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    Sunday 30 June 2019

    Meet World Bank's new country director to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone

    June 30, 2019 0
    Meet World Bank's new country director to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone

    The World Bank has appointed Pierre Frank Laporte as the new Country Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
    A statement from the Bank said his appointment takes effect from July 1, 2019 and he would be based in the World Bank’s Accra Office.
    Pierre Frank Laporte, a national of Seychelles, joined the World Bank in July 2015 as Country Director for Benin, Burkina, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo in the Africa Region.
    Prior to joining the Bank, Laporte held several key positions in the Seychelles government, including Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles, and later Minister for Finance, Trade and Investment. 
    Laporte is also a former International Monetary Fund Economist and Fund Resident Representative.
    He also worked in the private sector as the Chief Executive Officer of the SACOS Insurance Group in Seychelles.
    In his new position, Laporte’s top three priorities would be to lead the Bank's strategic dialogue with Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone and support the implementation of the World Bank’s Africa Region’s priorities.
    He would also deepen the policy dialogue and partnership with governments and key stakeholders, and oversee the delivery and implementation of the lending and non-lending portfolio.
    Laporte holds a Masters’ Degree in Economics (with Distinction) from the University of Sheffield (UK) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics with Computing from the University of Surrey (UK).
    He is also a holder of several awards; in 1998 he received the Midland Bank Award for Outstanding Performer in the Economics, Money, Banking and Finance programs of the University of Sheffield (1998).
    He received the 2013 Southern African Finance Minister of the Year award by the African Leadership Magazine and a Special Commendation Award for Outstanding Contribution and Service to Humanity by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus in 2014.
    He is married with two children.
    Source: Ghana News Agency (GNA)
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    Thursday 31 January 2019

    Essien emerges as Ghana's richest footballer

    January 31, 2019 0
    Essien emerges as Ghana's richest footballer

    Ghanaian footballer and former Chelsea star, Michael Essien is said to be the fifth richest footballer on the continent and Ghana’s richest footballer, according to Tuko.co.ke, a Kenyan news and entertainment website. Essien is followed on the list by Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan who took sixth place.

    Essien, 36, who has been capped 58 times for the Black Stars with nine goals is said to be worth about $35 million which he earned from his playing career whilst Gyan estimated worth is
    $23million.
     
    The former, Bastia and Lyon ace who also featured for clubs such as Real Madrid and AC Milan is currently a free agent having been released by Indonesia side, Persib Bandung in 2018.

    Cameroun legend, Samuel Eto’o sits on the summit of the list with a net worth estimated to be around $95million.

    The 37-year-old who is considered as one of the most successful players on the continent for winning the continent’s most prestigious footballer award four times became the highest earning footballer while playing for Russian side, Anzhi Makhachkala raking an annual salary of $2.5m.

    Eto’o who currently plays for Qatar SC has also played for Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Antalyspor.

    He is followed by Cote d’Ivoire legend, Didier Drogba whose net worth was not made available but was said to have raked in substantial amount with his wage of $150,000 a week at Chelsea where he spent eight seasons.

    Later he went to Chinese side, Shanghai Shenhua where his weekly salary was $200,000, he later move to Galatasaray in Turkey before returning to Chelsea then to the MLS in USA where he is said to own shares in Phoenix Rising Football club

    Yaya Toure who left Manchester City last season is said to be the third richest player on the continent with an estimated net worth of about $70million.

    The 35-year old was said to have made his millions from the English club where he spent most of his playing career after his transfer from Barcelona.

    Togolese international, Emmanuel Adebayor is regarded as the fourth richest Africa footballer with estimated net value of about $45million.

    Source: Peacefmonline
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    Corruption in Nigeria, a reflection of Ghana's

    January 31, 2019 0
    Corruption in Nigeria, a reflection of Ghana's

    Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani
    A lead anti-corruption campaigner in Nigeria has said that corruption in Africa wears no nationality as the attitudes of politicians in Ghana and those of Nigeria are the same.

    Speaking on the Joy Super Morning Show Wednesday, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, said: “what is happening in Nigeria is a reflection of what is happening in Ghana.”

    the Ghanaian politician and the Nigerian politician must be more sensitive and responsive when given political responsibility. It is not an opportunity to steal and siphon funds”, he added.

    The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) said that political office “is given to serve the people.”

    Mr. Rafsanjani made these remarks on the heels of a recent dismissal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari on account of the latter’s failure to declare his asset.

    While faulting the executive decision on grounds that “many Nigerians and the international community are interpreting this as calculated attempt to have the judiciary inside their pocket in order to influence the outcome of the elections,” he also insisted that asset declaration as a measure to check political corruption should not be taken for granted.

    This conversation comes a day after Transparency International (TI) through its local Chapter, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), made public the scores of the 2018 Corruption Perception Index.

    The 2018 CPI scores Ghana 41 out of a possible clean score of 100 and ranks the country 78 out of 180 countries/territories included in this year’s index.

    Source: myjoyonline.com
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    Monday 25 June 2018

    DMC Ghana releases short film on Tramadol abuse

    June 25, 2018 1
    DMC Ghana releases short film on Tramadol abuse
    DMC Ghana, an advertising agency in Accra has released a short film addressing Tramadol abuse in Ghana.
    The skit directed by Harold Yeboa Amoa stars Comedian Jerry who plays Jerry, a boy who died after abusing the painkiller. In the video, Jerry puts Tramadol pills into a flask containing juice, drinks it and enters the bathroom to shower, with the intention of getting ‘high’ before breakfast. His mother enters his room, sees a box of Tramadol on the sink but she’s so oblivious about the situation because she thinks her son is trying to get rid of a mild pain.
    The video titled “Tramol”, a local slang for Tramadol addresses the high probability of some parents ignoring certain signs linking their children to drug addiction. “Unlike marijuana or cocaine, Tramadol can be purchased at a pharmacy even though prescriptions are now required. Since it is a well packaged drug, teen abusers can keep them in their rooms without arousing suspicion from parents and this makes it more dangerous”, says Harold.
    Tramadol abuse has been on the rise among the Ghanaian youth and this has been a major concern for the government. In March this year, a junior high school student in Accra died after taking 10 tablets of Tramadol.
    The Ministry of Health has taken steps to curb the situation by restricting it to buyers without prescription. The advertising company is hoping that the video would draw parents’ attention to some signs of drug addiction they usually ignore.



    Watch video here 
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    Thursday 17 May 2018

    Kojo Antwi honoured in Burkina Faso

    May 17, 2018 0
    Kojo Antwi honoured in Burkina Faso


    Ghanaian Music Maestro, Kojo Antwi was amongst a select West African musicians honoured at the Marley d’Or 18, held in the Burkinabe capital of Ouagadougou, last Friday.

    The event is held annually in memory of the late Reggae icon, Robert Nesta Marley (widely known as Bob Marley) who passed on to eternity on 11th May, 1981.

    In a telephone conversation with Suncity Radio, on his arrival back home, Kojo said he was highly elated and fulfilled for being recognized by Francophone countries.

    Other West African musicians honoured at the event were Ishmael Isaacs (Ivory Coast), Solo Hah Hunt (Ivory Coast), Koko Dembele (Mali), Kwamy Mensah(Spain) and Oscibi Johan (Burkina Faso) and many others.

    Read more at graphic.com.gh
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    Wednesday 16 May 2018

    Tell the African story from the African perspective - Billionaire to journalists

    May 16, 2018 0
    Tell the African story from the African perspective - Billionaire to journalists

    Ashish J. Thakkar
    A young African billionaire and business tycoon, Mr Ashish J. Thakkar has urged African journalists and media practitioners to tell the story of Africa from the African perspective.

    He said in spite of the bountiful opportunities existing on the African continent, the continent is always featured in the western media with a negative slur.

    He said the positive sides of the continent are often underreported by the western media, noting that such narrative could only be changed if African journalists and media practitioners highlight the positives of the continent.

    Mr Thakkar made the call when he paid a visit to the head office of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) in Accra on Tuesday.

    The visit was to enable Mr Thakkar familiarise himself with the operations of the company and also interact with staff.

    Mr Thakkar who was in Ghana to deliver a lecture to inspire young entrepreneurs was accompanied by the President of the Millennium Excellence Foundation (MEF), Mr Ashim Morton and Ambassador Victor Gbeho.

    Source: Ghana Web
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    Tuesday 15 May 2018

    Twelve African countries that joined U.S. embassy opening in Jerusalem

    May 15, 2018 0
    Twelve African countries that joined U.S. embassy opening in Jerusalem

    A dozen African countries were present for the United States’ controversial relocation of its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the Isreali news portal Haaretz reported.

    The ceremony was held on Monday with adviser and daughter of president Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, in attendance. It comes about five months after Trump took the decision which was widely condemned by the United Nations and allies of the U.S.

    Some of the countries in question had voted against the move in December 2017. Interestingly, the only African country that voted along with the resolution, Togo, was absent.

    The twelve countries were: Angola, Cameroon, Congo Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia.
    Of the twelve, Rwanda, Cameroon, South Sudan abstained in the December 2017 vote whiles the remaining nine voted against the U.S.

    The opening of the embassy reignited protests by Palestinians on the Gaza border whiles a heavy Israeli security clampdown led to scores of deaths with thousands injured. South Africa has since withdrawn its ambassador in protest to the crackdown.

    Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they hope to establish in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

    Israel regards all of the city, including the eastern sector it captured in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move that is not recognised internationally, as its “eternal and indivisible capital”.
    Most countries say the status of Jerusalem, a sacred city to Jews, Muslims and Christians – should be determined in a final peace settlement and that moving their embassies now would prejudge any such deal.

    Source: africanews
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    Monday 14 May 2018

    South African music icon Yvonne Chaka Chaka receives honorary degree

    May 14, 2018 0
    South African music icon Yvonne Chaka Chaka receives honorary degree

    Yvonne Chaka Chaka
    African music icon, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, has been awarded an honorary degree by a top South African public university – Rhodes University.

    Incidentally, the award is not for her illustrious music career that has impacted the world but for her humanitarian work.

    “The Degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) in recognition of your sustained, extensive and wide-ranging humanitarian work. This work includes your role as a Champion of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB & Malaria,” the university said.

    The 53 year-old born in Soweto, beyond her music and humanitarian work is also known to be an entrepreneur and a teacher. She sang three of her songs during the ceremony where she was honored along with a top judge, Justice Dikgang Moseneke.

    Source: africanews
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    Monday 19 March 2018

    Tropical storm kills 17 in Madagascar:

    March 19, 2018 0
    Tropical storm kills 17 in Madagascar:

    At least 17 people died when a tropical storm hit eastern Madagascar over the weekend, authorities said.
    More than 6,000 people were displaced by the storm, called Eliakim, the National Office of Risk and Disaster Management said in a statement late on Sunday.

    The tropical storm hit the island’s Mananara region, 635 km north-east of Antananarivo, on Saturday night and had a wind speed of 85 km per hour and gusts of 120 km per hour. 

    In January, the island’s disaster management office said Tropical Cyclone Ava killed 51 people. 

    This has raised concerns since most African countries are yet to enter into the rainy season. The natural disaster follows another kind where 16 people were killed by lightning in Rwanda. A Ghanaian student of Ofori Panin Senior High School also suffered the same demise.

    Source: Reuters
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    Friday 16 March 2018

    #BeAnICON: Ashish Thakkar

    March 16, 2018 0
    #BeAnICON: Ashish Thakkar

    Ashish Thakkar’s family emigrated from the Indian state of Gujarat to Africa in the 1890s. Thakkar, however, was born in Leicester in 1981, after his parents had moved to the United Kingdom in 1972 when Idi Amin enforced the expulsion of Asians from Uganda. Thakkar and his family returned to Africa to live in Rwanda before they were again forced to leave due to the Rwandan Genocide in 1994. The Thakkar family then fled to Burundi before settling in Uganda as refugees. At 15 years old, Thakkar dropped out of school to start his own business with a $5,000 loan.

    Thakkar founded his own company, Mara Group, in 1996 at the age of 15. He began by importing computer parts including keyboards, mouses, and desktops from weekly trips to Dubai. After Thakkar had received a $5,000 loan to start his company, he opened the small IT business in a shopping mall across the street from his father's shop in Kampala.

    Over the next ten years, Thakkar expanded Mara Group into manufacturing, real estate, agriculture and IT services. Thakkar later relocated the company headquarters to Dubai, but kept business in Africa.
    In 2013, Thakkar announced a partnership with Bob Diamond to launch Atlas Mara, a company that invests in commercial banking institutions across Africa. Diamond, the former chief executive of Barclays, and Thakkar met at a conference through their foundations, Mara Foundation and the Diamond Family Foundation.

    Twenty years after starting in a shopping mall in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, Thakkar’s company now employs more than 11,000 people in 25 countries. He also serves as the chairman of the United Nations Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council and founded the Mara Foundation in 2009, which serves as an online mentorship portal for young African entrepreneurs.

    He founded Mara Foundation, a non-profit company that mentors and supports young African entrepreneurs,  in 2009. Mara Mentor, a mobile application that connects young entrepreneurs with business professionals, was launched through Mara Foundation.
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