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AGA community team wins inter-mines First Aid and safety competition

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Ing. Dr. Ken Ashigbey addressing the gathering

AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine Community Team emerged winners of the Zone Three Annual Inter Mines First Aid and Safety Competition held at Obuasi.

The AGA Community Team contested alongside their counterparts from Asante Gold Chirano Mine, who placed second, Perseus Mining placed third, Asanko Gold Mine came fourth and Newmont Mine was fifth.

Adansihemaa, Fomena Benkumhene and dignitaries with the Obuasi community team

For their prizes, each of the five-member Obuasi team took home a 55 inch Samsung Television set.

The teams from the five mining companies that took part in the practicals, according to the organisers, will converge at GTV Studios in Accra on August 24, 2025 for the oral aspect of the competition, after which a winner will be declared.

The day’s programme attracted high profile personalities including – the Adansihemaa, Nana Amonimaa Dede II and Nana Bremansu Antwi Kwaning, Benkumhene of Fomena, who represented the Adansihene.

The CEO of Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, in a speech said the mining industry continued to be the cornerstone of Ghana’s socio-economic development, but said this prosperity must never come at the expense of human life.

“To sustain our gains, we must embed safety into every aspect of our operations, not just as a policy, but as a shared culture,” he stated.

The Chamber of Mines head called on all member companies to continue to encourage their contractors to participate in the Chamber’s Safety Webinars and similar capacity-building efforts.

“Let us all remember that every moment is an ambush. Always think Safety. Let us renew our commitment to a safe mining environment where every worker returns home safely,” Ing. Ashigbey added.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Managing Director of AGA, Ing. Samuel Pobee noted that the competition is a testament to the Organisers’ collective dedication to fostering a culture of safety and emergency preparedness in the mining communities.

“In our work as mining professionals, the unexpected is always lurking and it is imperative that we make safety personal and remain vigilant, prepared and proactive whether at the workplace or within our communities,” he said.

The AngloGold MD further stated that “through this competition we aim to reinforce the importance of First Aid Skills and Safety awareness, ensuring that every individual in our community is equipped to respond effectively in emergencies.”

From Frederick Danso Abeam, Obuasi

Why I didn’t go to university -Femi Otedola

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Femi Otedola

Nigerian billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola has narrated that his lack of flair for academics is the reason he did not attend university.

Otedola, who is the chairman of First Bank Holding, disclosed this in his 286-page memoir released on Monday.

He said he stopped school after the Lower Sixth examination and did not return for the Upper Sixth.

Nigerian billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola has narrated that his lack of flair for academics is the reason he did not attend university.

He said he stopped school after the Lower Sixth examination and did not return for the Upper Sixth.

According to Otedola, at that time, all he wanted was to be involved in his father’s printing press.

“My parents enrolled me at the University of Lagos Staff School in 1968, at the age of six.

“But there was something about academia and me; we were not compatible. I finished primary school in 1974 because I repeated a class. Even when I was allowed to pass, I consistently anchored the bottom rungs of our end-of-term examination results. My interests were definitely not in academia.

“I started Form 1 at age 12 and was there for three years.”

“I started in Form 3 at Olivet, and as I rounded off the first year of my A Levels, my father was establishing his printing company, Impact Press, in Surulere, a residential and commercial district in Lagos State. I grew fascinated with the machines and told myself that my future would be inextricably tied to them. I managed to remain in school until the Lower Sixth examination was over. And then, I was finished; I never returned for my Upper Sixth.

“All I wanted to do was get involved in business. “My father kept watch over me and drew me close,” he said in the book.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Government summons Ibom Air crew, Emmasson over airport incident

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Ibom airline

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has summoned Ibom Air cabin crew member, Juliana Edward and the embattled passenger, Comfort Emmanson, for further investigations.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this during a question and answer session at the Emergency National Civil Aviation Security Committee and Stakeholders Meeting held Tuesday in Abuja.

Achimugu noted that he spoke with Emmanson earlier in the day, adding that the passenger and the crew member involved had been summoned for further enquiry.

“I have spoken with Ms. Emmanson this morning. We are also inviting the Ibom Air cabin crew for continued investigation on the incident. They will be here tomorrow,” he said.

He, however, clarified that the pilot did not call in security personnel upon landing in Lagos, as the issue seemed resolved during the flight.

However, Emmanson, who reportedly visited the restroom after landing, was the last to disembark from the aircraft.

Achimugu assured that NCAA remains committed to uncovering all the facts surrounding the incident.

In his reaction, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, attributed rising incidents of misconduct in the aviation sector to a general decline in discipline among passengers, airport staff and crew.

DAILY POST reports that the NCAA has issued a fresh directive that all mobile phones must be completely switched off during flight take-off and landing.

Recall that an Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson, recently stirred controversy in the country’s aviation sector.

Credit: dailypost.ng

 

Goodluck Jonathan’s Associates Should Persuade Him To Run – Mathias Tsado

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Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

A former presidential aspirant, Mathias Tsado, has urged associates of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on him to run for the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the former Bayelsa governor possesses the qualities needed to reposition the country.

Tsado, a former presidential aspirant of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), made the call on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily. 

“Yes, he has not declared that he wants to run for election, but for somebody like me, I am praying for a day that will come when President Goodluck Jonathan will declare and say, ‘I want to run’,’” Tsado said.

“Those who have his contacts, those who have access to him, should speak to him. They should point out the other rumors around in 2023 that he was going to run and all that. There were rumors, but this time around, [they should tell him], ‘Please come around, sir, because Nigerian people today need you’.”

Jonathan, a former president, lost to Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 elections — the first time an incumbent was defeated since the return of democracy in the country in 1999.

The former Bayelsa governor became the president in May 2010 after the death of Umaru Yar’Adua. He was then elected in 2011, serving a full term of four years before losing to Buhari.

However, Tsado believes Jonathan demonstrated statesmanship by conceding defeat to Buhari, a sign that he was not desperate for power.

Credit: channelstv.com

Government mulls pay rise for Political Office holders, says Tinubu earns ₦1.5m monthly

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The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC)has announced that plans are underway for the review of the salaries of political office holders in Nigeria, describing their current earnings as inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated in the face of rising responsibilities and economic challenges.

The Chairman of the commission, Mohammed Shehu, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu presently earns ₦1.5m monthly, while ministers receive less than N1m — figures that have remained unchanged since 2008.

“You are paying the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ₦1.5m a month, with a population of over 200 million people. Everybody believes that it is a joke,” Shehu told the gathering.

“You cannot pay a minister less than ₦1m per month since 2008 and expect him to put in his best without necessarily being involved in some other things. You pay either a CBN governor or the DG ten times more than you pay the President,” the RMAFC chief said.

“That is just not right. Or you pay him [the head of an agency] twenty times higher than the Attorney-General of the Federation. That is absolutely not right.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had kicked against the plans by the RMAFC to conduct an upward review of the salaries of political office holders, saying the proposal ignores the country’s worsening inequality and the hidden perks that already inflate earnings in government.

The RMAFC boss, however, explained that the commission is not responsible for setting the minimum wage for civil servants or public sector workers, but was constitutionally mandated to determine the salaries of political, judicial, and legislative office holders.

Credit: channelstv.com

Haruna promises to invest more in STEM education

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Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Education

Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, on Monday gave assurance that the government remained committed to invest and revolutionise the study of Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the country.

He said that would empower the nation to adapt to rapidly evolving technological advancement, mitigate climate change, as well as tackle emerging threats and thereby nurture critical thinkers and problem solvers.

Minister Iddrisu said this when interacting with the media on the sidelines of the launch of the Basic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (BSTEM) project in Sunyani.

The Ghana Education Service in partnership with Itec Global, a science-centered firm, are spearheading the implementation of the project.

It sought to enhance teaching of science and mathematics at the basic educational level by equipping classrooms with modern tools for active learning.

The BSTEM was piloted in 2024 and provided 100 Junior High Schools with science and mathematics equipment, enabling teachers to adopt hands-on, problem-solving, and experiential learning approaches.

It also introduced technologies to build skills in office applications, programming and robotics, supporting comprehensive learning across all STEM disciplines.

Minister Iddrisu said the project was being rolled out in three phases, with the first phase expected to span 18 months, saying on completion the government would review and evaluate its outcomes to guide the implementation of subsequent phases.

He noted: “In today’s rapidly evolving world, emerging technologies from artificial intelligence and biotechnology to robotics and renewable energy are reshaping industries and generating new opportunities.

“All these technological advancements are rooted in STEM and for the Ghana to remain competitive globally, generate decent jobs and build a resilient economy, the country must nurture a generation of problem-solvers, innovators and critical thinkers from the foundational stages of education,” Minister Iddrisu stated.

He explained that the BSTEM project went beyond being a mere training initiative, representing a strategic national investment to equip teachers with modern skills, digital tools, and innovative teaching methods.

That will make STEM subjects more engaging and accessible at the basic education level, saying that the approach would spark early interest in STEM among young learners, fostering curiosity, creativity, and confidence qualities needed to shape future scientists, engineers, and innovators who will lead Ghana’s development.

Mr Gabriel Antwi, the Bono Regional Director of Education indicated that teaching science abstractly and through traditional methods had posed significant challenges, particularly for practical lessons, requiring laboratory demonstrations.

He said that basic schools would soon be equipped with STEM tools hoping that with the required tools the teaching and learning of the subject would improve for useful outcomes.

Mr Antwi noted that practical lessons and experiments promoted a learner-centered approach and thereby encouraged students to apply theoretical concepts more effectively.

The training programme and the equipment distribution will transform STEM education at the basic level, improve student performance and spark greater interest through hands-on experiences, he added.

PAC Faults Communications Ministry Over Missing $6m

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PAC sitting in section

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised serious concerns over the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation’s handling of a controversial e-government infrastructure contract, after auditors revealed that more than $6 million in advance payments due the state remain outstanding.

At a public hearing in Parliament, chaired by Atiwa East MP, Abena Osei-Asare, the committee found that officials from the Ministry, together with the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) provided unsatisfactory answers about why the monies had not been collected and what steps were being taken to retrieve them.

The matter relates to a contract originally signed between the Government of Ghana and Lebara Ghana Limited, later transferred to Smart Infraco Limited, for the management and commercialisation of excess capacity within Ghana’s e-government infrastructure, including the national data centre, fibre optic network, and LTE sites.

The Infraction

According to the Auditor-General’s report, the contract required Smart Infraco to pay the government $2 million in 2020 and $1 million annually from 2021 to 2024, totalling $6 million in advances.

None of these payments, however, have been received by the state.

PAC members expressed frustration that such a substantial amount could be left unrecovered at a time when the country is struggling with high debt levels and tight fiscal space.

Manhyia North MP, Akwasi Konadu pressed the officials on why the ministry had failed to enforce the contract: “This contract has been running since 2020. Year after year, payments have not been made. Why has the ministry not ensured recovery of the $6 million owed the state?”

Responses

In response, Dr. Mark Oliver Kevor, Acting Director-General of NITA, admitted that “for now, none or nothing has been recovered.”

He explained that since assuming office in March 2025, his agency had written to Smart Infraco demanding payment, but the company denied owing the sums in question.

The matter, he said, had been referred to the Ministry, which subsequently sought the advice of the Attorney-General.

“We have had engagements, including a joint management meeting with Smart Infraco, but we are at a dead end. That is why the Ministry has taken over the matter,” Dr. Kevor added.

Deputy Minister for Communications, Mohammed Adams Sukparu, confirmed that the issue had been escalated to the Attorney-General.

He told the committee that despite “several physical meetings” with the company, nothing fruitful had come out, making legal recourse the only option left.

PAC Pushes Back

The committee, however, was unimpressed with these explanations. Ranking Member, Samuel Atta Mills (Komenda) noted that the Auditor-General’s report clearly directed the Chief Director of the Ministry to take steps to recover the monies, yet the Chief Director was absent from the hearing.

“Clerk, let’s flag this one. We will invite the Chief Director and Head of Finance to come and meet this Committee, and they need to bring all relevant documents from the time of the payments,” Atta Mills said.

Other members questioned why only new appointees were sent to answer for contracts signed years earlier, while senior officials who had overseen the process were “indisposed.”

The committee expressed suspicion that the Ministry was deliberately shielding certain individuals from accountability.

Abena Osei-Asare, the PAC Chair, stressed that Parliament would not allow such infractions to go unresolved: “This committee is focused on ensuring value for every cedi approved by Parliament. A contract of this nature cannot run from 2020 to 2024, with no payments made and no accountability.”

The PAC also interrogated the purpose of the contract, asking why government had chosen to hand over commercialisation of excess digital infrastructure to a private company. Officials explained that the arrangement was intended to generate revenue for the state by leasing unused data capacity to private clients.

But committee members were skeptical, pointing out that despite this promise, government had instead been saddled with arrears and legal wrangling.

Boys raised by single mothers would be weak -Jim Iyke

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Jim Iyke

Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke, has stirred a bit of controversy after sharing his opinion about single mothers, stating that they cannot raise boys properly.

He declared, “A woman can’t raise a man, they’re not built for it. A single mother cannot raise men properly.”

“You need a man that you trust and there has to be a male presence because women are naturally built to nurture, to love. If you’re going to raise a man, he’s going to be everything like that man that left you. You need someone who would discipline him and teach him how to grind.”

Recalling an incident while on holiday in France with his son, the actor shared how he handled a situation where his son was bullied during a football game.

“I was at a beach at the side of France once with my son. He was playing with a bunch of kids and I think he got tired. He’s a terrible football player so they dribbled the hell out of him and took his ball. When he came back to me crying, I didn’t even act like I knew him and I told him to be a man. One of the mothers of the sons stepped aside to watch how I handled him, this is why you need a man.”

His comments have since sparked mixed reactions, with many arguing that single mothers are fully capable of raising well-rounded men.

MOGMusic signs major global deal with Integrity Music

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MOGMusic

Gospel musician MOGMusic has officially signed to Integrity Music through its global label services division, Integrated Music Rights (IMR).

The deal places him on a roster that includes internationally acclaimed worship leaders such as Dunsin Oyekan, Matt Redman, Darlene Zschech, Leeland, Paul Baloche, Emmanuel Smith and Day Three Music. It also marks a significant step in projecting the African gospel sound onto the global stage.

Over the past decade, MOGMusic has become one of Ghana’s most influential gospel voices. With his soul-stirring worship style, vocal strength and impactful ministry, he has earned both local and international recognition. His influence has seen him admitted as an Academy Member of the Recording Academy (Grammys), a major acknowledgement of his contribution to global music.

In 2023, he collaborated with American gospel legend Donnie McClurkin, a move that further expanded his international reach.

By partnering with Integrity Music, MOGMusic will gain access to a wide network of resources, including publishing and digital distribution. This is expected to expose his music to more diverse audiences across the world and strengthen his role in shaping contemporary worship.

Mark Bowater, UK Business Development Director at Integrity Music, said: “MOG Music represents everything we believe in musical excellence, authentic worship, and a heart for the Church. We are honored to walk alongside him as he steps into this next chapter of global ministry.”

Integrity Music is a globally recognised record label and publishing company that specialises in Christian worship music. Founded in 1987, it has been home to some of the most enduring worship songs used by churches worldwide, with offices in the United States, United Kingdom and other parts of the world.

Gyakie’s debut album ‘After Midnight’ set for release on August 29

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Gyakie

Songbird Gyakie has released the official trailer for her highly-anticipated debut album After Midnight, scheduled to drop on 29th August 2025.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Alex Piper, known for his work with Rema, Playboi Carti and Travis Scott, the visual captures Gyakie’s growth and artistry with cinematic depth. It offers fans an intimate glimpse into the story, spirit and soul that shape her first full-length project.

Born to Ghanaian highlife legend Nana Acheampong, Gyakie is continuing her family’s rich musical heritage, but After Midnight is set to be her own statement. The singer describes the album as a deeply personal body of work inspired by the stillness and mystery of the night.

“Almost all the songs on the album were recorded after midnight,” Gyakie revealed. “It is within those hours that I find my best inspiration to write. The peace and quiet, the sounds from the birds, the serenity, everything about that time fuels my creativity.”

The title reflects this creative process, with the music serving as a soundtrack to the many moods of the after-hours. It mirrors moments of reflection, spirituality and family traditions, such as her mother praying for her and her siblings after midnight. It also explores love, from passion to heartbreak, while celebrating joy and festivity, when laughter and music spill into morning.

From the opening frame of Piper’s trailer, After Midnight promises to be Gyakie’s most personal yet relatable project, inviting listeners to live, love, reflect and celebrate in the magic of the night.

Some of Gyakie’s old songs include Never Like This, Sor Mi Mu (featuring Bisa Kdei), Forever, Need Me, Something, Whine and Love is Pretty. 

The trailer is already available online, giving fans a first taste of what to expect when the full album arrives later this month.

The Ghanaian Chronicle