms of his visa,” the ICE spokesperson said. The Associated Press sent a message seeking comment Tuesday to the email address listed on Lame’s Instagram account. He has not publicly commented on his detainment.

His detainment and voluntary departure from the US comes amid President Donald Trump’s escalating crackdown on immigration, including raids in Los Angeles that sparked days of protests against ICE, as the president tests the bounds of his executive authority.

A voluntary departure — which was granted to Lame — allows those facing removal from the US to avoid a deportation order on their immigration record, which could prevent them from being allowed back into the country for up to a decade.

The 25-year-old rose to international fame during the pandemic without ever saying a word in his videos, which would show him reacting to absurdly complicated “life hacks.” He has over 162 million followers on TikTok alone.

The Senegal-born influencer moved to Italy when he was an infant with his working class parents and has Italian citizenship.

His internet fame quickly evolved. He signed a multi-year partnership with designer brand Hugo Boss in 2022. In January, he was appointed as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

Last month, he attended the Met Gala in New York City, days after arriving in the US.

Credit: cnn.com

Elon Musk regrets some of his social media posts about Trump

By
admin
-
0
Elon Musk

Elon Musk said Wednesday that he regrets some of his recent social media posts about President Donald Trump.

“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” Musk said in a post on X.

Musk’s relationship with Trump deteriorated in a spectacular, public fashion last week as the two men traded jibes on their respective social media platforms.

Until recently, Musk was Trump’s close ally in government and co-head of his administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, where the tech billionaire spearheaded mass layoffs of federal workers.

But their relationship soured when Musk slammed Trump’s massive tax cut and domestic policy bill, labeling it a “disgusting abomination” for its anticipated negative impact on US government finances.

The Tesla CEO stepped up his criticism by sharing years-old comments from Trump and other Republican lawmakers that raised concerns about US government spending and the budget deficit.

Shares of Tesla (TSLA) rose following Musk’s walk-back on X, rising 2% in premarket trading.

Among Musk’s posts on X last week was a claim that Trump would have lost last year’s presidential election without him and – in the most incendiary missive – that Trump is “in” the Jeffrey Epstein files.

For his part, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform last week that he could terminate the government contracts and subsidies awarded to Musk’s companies.

The president also told CNN’s Dana Bash Friday that he was “not even thinking about Elon” and wouldn’t be speaking to Musk “for a while.”

Credit: cnn.com

Bomb attack plans found at Austria gunman’s home

By
admin
-
0
Police officers walk towards the flat of the 21-year-old suspect

Abandoned plans for a bomb attack have been found at the home of the suspected gunman in a school shooting in Austria, police have said. Police in the south-eastern city of Graz also found a non-functional pipe bomb, and a “farewell” letter and video during the search, they said in a statement.

Ten people were killed in the attack at the secondary school on Tuesday – the deadliest in the country’s recent history. The suspect, a 21-year-old former student at the school, took his own life in a school bathroom shortly after the attack, according to police. Authorities have not yet drawn any conclusions on the gunman’s possible motive.

The incident, which left a further 11 people injured, took place at Dreierschützengasse secondary school in the north-west of the city.

Six females and three males were killed in the attack, and a seventh female later died in hospital.

The victims were a teacher and nine students aged between 14 and 17, police said. All were Austrian citizens, except for one who was Polish.

Police said the suspect was born in Styria – the region in which Graz sits – and lived with his single mother, who was also Austrian, in the Graz-Umgebung District.

They added that his father, of Armenian origin, had not lived with them since his parents’ separation.

Current information suggests the shooter legally owned the two guns used in the attack – a pistol and a shotgun – and had a firearms licence, police said. They added that the guns would be forensically examined.

Credit: bbc.com

UK agrees post-Brexit deal over Gibraltar

By
admin
-
0
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo

The UK has a agreed a deal with the European Union over Gibraltar’s status after Brexit.

Talks on rules governing the border of Spain and Gibraltar have been ongoing since Britain left the EU in 2020.

The UK said the agreement would avoid the need for checks on people and goods crossing the Gibraltar-Spain border. For travellers arriving at Gibraltar airport, passport checks will be carried out by Gibraltar and Spanish officials.

This is similar to the system in place for Eurostar passengers at London’s St Pancras station, where travellers pass through both British and French passport control before boarding international trains.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the deal protected British sovereignty and supported Gibraltar’s economy.

He said the “breakthrough” delivered a practical solution, adding: “This government inherited a situation from the last government which put Gibraltar’s economy and way of life under threat.”

Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo also welcomed the agreement, saying: “I have worked hand in glove with the UK government throughout this negotiation to deliver the deal Gibraltar wants and needs – one that will protect future generations of British Gibraltarians and does not in any way affect our British sovereignty.”

Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares and EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic both hailed the deal as “historic”, with Sefcovic saying it “reinforces a new chapter” in the EU-UK relationship.

All parties have committed to finalising a UK-EU treaty text on Gibraltar as quickly as possible, the UK government said.

Credit: bbc.com

1...663664665...2,941Page 664 of 2,941

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

©
The Ghanaian Chronicle