Amnesty Int’l seeks probe into Natasha’s allegations against Akpabio

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March 24, 2025

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has condemned the declaration of state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State.

Soyinka, who stated this during an interview on Channels Television, described the situation as excessive.

It could be recalled that Tinubu declared emergency rule in the oil-rich state on Tuesday night over the political crisis and instability in the state.

The president also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Ngozi Odu and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months.

In the governor’s stead, Tinubu immediately appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He has also appointed and sworn in a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as the Sole Administrator of the state.

The president hinged his decision on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he could not continue to watch the political situation in the state escalate without taking any measures.

Section 305 of the Nigerian constitution interprets a state of emergency as a situation of “national danger, disaster or terrorist attacks in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.”

A state of emergency allows the president to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Jigawa govt bans night grazing to curb road accidents

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March 24, 2025

The Jigawa State Government has reiterated its commitment to enforcing the law prohibiting night grazing by herders across the state to reduce road accidents, which are primarily caused by camels.

Governor Umar Namadi made this known while receiving officials of the Camel Rearers Association of West Africa on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Dutse.

He emphasized the state government’s concern for the safety and well-being of its residents, expressing deep worry over the rising number of fatalities and injuries resulting from camels crossing major roads.

The governor also acknowledged the illegal activities of some herders, particularly those coming from neighboring countries.

As part of measures to address the situation, he announced plans to register Fulani herders in the state for easy identification when necessary.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General of the West Africa Rearers Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Mustapha Andaza, said the visit was to formally introduce the association and seek the state government’s guidance on best practices for operating in Jigawa.

DAILY POST reported a number of deaths and loss of properties annually as a result of road accidents caused by stray camels on roads across the state.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Global Media Foundation calls for Probe into Ghana School Feeding Program

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FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH

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March 24, 2025

The Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), a prominent advocacy organization, dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to launch a comprehensive investigation into the Ghana School Feeding Program.

This urgent call follows recent revelations by Sarah Adwoa Safo, the former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, highlighting potential mismanagement and irregularities within the program.

The Ghana School Feeding Program, which aims to provide one nutritious meal per day to schoolchildren, plays a critical role in enhancing educational outcomes and supporting local agriculture.

However, allegations of financial misappropriations, irregularities in food supply contracts and inadequate oversight mechanisms have raised the concerns about the program’s integrity and effectiveness.

Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, Chief Executive Officer of GLOMEF, said in a press release copied to The Chronicle in Sunyani that, “The school feeding program is vital for the health and education of our children.

“It is imperative that these allegations are thoroughly investigated to ensure that the program operates transparently and efficiently, fulfilling its mission to support the development of Ghana’s future generations.”

GLOMEF urged President Mahama to take immediate action by commissioning a full-scale investigation into the program.

The organisation believes that a transparent inquiry is essential to identify any malpractices, hold accountable those responsible and implement necessary reforms to restore public confidence in this crucial initiative.

The call for an investigation has received widespread support from various stakeholders, including parents, educators, and civil society organisations.

The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) and the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) have also expressed their support for a thorough audit to ensure the effective use of resources allocated to the program.

As an organisation committed to advocating for social justice and good governance, GLOMEF stands ready to support efforts to enhance the transparency and accountability of the Ghana School Feeding Program.

The foundation believes that addressing these concerns is essential for safeguarding the well-being of Ghanaian children and ensuring the program’s long-term success.

Program plagued by rot

The former Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Adwoa Safo, has been alleging widespread corruption and mismanagement within Ghana’s school feeding programme, which provides meals to students in public schools.

School snack program

Speaking on Wontumi TV on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 the former Dome/Kwabenya Member of Parliament urged the government of President John Dramani Mahama to prioritise reforms in the sector, warning that unchecked corruption is draining resources and undermining the programme’s effectiveness.

Recounting her tenure, Adwoa Safo revealed that former President Nana Akufo-Addo had instructed her to audit the school feeding programme before releasing funds for her ministry.

However, she claimed that after submitting the audit report to the then Cabinet, the President distanced himself from the directive, due to pressure from individuals within the government.

“The rot and the corruption that is going on at the school feeding sector is serious. This government should pay attention to that sector.

“Former President John Agyekum Kufuor had a great vision around the school feeding programme, but the way it has been twisted is a serious matter,” she said.

She further detailed challenges she faced in her attempt to investigate financial mismanagement in the programme.

“When I was appointed as the Gender Minister, President Akufo-Addo asked me to conduct an audit of the school feeding programme before I would be given funds to operate. What was all the money allocated to the programme being used for? I would call this woman – a key official in the programme – once, twice, even three times and she wouldn’t respond. Instead, she would send a message saying she wasn’t happy with how I was handling her because she had connections in the government and at higher authorities,” she alleged.

Adwoa Safo claimed that the majority of the financial irregularities were traced to the Central Region. She also accused members of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration of trying to cover up the corruption, adding that her audit report was dismissed by the President.

“The majority of the rot was coming from the Central Region. The backlash that followed my submission of the audit report made President Akufo-Addo deny that he had asked me to conduct it. He told me to set it aside, and that’s where my problems began,” she stated.

Her revelations have reignited calls for transparency and accountability in the administration of the school feeding programme, which has faced persistent scrutiny over financial mismanagement and operational inefficiencies.

Barcelona player jams to Shatta Wale’s ‘Everybody Like My Thing’

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March 24, 2025

Coopy of Yen.com.gh 1920*1080 - 12 — Barcelona player jams to Shatta Wale song

Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde has been captured in a video jamming to Shatta Wale’s hit song, “Everybody Like My Thing,” while hanging out with some teammates.

In the video which has gone viral on social media, Balde is seen showing off his moves to Shatta Wale’s infectious hit ‘Everybody Like My Thing’! which was released in 2014.

This comes as a surprise to many fans of Shatta Wale and music enthusiasts as Balde has never shown his musical preference in public.

Ghanaians in particular have responded to his exuberant dancing, viewing it as another evidence of Shatta Wale’s international impact.

“Everybody Like My Thing” became one of Shatta Wale’s biggest hits when it was released in 2014.

Even though it’s an older song, its catchy lyrics and upbeat have made it timeless and continue to appeal to people all over the world.

The video has since garnered a lot of attention, with many people praising Shatta Wale’s increasing prominence in the worldwide entertainment industry and the worldwide appeal of African music.

Alejandro Balde Martínez is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team. He is considered to be one of the best young full-backs in the world due to his pace, ball-carrying and defensive contribution.

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, to a Bissau-Guinean father and a Dominican mother,^[⁶^] Balde joined Barcelona in 2011 at the age of eight after coming up through ranks at Espanyol.

Credit: 3news.com

Some gospel musicians are hypocrites –Ronica Sings

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March 24, 2025

Ghanaian musician based in Canada, Ronica Sings has opened up on how some gospel musicians put up characters that do not reflect who they claim to be.

Speaking to Doreen Avio n Daybreak Hitz, she said a lot of these gospel musicians portray there is unity among them but they do that to conceal their real divisive tendencies.

“You think that you know some of the gospel musicians [just like you’re saying] are being hypocrites about who they really are, because the togetherness that they portray out there is not actually what it seems when you get inside. I wouldn’t say all of them are like that. You know, some people have been so great to me, you know, connecting me to different places,” she added.

Ronica also expressed worry about why some established people in the gospel industry find it difficult to shine some light on up and coming ones.

“You expect that we’re all in the kingdom, so people that are already there will help put you on your platform. We’re all working for the kingdom of God, why can’t you expand it by promoting other people that have good work, good stuff too, you know, all come together and expand the kingdom of God?” she said.

Talking about her personal struggles as a gospel artiste who has a family, she noted : “It’s not easy, but I look to a lot of people that have been able to do it to push myself. Somebody like Diana Hamilton, she came from the UK and she’s been able to push herself. And I learned a lot from her that if she’s able to do it, I can also do it. It’s possible.”

Ronica ‘s experiences highlight the importance of support and collaboration among artistes, as well as the need for authenticity and sincerity in their work.

Credit: myjoyonline.com

I have an unreleased song with Efya –Cina Soul

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March 24, 2025

The anticipation for a joint project from two of Ghana’s talented vocalists may soon come to fruition as Cina Soul prepares to release a song that features Ghana’s vocal goddess Efya.

This revelation was made on Hitz FM on Friday, March 21, 2025 when Cina Soul appeared on Daybreak Hitz.

Speaking to Doreen Avio, Cina Soul said: “I want to release the song with Efya. We have a song together. But you know, I didn’t want to put it on the album because, yeah, I wanted to give it special attention.”

Her collaboration with Efya has caused some excitement among music lovers who have always revered the two songstresses.

This also comes on the back Cina Soul’s admiration for Efya, who has won Ghana Music Awards’ female vocal performance slot for umpteenth times.

In 2019, Cina paid tribute to Efya when asked if her presence in the music space would ne a threat to the latter.

“I grew listening to Efya and mimicking some of the things she did so you tell me that I sound or you are comparing me, you’re blessing me because it’s such a blessing to be compared to Efya,” Cina Soul said.

Apart from Cina’s project with Efya which is in the offing, she still has the desire to do music with some of the world’s greatest musicians.

“I want to perform with Beyonce, with Chris Brown, with Burna Boy, with Tems, with Ayra, who else? They are plenty,” she added.

Cina Soul recently released a new album titled ‘Did I Lie’?

Credit: myjoyonline.com

Agya Koo recounts how a woman saved him from a ritualist

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March 24, 2025

Kumawood actor Agya Koo has shared a chilling account of how an unknown woman saved him from becoming entangled with the infamous occultist, Dr Yogi Ram Beckley.

Recounting his days as a shoe cobbler, the actor revealed that he was once summoned by a man in a luxurious house to provide his services.

“As a cobbler, I was roaming one day in search of work when someone called me from a beautiful house, seeking my services.”

On his way to the house, an unknown woman approached him, pleading for him to fix her shoe, insisting it was urgent. Initially hesitant, Agya Koo eventually agreed to attend to her first.

“As I was about to enter, a woman suddenly called me from behind with a sense of urgency, asking me to fix her footwear.

“I wanted to decline since I had already been called elsewhere, but she insisted, saying she needed her footwear fixed as she was on her way to church. I decided to attend to her first before going to the house where I had originally been summoned.”

It was then that the woman sternly warned him not to enter the house. Though initially resistant, her persistence convinced him to stay away. A few days later, it was revealed that the house belonged to the notorious occultist Dr Beckley.

“As soon as I got closer to her, the old woman sternly warned me twice not to enter. I was puzzled and had goosebumps, so I chose to follow her advice because of her insistence. She gave me money, for no work done, revealing that her footwear was never broken after all.”

Dr Yogi Ram Beckley was a notorious occultist in the 1990s and early 2000s, alleged to have kidnapped and sacrificed numerous children to his gods. He mysteriously disappeared in 2005, leaving no trace of his whereabouts.

Credit: pulse.com.gh

Trump envoy dismisses Starmer plan for Ukraine

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March 24, 2025

Sir Keir Starmer’s plan for an international force to support a ceasefire in Ukraine has been dismissed as “a posture and a pose” by Donald Trump’s special envoy.

Steve Witkoff said the idea was based on a “simplistic” notion of the UK prime minister and other European leaders thinking “we have all got to be like Winston Churchill”.

In an interview with pro-Trump journalist Tucker Carlson, Witkoff praised Vladimir Putin, saying he “liked” the Russian president.

“I don’t regard Putin as a bad guy,” he said. “He’s super smart.”

Witkoff, who met Putin 10 days ago, said the Russian president had been “gracious” and “straight up” with him. Putin told him, he added, that he had prayed for Trump after an assassination attempt against him last year. He also said Putin had commissioned a portrait of the US president as a gift and Trump was “clearly touched by it”.

During the interview, Witkoff repeated various Russian arguments, including that Ukraine was “a false country” and asked when the world would recognise occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian.

Witkoff is leading the US ceasefire negotiations with both Russia and Ukraine but he was unable to name the five regions of Ukraine either annexed or partially occupied by Russian forces.

He said: “The largest issue in that conflict are these so-called four regions, Donbas, Crimea, you know the names and there are two others.”

Credit: bbc.com

Pope Francis is discharged from Rome hospital

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March 24, 2025