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Ho Aviation Academy takes off in eight months 

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The Ho Township

The establishment of a state-of-the-art Aviation Academy in the Volta Region is to begin in eight months, following the conclusion of feasibility study undertaken by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and key stakeholders.

The proposed Academy is envisioned as a centre of excellence in aviation training, incorporating a Pilot Training School, Cabin Crew and Technician Training Facility and a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Facility.

It is aimed at enhancing aviation education, create employment opportunities and position Ghana as a regional hub for aviation training and services.

This came to light when a team of the stakeholders visited the Ho Aerodrome.

Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, said the project would create job opportunities, boost tourism growth and economic transformation for the region and beyond.

He emphasised the strategic importance of the initiative, adding that “Togbe Afede XIV is a great asset to Ghana and I admire the partnership between him and Ghana Airports.

“A pilot training school will boost tourism, create jobs and positively impact other sectors. Whatever needs to be done must be done now.”

Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, reaffirmed his vision, highlighting that the plan dated back to 2019 and now is “God’s own time” to bring it to reality.

He said the project held immense promise not only for the Volta tegion but for Ghana’s aviation sector.

“With dedication, strategic planning, and collaboration, we remain confident in delivering a world-class aviation academy that meets international standards and contributes to the nation’s economic and aviation industry growth.”

Mrs. Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, Managing Director, GACL, also stated that regional airports must be self-sustaining, and that the academy project would be a step in the right direction.

She said with global demand for aviation professionals increasing, Ghana was well-positioned to become a key player in training pilots and aircraft technicians for the entire continent.

The visit marked the second attempt at assessing the feasibility of the project, following an earlier effort that encountered challenges.

From Edward Williams, Ho 

GNA 

 

Workshop for Development of a National Action Plan for Shipping Decarbonization in Ghana Held

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IMO officials pictured with GMA officials during NAP Workshop in Tema

The Ghana Maritime Authority has organised a workshop to fashion out a National Action Plan for Shipping Decarbonization in Ghana under the Imo-Greenvoyage2050 Programme.

GreenVoyage2050 is a global programme supporting developing countries to reduce emissions from ships, in line with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.

The aims of this Action Plan would be to among others guide the country towards reducing GHGs emissions and air pollutants in the maritime sector and also tapping into the opportunities presented by the green transition agenda.

Member States are expected to take an active role in implementing the IMO GHG Strategy, including the development of clear roadmaps to advance the maritime green transition within their respective jurisdictions.

As the primary agency responsible for regulating the maritime industry and preventing maritime pollution, the Ghana Maritime Authority has been actively initiating measures to ensure a just transition for Ghana.

To formally initiate the NAP development process, a national kick-off workshop has been organized by the IMO-GreenVoyage2050 Programme, involving key public and private sector stakeholders to oversee the development of the National Action Plan.

Addressing participants, the Acting Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Dr. Kamal Deen entreated all stakeholders to work assiduously and collectively to achieve the GreenVoyage2050 target.

“This is a national action plan so it cannot and it will not be a Ghana Maritime Authority document. It is a document that require our collective input, our collective deliberation and our collective adoption in general let me highlight that we are just not looking at this strategy from the point of view of regulation but it is equally key in terms of future economic opportunities so when you look at the document you realize that it has a number of thematic pillars and whereas some of the pillars are looking at reduction, other pillars are looking at how do we as a country take advantage of the changing situation.

We have to quickly then see how we mobilize ourselves to meet that responsibility globally but also to look at the positive side and how we strategize to take advantage of the economic opportunities that will come along with decarbonization,” he said.

The adoption of the 2023 IMO Strategy on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships outlines ambitious targets aimed at achieving net-zero emissions in the industry by 2050.

One of the project leads with the IMO, Astrid Dispert gave more insight into the development of the IMO Net-Zero framework.

She said, “I often hear that it doesn’t sound that much substantial that shipping’s contribution is 3% of the whole global emissions but if you look at the projections a lot of countries are developing more and more so there’s an increased trade. The numbers of international trade have been increasing over the last decade and are projected to increase so we cannot just sit around and do nothing.”

IMO Helps Ghana’s Transition Efforts Towards Greener Maritime Practices

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Georgina Adia Nyadia, Deputy Director, Legal and Chairperson of the GMA Decarbonization Committee (lower left), and Numbu Issahaque Sumabe, Senior Maritime Officer, GMA (lower right) during Eye on Port discussion on IMO-GreenVoyage2050

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has selected Ghana as one of five countries to receive technical support in developing a National Action Plan (NAP) under the GreenVoyage2050 programme. This initiative aims to help Ghana transition to more sustainable maritime practices by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping, aligning with global decarbonization goals set out in the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.

The GreenVoyage2050 programme, primarily funded by the Government of Norway with additional contributions from Finland, assists developing nations in implementing policies and pilot projects that promote environmentally friendly shipping. Under this initiative, Ghana will receive expert guidance, capacity-building workshops, and stakeholder engagement support to develop a robust strategy for reducing emissions in its maritime sector.

Ghana’s Commitment to Greener Shipping

According to Numbu Issahaque Sumabe, a Senior Maritime Officer at the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) and National Coordinator for GreenVoyage2050 who was speaking to Kennedy Mornah on the niche Eye on Port TV program, Ghana has already been taking steps to curb emissions through domestic enforcement of international maritime regulations. The country has domesticated the MARPOL Convention into the Maritime Pollution Act 932, including Annex VI, which targets air pollution prevention.

“We implement and enforce global regulations established by the IMO, and as part of our port state control activities, we ensure compliance with MARPOL Annex VI,” said Mr. Sumabe. “We have also been organizing stakeholder awareness workshops on green shipping, and in February 2023, Ghana hosted Africa’s first-ever Green Shipping Conference.”

Why Ghana Was Selected

Speaking on the same platform, Georgina Adia Nyadia, Deputy Director, Legal and Chairperson of the GMA Decarbonization Committee, highlighted Ghana’s active participation at the IMO as a key reason for its selection. The country has been consistently engaged in discussions and policy submissions at the IMO, strengthening its visibility on global maritime sustainability efforts.

“Ghana has been very active in IMO deliberations, making both oral and written submissions before and after committee meetings. Our compliance with international maritime conventions, such as the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), has also positioned us as a responsible maritime nation,” Mrs. Nyadia noted. “Being on the IMO White List further underscores our commitment to international standards.”

Key Technical Support Under GreenVoyage2050

The GreenVoyage2050 programme will provide Ghana with extensive technical assistance, including the development of a National Action Plan (NAP) to map out Ghana’s strategy for decarbonization, technical support in drafting updated regulations to align with evolving international conventions, research assistance on green fuels, assessing their economic potential and viability for bunkering in Ghana and capacity-building initiatives to equip maritime professionals with knowledge of green shipping trends.

Mrs. Nyadia emphasized that this support will not only strengthen Ghana’s regulatory framework but also create economic opportunities by positioning the country as a green bunkering hub in West Africa.

Role of Ghana’s Ports in Decarbonization

Ports will play a critical role in Ghana’s transition to greener maritime practices. Mr. Sumabe pointed out that the Port Authority will have a major responsibility in implementing sustainable infrastructure, including developing green bunkering infrastructure to facilitate alternative fuel supply for vessels, introducing shore power (cold ironing) from renewable sources, allowing ships to plug into clean energy instead of running on fossil fuels while docked and optimizing port operations to reduce ship turnaround time, cutting unnecessary emissions from idling vessels.

“Cleaner ports will not only enhance Ghana’s standing in green shipping but also improve air quality for port communities, reducing the health risks associated with maritime emissions,” Mr. Sumabe explained.

Looking Ahead

Ghana’s involvement in the GreenVoyage2050 programme represents a crucial step towards a cleaner and more sustainable maritime industry. The IMO has emphasized that ongoing collaboration and innovation will be key to achieving the programme’s goals. With annual open calls for technical assistance, more developing countries are expected to join in the coming years.

As Ghana works towards finalizing its National Action Plan, industry stakeholders remain optimistic that the country can set a benchmark for sustainable shipping in West Africa.

US actor Gene Hackman and his wife found dead at their home

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NANA KWESI COOMSON
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Gene Hackman

Oscar-winning US actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog have been found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In a wide-ranging career spanning more than six decades, Hackman won two Academy Awards for his work on The French Connection and Unforgiven.

A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff in New Mexico said: “We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail.

“This is an active investigation – however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor.”

Hackman was 95, and his wife – a classical pianist – 63.

He won the best actor Oscar for his role as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in William Friedkin’s 1971 thriller The French Connection, and another for best supporting actor for playing Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s Western film Unforgiven in 1992.

A relative latecomer to Hollywood, Hackman’s breathrough came in his thirties, when he was nominated for an Oscar for portraying Buck Barrow in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde – opposite Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway – and again for I Never Sang for My Father in 1970.

Both films saw him recognised in the supporting actor category. He was also nominated for best leading actor in 1988 for playing the agent in Mississippi Burning.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office said: “On 26 February, 2025, at approximately 1:45pm, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and a dog were found deceased.”

Much-celebrated actor Hackman played more than 100 roles in total, including supervillain Lex Luthor in the Christopher Reeve-starring Superman movies in the 1970s and 1980s.

Hackman acted opposite many Hollywood heavyweights including Al Pacino in 1973’s Scarecrow, Gene Wilder in 1974’s Young Frankenstein and Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton in 1981’s Reds.

He also starred in the hit movies Runaway Jury, Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation.

Credit: bbc.com

Filmmakers are not merely storytellers –Shirley Frimpong Manso 

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Shirley Frimpong Manso

Filmmaker and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sparrow Studios, Shirley Frimpong Manso, has highlighted the role films play in shaping society.

In her speech during the launch of her company’s YouTube channel, Sparrow Station, she indicated that film possesses a profound power to reshape perceptions, inspire people’s perspectives and challenge societal norms.

“We are not merely stories tellers, we are catalysts for change,” she said.

Her statement emphasises the impact of arts on the socio-cultural development of people across the world.

Sparrow Studios launched a YouTube channel to host its content. The channel Sparrow Station, will aid in distributing movies, series and shows from the stables of the company.

Speaking the launch which took place at the Labadi Beach Hotel on Wednesday, February 25, 2025, Shirley Frimpong Manso recounted how overcoming her fears and doubts at the incipient stage of her film career kept her moving.

“Today I stand before you reflecting on my 18 year journey as a film maker. It all began with my first feature film, Life and living it which I nervously wondered if audiences would leave the comfort of their homes to see at the National Theatre, one of the few things I had been up with in Ghana at the time. Yet, despite my doubt, the film resonated with viewers and we have since enjoyed numerous successful screens,” she noted.

Announcing their new distribution model – YouTube, she spoke about the prospect of the video streaming platform and how would impact their new journey.

However, she indicated that this “this endeavour relies on your engagement. We are introducing the Watch to Create model, where the viewership directly inspires new content. The more you watch, the more we create.”

In the meantime, Sparrow Production is preparing to premiere its new movie titled ‘For Love and Country’ on March 6, 2025.

Credit: myjoyonline.com

Blackstar Experience will include concert party competitions –Mahama

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President John Dramani Mahama

The Blackstar Experience will be the government’s flagship initiative aimed at establishing Ghana as the gateway to Africa for the global diaspora, President John Dramani Mahama has stated.

Delivering his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in his second term on Thursday, 27th February, in Parliament, the President said the programme, which is captured in the 2024 manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), will feature thoughtfully curated cultural, historic and creative arts experiences, in collaboration with the private sector, diplomatic missions, ministries, departments and agencies.

He also noted that Blackstar Experience will encompass activities such as concert party competitions, film events, and street carnivals.

“The Pan African Month will be a part of the Blackstar Experience. It will include street carnivals, film week, fashion festival, food fair, theoretical and drama performances, concert party competitions, and monthly domestic tourism destinations,” President Mahama said, stressing that their aim is to position the Blackstar Experience as a uniquely Ghanaian tourism brand.

He made this statement while presenting the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on February 27, 2025.

In the meantime, Ghanaian musician and entrepreneur Rex Owusu Marfo popularly known as Rex Omar, has been appointed as the Presidential Staffer for Blackstar Experience.

In his address, President Mahama also expressed government’s commitment to developing Osu Castle into a more attractive tourist site.

“We will develop the Osu Castle, the former seat of government and the area around it as a tourist attraction. It will have a pedestrian precinct with arts and craft market, jewelry and gold markets. This approximate 22-acre land will become a destination for tourism,” he said.

President Mahama noted that Tourism, culture and creative arts remain vital cornerstones of Ghana’s national development strategy, playing a significant role in job creation, cultural exchange and economic growth.

While acknowledging that the ministry has launched transformative initiatives to position Ghana as a premiere global destination and this is positive in recent years, he also outlined other positive initiatives aimed at harnessing the country’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and its dynamic creative sector.

He further indicated that his government will strategically promote meetings, conferences and exhibitions tourism to diversify Ghana’s tourism offerings.

“Ghana’s peaceful and democratic environment positions us as an attractive hub for international summits, business conventions and high profile gatherings. We must capitalise on this unique advantage to maximise our benefits and strengthen our reputation as the country that is closest to the centre of the world,” he added.

Mahama also promised to resume work on the Marine Drive Project in Accra.

Credit: myjoyonline.com

Trump threatens 25% tariffs on EU, claims bloc was formed to ‘screw’ US

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US President Donald Trump

United States President Donald Trump has said he will impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from the European Union, claiming that the bloc was created to “screw” his country.

Speaking at the first meeting of his cabinet on Wednesday, Trump said a decision on tariffs had been made and would be announced “very soon”.

“It’ll be 25 percent, generally speaking,” Trump told reporters. “And that’ll be on cars and all other things.”

Returning to his regular talking point that the US is treated unfairly in trade, Trump claimed that the 27-member union does not accept US cars and farm products while the US takes “everything from them”.

The EU currently imposes a 10 percent tariff on US vehicle imports, which is four times the US tariff on European passenger car imports.

The US also imposes a 25 percent tariff on imported pick-up trucks.

“Look, let’s be honest, the European Union was formed in order to screw the United States,” Trump said.

“That’s the purpose of it, and they’ve done a good job of it. But now I’m president.”

Trump’s comments drew a swift response from the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, which said the world’s largest single market area had been “a boon” for the US.

“The EU will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade, including when tariffs are used to challenge legal and non-discriminatory policies,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

Credit: aljazeera.com

 

Drought-hit Morocco asks citizens not to slaughter sheep on Eid al-Adha

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A sacrificial sheep is brought to a livestock market before Eid al-Adha

King Mohammed VI of Morocco asked Moroccans on Wednesday to abstain from performing the rite of slaughtering sheep on Eid al-Adha this year due to a drop in the country’s herd following years of drought.

Eid al-Adha, to take place in June, commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son on God’s command. Muslims mark the event by slaughtering sheep or goats. The meat is shared among family and donated to the poor.

Morocco’s cattle and sheep herds have decreased by 38% in 2025 since the last census nine years ago due to consecutive droughts, according to official figures.

“Our commitment to enabling you to fulfill this religious rite under the best conditions is accompanied by the duty to consider the climatic and economic challenges facing our country, which have led to a significant decline in livestock numbers,” the King said in a letter read on his behalf by religious affairs minister Ahmed Taoufiq on state TV Al Oula.

Performing the rite “under these difficult circumstances will cause significant harm to large segments of our people, especially those with limited income,” said the King, Morocco’s supreme religious leader.

Rainfall was 53% lower this year than the average of the last 30 years, causing a lack of pasture for livestock to feed on. Meat production has dropped, leading to higher prices in the local market and higher imports of live cattle, sheep and red meat.

The country has recently signed a deal to import up to 100,000 sheep from Australia.

Credit: cnn.com

Trump foreign aid freeze to stay for now, US Supreme Court chief rules

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Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts

The top judge in the United States has given temporary backing to the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid payments.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ intervention came as the administration faced a midnight deadline (05:00 GMT on Thursday) to pay contractors.

Officials had argued that they could not process the payments within the timeframe set by a lower court judge.

Since coming to power in January, US President Donald Trump has taken quick action to end many aid programmes, largely run by the US Agency for International Development, USAID, and placed most of its staff on administrative leave or sacked them.

The Trump administration is seeking to shrink the federal workforce and cut costs in a drive led by Elon Musk.

The billionaire Trump adviser asked millions of bureaucrats over the weekend to list their accomplishments from the past week – sparking fury amongst the workforce and disagreement with officials leading the departments.

US District Judge Amir Ali had ordered the US State Department and USAID to pay about $2bn-worth of bills (£1.6bn) to contractors by midnight on Wednesday.

It is one of many interventions by judges trying to stop or pause a wave of Trump administration orders.

As the deadline approached, the Trump administration went to the Supreme Court, arguing it was impossible to process claims in an orderly fashion in such a short period of time.

The US federal government freeze comes as the administration carries out a review of foreign aid funding.

Credit: bbc.com

Israel says it won’t withdraw from Gaza-Egypt border as it sends team to ceasefire talks

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicating the Gaza-Egypt border

Israel will not withdraw its forces from the Gaza-Egypt border as would be required under the second phase of a truce with Hamas, an Israeli source says, even as it dispatches a team for ceasefire negotiations.

“We will not exit the Philadelphi Corridor,” the source told CNN, referring to the 14-kilometer (8-mile) strip along the border. “We will not allow Hamas murderers to roam again with trucks and rifles on our borders, and we will not let them strengthen themselves again through smuggling.”

The announcement comes days before the first phase of the Israel-Hamas hostage-ceasefire agreement is set to expire, and just hours after Hamas handed over the final hostages due for release under the first phase.

Hamas said in a statement that Israel’s failure to withdraw from the Gaza-Egypt border would be “a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement, and an attempt to fabricate excuses to obstruct the ceasefire agreement and casuing it to fail.”

Talks on extending a 42-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas into a second phase were meant to have started more than three weeks ago.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said Thursday that Benjamin Netanyahu was sending a “negotiating delegation to Cairo today to continue the talks.”

It is unclear whether that team will discuss phase two of a ceasefire, which is supposed to include the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, or just an extension of the first phase.

Credit: cnn.com

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