GIST ALOUD

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.

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

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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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

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

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

At least 17 people died when a tropical storm hit eastern Madagascar over the weekend, authorities said.

The first Africa Ecomedical Village (EMV) Limited has been launched in Accra, which when completed, would provide quality healthcare delivery to Ghanaians and other ECOWAS countries.
The state-of-the-art facility, on public-private partnership basis, would be built at Achimota in Accra with some areas of specialisation to be located throughout the ECOWAS Sub-Region.
The project envisions the setting up of specialty centres of excellence in each of ECOWAS member country to treat and manage specific illnesses.
The first phase of the $476 million project is expected to have a Reference Centre for various diseases, research facilities, sports medicine, disaster management centre and women and children hospital.
Mr Peter Ahiekpor, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the EMV, said he came up with the project because people travelled outside Ghana for medical check-ups with its attendant costs, which would have remained in Ghana if such facilities were available.
He said his own experiences of travelling to the United Kingdom every six months for medical check-up, coupled with his findings that Nigeria spent 26 million dollars per month to seek medical services in India, has urged him to bring the project to reality.
Mr Ahiekpor said the project is expected to be completed within 26 months and expressed the hope that it would put Ghana on the map as a destination for global health tourism.
He said after completion, the project would create about 5000 jobs, and also create over 899 million dollars in terms of tax revenue for the country through SSNIT contributions, corporate taxes and Pay As You Earn.
Mr Ahiekpor assured the public that there were plans to cater for both middle and upper level income groups to access quality health service at the hospital.
“It has not been an easy journey, we had lots of challenges and discouragement along the way, but we’re grateful to God for how far he has brought us and the project,” he said, and urged all and sundry to own and support the project to achieve its goals.
He, therefore, thanked everybody that supported the project in diverse ways to bring it to fruition.
Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, the Senior Minister, urged the team to employ skilled professionals to man the hospital.
He said: “Beautiful buildings don’t bring quality health delivery to the people but it takes skilled professionals with adequate knowledge in modern diagnoses and cure to make the mark.
“Government will not go and look for the money for private businesses but will do all that it takes to create the enabling environment for private businesses to thrive.”
He said the project was to challenge Ghana to take the lead in medicine in the West Africa Sub-Region.
The Senior Minister urged the partners not to be limited by the challenges and difficulties and pledged government’s support to help them overcome such difficulties.
Mr Kweku Botwe, the Managing Director of EMV, said the project would improve functional independence, productivity, reduce and manage medical complications, provide lower long-term costs, high-quality staff with focused experience, and peer support from patients with similar ailments.
Other benefits, he said, include specialised patients and family education as well as resources, more options to participate in research studies, access to services not found in most rehabilitation centres, specialised long-term support and training opportunities for medical personnel in the Sub-Region.
Mr Kinsley Aboagye Gyedu, a Deputy Minister of Health, said nothing suited them at the Ministry than recognition of the private sector as a partner in providing quality health care.
He said the project fell within the vision of the Government to promote medical tourism in Ghana.
Mr Gyedu said the Ministry’s five-year strategic plan had medical tourism as one of the medium-term plans, which encouraged public-private partnership.
He said apart from improving on the country’s infrastructure, the project would increase the revenue base of the Government and commended the team for bringing the project to Ghana.
Dr Kwabena Twum Nuamah, the Chairman of Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, was grateful to the promoters of the project for choosing Ghana to host it.
He said he had no doubt that the best form of the medical facility in any part of the world would be in Ghana and expressed the hope that, when completed, healthcare delivery would change in Ghana.
“Ghanaians deserve better health facility and never again will Ghanaians travel outside for medical treatment,” he said.
Togbe Sri III, the Overlord of Anlo State, commended the team for their efforts adding that it would create more jobs, promote skills training and tourism in the Sub-Region.
He commended Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse, for his interest in the project, which led to the releasing of land for its construction.
Nii Tsuru, on his part, said the culture of non-maintenance in Ghana and Africa in general affected all projects and pleaded with stakeholders to ensure that there were proper maintenance plans in all departments of the hospital.

Credit: myjoyonline.com

Professor Frederick K. Addai, Head of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School has encouraged the public to consume cocoa products because it helps prevent malaria.

According to the Professor, the consumption of cocoa kills the malaria parasites and stimulates the body system, making it work better and stronger.

Prof Addai said this in Accra, at a lecture to mark the 2018 COCOBOD Senior Staff Association (COSSA) week celebration, on the theme: “Cocoa Consumption: Business and Health Impact”.

He said Cocoa offers anti-inflammatory qualities that lower high blood pressure, adding that, flavonoid-rich cocoa aids in lowering blood pressure and improves the elasticity of blood vessels.

He said research studies revealed positive changes in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure with the consumption of cocoa-based products, as well as helps in maintaining a healthy circulatory system, instead of drinking black or green tea.

Prof Addai said because cocoa contains a lot of magnesium, it improves and helps the blood vessels to work better. It also helps in frequent urination, reducing the blood volume in the body system.

“Regular consumption of Cocoa improves eye sight and develops the brain to work well, improves female cycle, prevents diabetes, hypertension and stroke and also helps to prevent cancer from developing”, he added.

The Professor posited that the consumption of cocoa has been shown to be effective in improving insulin resistance and glucose metabolism, this, in turn, aids in regulating sugar levels in the body.

He said Cocoa had demonstrated beneficial effects in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells without affecting the growth of normal healthy cells.

Prof Addai stressed that Cocoa has also been found to be effective in maintaining good skin health, adding that, research findings suggested that the consumption of flavonol-rich cocoa products aids in enhancing skin elasticity, hydration, and density.

Mr Theodore Adu, Chairman of COSSA said the lecture was part of activities to mark this year’s COSSA week celebration to champion the consumption of cocoa products in the country.

He said as part of the activities, COSSA embarked on health walk, donated to the Ghana Heart Foundation and organised blood donation.

Mr Adu said for the country to achieve its agenda of ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’, it was necessary for all and sundry to consume more cocoa products to increase the returns of farmers.

Source: GNA

A Ghanaian man was executed last Friday March 9 in Singapore for drug smuggling.

Billy Agbozo,39, was found guilty and hanged after his clemency plea was rejected, more than 4 years after his arrest.

Reports say he had travelled by plane from Accra to Dubai on April 4, 2013, before boarding a plane bound for Singapore. He arrived at Singapore's Changi Airport the next day and planned to spend five nights in the Asian country.

But he was stopped by checkpoint inspectors who screened his luggage - a black haversack and a red-and-black suitcase.

It is said that white, crystalline substances were found in the wall of the haversack and the inner plastic casing of the suitcase. The substances contained 1.63kg of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of about $135,600.

Details of his recorded telephone conversation with an unknown caller in twi were also captured and presented as evidence against him.

He was arrested and found guilty of illegally importing controlled drugs under the Country's Misuse of Drugs Act.

It not yet known the arrangement made between Ghana and Singapore and whether Accra presented a plea.

His appeal against his conviction and sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in February last year.

His petition to the President for clemency was also turned down.

Singapore law recommend a mandatory death sentence for trafficking more than 15 grams of heroin

But reforms that came into effect in 2013 gave judges discretion on certain cases.

Those convicted of drug trafficking can have their sentences commuted if they aid police and acted merely as couriers, according to the latest changes.

The Misuse of Drugs Act provides for the death penalty if the amount of methamphetamine trafficked is more than 250g.


The Central Narcotics Bureau in Singapore stated ;that 1.63kg of methamphetamine is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 1,210 abusers for a week.

Human rights groups have  condemned Singapore for imposing the death penalty, saying that the country's use of the death penalty shows flagrant disregard for human life.

Source: Ghana Web

Nigeria's youngest child comedian, Emmanuella Samuel, will feature in a Hollywood movie shot by Disney Studios. The exact nature of the film is as yet unknown, but her role came to the attention of fans when she posted photos on Instagram of herself on set at Disney.

Her post read, "Thanks @disneystudios God bless everyone whose support has added to bringing us here. I never dreamed of being here so soon. I miss Success. I love you all."

Born on July 22, 2010, the seven-year-old captured viewers' hearts on social media and rose to fame in 2016 when she starred in her cousin, Mark Angel's comedy skit "This Is Not My Real Face Oh". Millions across the world saw the little girl and laughed at her true-to-life character, and the video has now propelled her to stardom.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.co.za

Nestle has bowed to pressure from public health advocates and is removing the Health Star Rating from Milo.

Public health groups have targeted the food giant for labelling the sugary chocolate powder with 4.5 stars, when they claim it should only score 1.5 out of a possible maximum of five stars.
Margaret Stuart, Nestle Oceania's head of corporate and external relations, told stakeholders in an email the company had decided to remove the rating from the powder in Australia and New Zealand "pending the outcome of the Government's review of the Health Star Rating system".
"In withdrawing the Health Star Rating from Milo powder, we hope to avoid further confusion about how the Health Star Rating system is designed and reduce the risk of damage to a system which is fundamentally sound."
Nestle had labelled Milo with 4.5 stars, arguing its rating reflected that Milo was designed to be consumed as three teaspoons in a cup of skim milk.
It said the rating was in line with food regulations and the requirements of the Health Star Rating system.
But public health groups say in reality, that was not how many people consumed Milo and when judged on its merits alone, it should only get 1.5 stars.
In a regular serving of Milo powder, 46 percent is sugar. However, Nestle says that much of that comes from the milk powder and malted barley ingredients.
The rating will only be removed from the Milo powder, but not other Milo products. New packaging will come into stores in the next two months.

Source: Business Ghana

It is keen to cash in on the country's growing taste for Chu-Hi - canned sparkling flavoured drinks given a kick with a local spirit called shochu.

The product is typically between 3% and 8% alcohol by volume.
A senior Coke executive in Japan said the move was a "modest experiment for a specific slice of our market".
It was unlikely the drink would be sold outside of Japan, he suggested.
Japan's big drinks firms including Kirin, Suntory and Asahi all have varieties of the drink, and continue to experiment with flavours.

The most popular flavours are strong citrus ones such as grapefruit or lemon, but the drink can also be made with other fruit flavours like grape, apple and peach.
But last November, Wells Fargo analyst Bonnie Herzog speculated that Coca-Cola might move into alcohol, as it looked to "premium segments such as adult craft beverages".

The phrase alcopop typically refers to sweet but alcoholic drinks, and in 1990s UK brands such as Hooch, Reef, Smirnoff Ice and Bacardi Breezer became hugely popular.

But they were controversial, raising concerns that they encouraged young people to drink alcohol in large quantities because they were so easy to consume.

Source: BBC

Prez Akufo-Addo seated with President Buhari on his right, and First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo on his left

Ghana's President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo has said that the economic freedom Ghanaians desire cannot come through aid. Speaking during the commemoration of Ghana's 61st independence anniversary at the Black Star Square, the president stated that Ghana has over years fought poverty with aid, and to change this Ghanaians must harness their resources effectively and fight corruption.

This year's independence anniversary is themed, "Ghana Beyond Aid". Making comparisons with other countries like Malaysia, President Akufo-Addo said that Ghana, with its plenty resources, can do what other advanced countries with resources can do. He mentioned that "a Ghana beyond aid, is a prosperous Ghana".

Special guest at the event was President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, who promised to help Ghana fight corruption.

Ghana is the first black African country to gain independence on March 6, 1957 under the leadership of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who served as Prime Minister and the country's first president.

Eight security personnel and eight attackers were killed in the fighting while 80 people including civilians, were wounded, officials say.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said there was no doubt it was an act of terrorism.
It is was not immediately clear who had carried out the attack.

Burkina Faso Security Minister Clement Sawadogo said there had also been a suicide car bomb attack at the military HQ that may have intended to target a regional anti-terrorism meeting.
A room was destroyed by the blast, he said, but the meeting had been moved to another location.
Burkina Faso police said in a statement that units had fanned out across the city to increase security and urged people to remain vigilant.

This is the third major attack Ouagadougou has seen in the past two years. Islamist militants said they had carried out the other two.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said it was behind an attack on a restaurant and hotel in Ouagadougou in January 2016 that killed 30 people.

Credit: BBC

Ghana has had a "robbery" week. This week has perhaps been an interesting, and terrifying moment in Ghana, as the country has witnessed a series of robberies. To top it up, Accra has witnessed two more robbery cases today.

Myjoyonline reported the first incident which occurred in Osu, where three suspected robbers were arrested after their motorcycle was knocked down by taxi driver. The three were said to have snatched belonging to a foreigner.

The second report by citifmonline.com indicated that two suspected notorious armed robbers were gunned down by the police at Haatso, also a suburb of Accra. The gang is said to have exchanged fire with the police after their hideout was discovered.

These recent events increases the robbery cases Ghana has experienced in a period less than a week. A Lebanese citizen was robbed and killed in Tema. A woman was reported to have been stabbed in Obuasi, in the Ashanti Region. Several robberies have also happened in other parts of the city, including the Royal Motors robbery event.

Citizens have urged the police to be extra vigilant, with others believing the series of events could be politically motivated.