The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has notified ride-hailing vehicle owners of a new tax policy, known as the Value Income Tax (VIT) which will take effect from January 1.
In a notice issued by the Authority, it said the levy is in accordance with Section 22 of Regulations 2016, LI 2244 which indicates that “any commercial vehicle owner that earns income from the operation of a commercial vehicle shall pay income tax quarterly.”
The Authority, therefore, urged ride-hailing companies operating in Ghana – SHAXI, Uber, Yango and Bolt – to update their digital platforms to incorporate the new tax requirements.
The guidelines outlined for these companies include the demand for a softcopy of the VIT sticker, validation of sticker authenticity with the GRA, and quarterly submission of the list of all vehicles on their platform to the GRA.
The GRA emphasised that these requirements will be enforced starting January 1, 2024.
GRA also asked ride-hailing vehicle owners to register their vehicles at any of the GRA offices to “enable them to make payment for VIT using the shortcode *222#.”
Nigerian music sensation, David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, took to social media to celebrate after Barbadian superstar, Rihanna joined the viral ‘Unavailable’ dance challenge to his hit track.
Rihanna’s impromptu dance to Davido’s song sparked a viral frenzy as the video circulated across social media platforms.
In addition, Rihanna named Davido as her most streamed artiste, revealing that ‘Unavailable’ banger has been on repeat on her playlist.
Meanwhile, ‘Unavailable’ which features Musa Keys has been nominated in two categories for the upcoming Grammys award.
In response to Rihanna’s participation, Davido boldly declared on his social media platform, “I made a pandemic,” showcasing his pride in the song’s widespread popularity not only in Nigeria but also globally.
He reciprocated Rihanna’s love in a tweet where he gave her a special shoutout.
However, the singer’s self-congratulatory post triggered a mixed reaction among fans.
While many lauded his success and the song’s recognition on an international scale, others shared varied opinions about his statement.
The ‘Unavailable’ challenge has been a social media sensation, with various individuals and celebrities worldwide joining the craze.
In a demonstration of his unwavering love and loyalty to his wife, Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, has thrown down a challenge to any woman claiming to be his side chick, urging them to provide evidence.
During an interview with Bola Ray, Sam George affirmed that he has never been involved in any extramarital affair and emphasized that his wife is more than sufficient for him.
Sam George and his wife, Vera
The MP stated that his wife embodies the full package of being both a wife and a side chick, making him not desire any other woman.
Sam George and his wife
“My life is work, house, and church. If you know any girl anywhere I am dating, just call her to the show, I am waiting. I am throwing a challenge out there. Anybody should bring evidence.
You won’t ever see me sitting at a spot alone or with some random girl. If you see me anywhere, especially at +233, my wife is always sitting by me,” he shared during the StarChat show with Bola Ray.
Sam George humorously described how he fulfils the roles of husband, boyfriend, and ‘sugar daddy’ to his wife as part of his efforts to add excitement to their home life.
“I tell my wife that she is my side chick and my wife. And I am her sugar daddy, boyfriend, husband all put together. Whatever husbands do in the house, I do it. And whatever sugar daddies do, I do them as well,” he expressed in a mix of pidgin and English.
Sam George is known for frequently showcasing his wife on social media and at various public events where they are seen together. The couple, married for 11 years, renewed their wedding vows in August 2022.
Nigerian media personality Adesope Olajide has stressed the need for Ghanaian artists to give due recognition to DJs.
During a recent interview on 3Music TV, Adesope underscored the importance of acknowledging the vital role DJs play in the music industry.
Pointing to Davido’s appreciative gesture towards Nigerian DJ Dope Caesar during a nightclub visit, Adesope encouraged artists in Ghana to adopt a similar approach. His advocacy coincides with the Play Ghana initiative’s which focuses on extensively promoting local music.
Adesope’s emphasis on recognizing DJs aligns with broader industry efforts to enhance the visibility and appreciation of homegrown talent, particularly acknowledging the instrumental role DJs have in shaping the music landscape.””
Nigerian media personality Adesope Olajide urges Ghanaian artists to give DJs the recognition they duly deserve. pic.twitter.com/lVm5rDmFdH
Ghanaian hiplife artiste, Kwaw Kese, has expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the Ghanaian music industry, stating that musicians should not have to ‘beg’ for their music to be played in their own country.
His comments come in the wake of a meeting between some industry stakeholders and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, in collaboration with the Creative Arts Agency, to launch the #PlayGhana initiative.
Celebrities I went through depression in U.S after childbirth; Selina Boateng on weight gain and more
The initiative aims to promote Ghanaian music nationwide, especially during the Christmas season when there is an influx of diasporans spending their holidays in the country.
Kwaw Kese, however, mocked the initiative, placing blame on the system for the current challenges.
He posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Ghanaians begging Ghanaians to play Ghana music in 2023. System super fucked.
Ghanaians begging Ghanaians to play Ghana music in 2023
It was a broad daylight armed robbery incident on Monday afternoon at Ashaiman right near the Community 22 Police station by unknown Assassins.
The unknown Assassins with guns had attacked a Ghanaian manufacturer, businessman and traditional ruler who parked his car and upon getting back to his car, the assassins who were on a motor bike and one other on a tricycle pounced on him and pulled out guns saying ”you, you will die today , you no go see 2024”.
The hoodlums then turned their guns on him at close range and fired several rounds of the ammunition but miraculously their bullets missed target. Then one took out a broken bottle and the other a bar to attack him but he miraculously became invisible to them and suddenly appeared on the premises of a Police Station which was just a few meters close.
The station officer Inspector Seth Ofosu and other police officers acted swiftly with him to the scene only to find that the assassins had bolted with an amount of 3 bundles of foreign currency amounting to $30,000 with two bundles of 200 cedi notes amounting to 40,000 Ghana cedis from the king’s car.
Eyewitnesses said they saw the gangsters speeding off with their booty, leaving the King’s car because they probably could not find the car keys since the Klikor Chief, the victim, had disappeared with it as it was in his hands already.
The incident happened at about 3:00 pm today Monday 18th December, 2023 just three days to the King’s 40th birthday 21st December.
According to the Klikor Chief Torgbi Xenodzi Dogbey II, the criminals covered their faces above their noses and wore black jackets and black gloves.
Narrating the incident, the Klikor Chief said, he thanked God for saving his life because after the would-be assassins fired on him with their guns several times which didn’t work, including other items like broken bottles to kill him, he unconsciously saw someone that looked like Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams together with an appearance like Christ, who miraculously took his body away making him invisible, only to appear at the Community 22 Police Station premises.
He said before he got to the police station, he heard a voice saying to him, “My son, Speed up my coming, reveal my secrets to them, I saved you, I’ll provide for you, I’m Aravat Yhʋh, the Yehoshua whom you call Jesus Christ, soon they shall see me, I’M THE LIFE AND THE RESURRECTION, I’VE GIVEN YOU LIFE“.
The Police Inspector promised and assured him of constant Police escorts from now onwards for his bank deposits since he was on his way to deposit money at the bank before this unfortunate incident occurred.
The Mayor of Prichard, Alabama and Vice President of the International Conference of Mayors, H.E. Jimmie Gardner visited Ghana on December 18, 2023 to launch an African Diasporan Village Project in collaboration with RAIN Foundations.
It was an Inspiring and eventful occasion attended by prominent people in the real estate, tourism, hospitality, media, arts and cultural industries and so on – at The Dreamer’s Hub, North Legon.
The historic project, led by the mayor and supported by the city of Prichard, Alabama has an auspicious objective of establishing a win-win network between Africans in the Diaspora and their fellow Africans in the continent of Africa. Arts and Culture, Business and Investment, as well as History and Tourism are the three main components of the project.
The Founding President of RAIN Foundations, Author Raphaelle Antwi was honored by the mayor with two pin badges from the city of Prichard and state of Alabama. The renowned author and coordinator of the project thanked the mayor. Speaking with him, he encouraged interested partners to invest in the project and expect a myriad of incentives from that.
Madam Anick Basilia Santos,a Paris-based manager of the project and honoree of Predecessors Awards Worldwide explained the vision to guests present at the launch. She announced that the African Diasporan Village to be built in the city of Prichard would be replicated in Ghana and other African countries.
A major event is expected in Ghana next year to kickstart this great project.
Multiple award-winning Ghanaian rapper, Michael Owusu Addo, popularly known as Sarkodie has expressed his gratitude and excitement for collaborating with the legendary highlife musician, Amakye Dede, in a recent project.
In an X (formally Twitter) post on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, the ‘Otan’ rapper, conveyed his appreciation for the opportunity to share a song with Amakye Dede, emphasizing the honor and privilege it is to work alongside such an iconic figure in Ghana’s music industry.
Sarkodie stated that he’s become the first artiste the ‘Iron Boy’ singer has ever collaborated with. The two performed their new song “Fool for You” released on Friday, December 1 at the Sarkodie’s Rapperholic exhibition.The track not only showcases the versatility of both artists but also symbolizes the bridging of musical gaps, uniting different eras of Ghanaian music.
“He was a global icon even before I was brought to this world and he’s still an icon … as a toddler listening to his amazing music now being on the same song with him is a great honor. he’s collaborated with no one and I happen to be the first!! Thank you, Daddy” he wrote.
He was a global icon even before I was brought to this world and he’s still an icon … as a toddler listening to his amazing music now being on the same song with him is a great honor 🙏🏿🙏🏿 he’s collaborated with no one and i happen to be the first!! Thank you Daddy @amakyedede_… pic.twitter.com/gwvNdsoSce
VGMA reigning artiste of the year, Black Sherif is on a hot seat prior to a statement he made relating #PlayGhana move, an initiative spearheaded Small God, music icons – Samini, Reggie Rockstone, DJ Black and supported by the Ministry of Information.
“If we truly want to grow our industry and give it that global visibility, we need to stop the blame game on the DJs, artistes , music consumers and the conscious effort to grow our industry. It’s our collective duty”, Blacko assured.
Blacko called on music shareholders to put Ghanaian talents first thus play more Ghana songs during this festive season.
His statement didn’t sound good to most music lovers, meanwhile some bloggers in Nigeria have planned to blacklisted him, media personal Adesope reveals
Artiste manager and entertainment critic, BullGod upon seeing these has shown his displeasure on how people are going hard on the young talent.
Speaking on Hitz FM #DaybreakHit with Andy Dosty, he singled out leading members of the #PlayGhana initiative, and urged them to protect Blacko from these backlashes.
“Instead of Samini to protect Black Sherif from the backlash over his #PlayGhana comments, he is there going back and forth with Shatta Wale on X (formerly known as Twitter)”, BullGod asserted.
Reggie Rockstone, Samini needs to protect the Blacko from these backlashes, he added.
Da Hammer of the last Two, legendary music producer added his voice, says he expected the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mark Okraku Mantey to issue a statement to fight for Black Sherif for facing heavy backlash for joining #PlayGhana initiative.
“We know that the person who suffers is Blacko, nobody else suffers on that stage. They (Samini, Reggie Rockstone) have nothing to prove to anybody again. Blacko is in his prime so has a lot to prove. The only crime he committed was listening to his elders and show up, if he hadn’t come the boys (elders) will say that he doesn’t respect”, Da Hammer disclosed .
Claudette, Celine Dion’s sister, has provided a grim update on the singer’s ongoing fight with Stiff-Person Syndrome.
She disclosed in a new interview that the multiple Grammy winner is having difficulty controlling some muscle movements.
“She’s working hard, but she doesn’t have control over her muscles. What breaks my heart is that she’s always been disciplined. She’s always worked hard. Our mother always told her, ‘You’re going to do it well, you’re going to do it properly.’ It’s true that in both our dreams and hers, the goal is to return to the stage. In what capacity? I don’t know,” she said.
This update comes one year after Celine announced her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder characterized by painful muscle spasms and stiffness that typically interferes with patients’ daily lives.
Due to the disease, Celine Dion had to postpone her highly anticipated Courage World Tour indefinitely in May 2023, expressing her apologies to her fans.
In an interview with Le Journal de Montreal in August 2023, Claudette expressed optimism about their continuous hunt for therapeutic treatments for the disease.
Claudette also said that their sister Linda Dion had moved into Celine’s home to help her three sons. René-Charles, Eddy, Nelson, and their aunt are all actively involved in Celine’s treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery.
