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Category: News

  • Shatta Wale set to headline YFm independence day festival

    Shatta Wale set to headline YFm independence day festival

    The Independence Day festival, hosted by YFM, will feature multiple award-winning Ghanaian Afro-dancehall musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah, better known by his stage name, Shatta Wale as the headline performer.

    ‘One God’ hitmaker, who is well-known for his captivating live performances and exuberance, will dazzle music fans on March 6, 2024 at the Legon City Mall.

    Other amazing surprises that will take the stage include the music group duo Keche, Kofi Mole, E.L., RJZ, Spicey, and DanceGod Lloyd.

    AJ Princess, Tim Jeezy, Easkine, Brown Berry, DJ Loft, DJ Kess, DJ Millzy, DJ Nyce, and Kojo Manuel are among the official DJs and MCs scheduled to appear.

    This event is a free ticketed show, all you need to do as a music lover is to scan the code for a free entry.

  • Parliament passes the anti-LGBTQI bill

    Parliament passes the anti-LGBTQI bill

    The Ghanaian Parliament enacted the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which is also referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill.

    Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin
    The bill was ultimately approved by lawmakers after all possible stages of consideration were completed, according to a report by Citi FM in Accra.

    The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) Board Chair, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, urged President Akufo-Addo to veto the bill the day before it was passed by Parliament.

    Professor Gadzekpo contended that the bill infringes upon fundamental human rights guaranteed by the Constitution, such as the rights to equality, nondiscrimination, dignity, academic freedom, freedom of speech and association, and participation in procession.

    Prof. Gadzekpo stressed that protecting rights and freedoms is essential to constitutional democracy during a press conference on human rights and a rights-based strategy for assisting sexual minorities in Ghana.

    She emphasised the importance of the matter for all Ghanaians and cautioned that changing these rights could imperil the country’s democratic values.

    In response to concerns about media freedom, CDD stated that the bill would restrict the freedom of expression of journalists and social media users by penalising them for covering LGBTQI+ issues. In addition, they denounced the bill for going against Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution, which forbids private member’s bills that put money into the public coffers.

    The Human Rights Coalition and the “Big 18” pushed Parliament to reject the Anti-LGBTQI Bill, citing the significance of protecting the rights of all people. They cautioned that if the bill were to pass, it would violate both national and international human rights laws and jeopardise the media’s standing in society.

    The bill outlaws LGBT advocacy, funding, and promotion and makes them illegal.

    Those found guilty of the act could face a sentence of six months to three years in prison, while those who encourage and fund it could face a sentence of three to five years in prison.

  • Supreme Court dismisses Anas’ defamation lawsuit against Kennedy Agyapong

    Supreme Court dismisses Anas’ defamation lawsuit against Kennedy Agyapong

    The Supreme Court has denied the application for certiorari that investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas filed against Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central.

    The previous High Court decision was maintained by the five-member panel, which was presided over by Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.

    Six years ago, an Accra High Court dismissed Anas Aremeyaw Anas’s GHC25 million defamation lawsuit against Kennedy Agyapong and fined the journalist GHC50,000.

    On Wednesday, February 28, the Supreme Court dismissed the case by a majority vote.

    Legal action was taken in 2018 after Anas claimed the legislator had defamed him.

    Anas begged the court to punish Agyapong with damages and to force him to clear his record. However, Anas Aremeyaw Anas was unable to provide evidence that Ken Agyapong had defamed him by airing the documentary, according to the High Court, which was presided over by Justice Eric Baah.

    The documentary in question, according to the court, rather revealed dubious transactions that Anas and his associates were engaged in.

    The court stated in a lengthy ruling that Agyapong had presented enough evidence to demonstrate that the Anas had solicited funds from individuals connected to the evidence he had collected through his investigations.

    It further stated that the evidence demonstrated that individuals who could afford the amounts of money demanded by Anas and his associates were excluded from the publically viewed videos.

  • AKA’s death: 6 suspects arrested for murder of South African rapper

    AKA’s death: 6 suspects arrested for murder of South African rapper

    On Tuesday, February 27, South African police announced that six suspects had been detained in relation to the death of Kiernan Forbes, also known as AKA, one of the hottest rap artists in the country.

    AKA was shot and killed on February 10, 2023, while strolling with a friend named Tibs outside a well-known Durban restaurant, just hours before he was scheduled to perform at a local club.

    According to police, the rapper, 35, was followed from the moment he arrived at the airport until the murder was carried out.

    “Six people have been arrested that will appear in court on Thursday. These six played different roles in the murder.

    “The six of them initially followed Mr. Forbes from the airport on arrival, the only way to his hotel as well as the restaurant where the incident happened,” police minister Bheki Cele told a press conference in Durban.

    According to the South African police, the oldest suspect is 36. The “mastermind” of the murder, two shooters, two spotters, and the “organiser of vehicle and firearms,” according to the police, are all in custody.

    At the press conference, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the provincial police commissioner, informed reporters that a number of the people detained had connections to separate murder cases.

    Two of the suspects, he claimed, had fled to neighbouring Eswatini. Nonetheless, they were detained by police working with Interpol and the Eswatini government, and extradition procedures would soon start.

    Mkhwanazi stated that although police were not willing to talk about it, they suspected the motive.

    Several celebrities are among the victims of South Africa’s one of the highest murder rates in the world.

  • Kumasi, Tamale Airports to be renamed – Akufo-Addo

    Kumasi, Tamale Airports to be renamed – Akufo-Addo

    The Tamale and Kumasi International Airports will have new names, according to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s announcement.

    He announced that the recently inaugurated Tamale airport will be known as the Yakubu Tali International Airport, and that the Kumasi International Airport will be renamed Nana Agyeman Prempeh I Airport.

    He made this announcement during his State of the Nation address on Tuesday, February 27.

    He said “I have one more scheduled date with the House, when I would be here to give an accounting of my time in office. By that time, my successor would have been elected, and we would be getting ready for the swearing-in ceremony. The elections will be held peacefully, and the candidate with credibility to take us on to a higher level will win. Let me wish all of us well in the elections on 7th December.

    “Before then, there a number of important tasks lie ahead of us, one of which will be commissioning the Nana Agyeman Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi, and naming the recently commissioned airport in Tamale the Yakubu Tali International Airport.

    “Mr. Speaker, we stumbled, but we are rising again. We were bruised, but we are healing. We have recovered our footing. We have dusted ourselves off, and now we face tomorrow with confidence. Every day we pray and hope that adversity may spare our families, our communities and our dear nation. But should we be confronted by misfortune; we must face it like people with a proud history who fight and do not flee. Yenim ko; yen nim adwane. That is the Ghanaian spirit. That is our armour and our shield. This is our ethos.”

    Source | 3news

  • SONA 2024: Akufo-Addo: I accept responsibility for Ghana’s economic difficulties

    SONA 2024: Akufo-Addo: I accept responsibility for Ghana’s economic difficulties

    As the head of state, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has emphasised that he alone bears responsibility for the current economic hardship.

    According to him, the head of state is accountable for managing the country’s finances under the Ghanaian constitution.

    In light of this, he stated that the president bears ultimate responsibility. While giving the State of the Nation address in Parliament on Tuesday, February 27, he stated that “he or she takes the blame for the challenges.”

    He stressed that the president takes the blame for the challenges.

    Relatedly, Hopeson Adorye, a former member of the NPP has said that the party would lose the 2024 general elections.

    Speaking on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s last State of the Nation address, he said the party is heading into opposition at all costs.

    “It is his last State of the Nation Address and it is this same State of the Nation Address that is taking them into opposition. So it is a handing over State of the Nation Address,” he stated in an interview with Atinka TV.

    “They cannot win the 2024 election no matter what,” he emphasized.

    On a number of topics, including infrastructure, governance, education, health, security, and the fight against corruption, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is anticipated to give updates.

  • Politicians lead extravagant lifestyles, not celebrities – Okyeame Kwame

    Politicians lead extravagant lifestyles, not celebrities – Okyeame Kwame

    The multi-award winning musician Okyeame Kwame has dispelled the myth that famous Ghanaians lead opulent lives.

    The musician claims that politicians are the ones who have demonstrated extravagant lifestyles.

    His remarks come in response to the Economic and Organised Crime Office’s (EOCO) announcement that it would begin lifestyle audits aimed at celebrities and people who might be considered to have excessive wealth.

    Conversely, the “Yeeko” hitmaker claimed that celebrities experience financial hardships because their incomes are insufficient to support their lavish lifestyles.

    “I have been in the celebrity space for 20 something years, I do not think they will find any artiste who are “criminals” or many celebs and film makers because these people are suffering. It is very difficult to be in this industry as an influencer or artiste and then just by that be able to survive. I have not seen celebrities in Ferraris or Maybachs or Porsche cars or multimillion dollar mansions. Where are they? Show me one.

    Read more: BREAKING: Hajia 4Reall pleads guilty to a romance scam in U.S court

    “However, the people that I have seen living lavishly are politicians. I have seen civil servants who make maybe ₵14000 a month and driving S-class,” he told Berla Mundi on TV3’s New Day on Monday.

    He clarified that their occasional vacation outside of Ghana is solely funded by their savings.

    Instead, Okyeame Kwame urged EOCO to concentrate more on politicians who are most likely to be affected by its proposed plan to combat corruption in the nation.

    “They are going to start investigating celebrities and in less than 30 days, they will be done because it is obvious that there are no or very few celebrities who are enjoying unwarranted wealth,” he noted.

    The musician expressed his excitement, nevertheless, at EOCO’s decision to protect integrity across the nation.

    The decision by EOCO follows the recent guilty plea in a $2 million romance scam case made by Ghanaian musician and social media influencer Mona Montrage, also known as Hajia4reall.

    “We are leading the charge by ourselves, making certain proposals for the amendment of the law to align with international standards. This ensures that any gaps in your financial profile are substantiated by your earnings.

    “Any disparities must be clarified to law enforcement, and the burden of proof rests on the individual to explain the origin of those resources,” the head of Administration and Investigations at EOCO, Edward Cudjoe disclosed to JoyNews in an interview.

    It is anticipated that EOCO’s new approach will address the nation’s growing issue of unexplained enrichment and illicit wealth-making ventures.

  • I am going to therapy – Comedian SDK declares after losing both parents

    I am going to therapy – Comedian SDK declares after losing both parents

    Sadik Sulley, better known by his stage name SDK, is a well-known comedian and content creator from Ghana. He has spoken out about his ongoing struggle with mental illness brought on by the deaths of his parents in 2021 and 2023.

    In an exclusive interview with Giovani Caleb on 3FM Drive, SDK disclosed that he is currently seeing a therapist in order to deal with the psychological distress that comes with losing both parents.

    He claims that occasionally, the memories of losing both of his parents trouble him and cause difficult situations to the point where it interferes with his ability to create and be productive. He admits that things have gotten better since he sought a therapist’s advice for this reason.

    “It has been crazy since I lost both parents. That one really dey eat me up. So now I have gone to seek the advice of a therapist and I’m on it.

    “It got to a point that I am not really inspired sometimes the work will be there but I’m not motivated to do it,” he narrated.

    The food blogger went on to counsel anyone in similar circumstances to get support, including therapy sessions, and to be open to receiving it.

  • Cook-a-thon: Chef Smith exceeds 600 hours; set to end on March 6

    Cook-a-thon: Chef Smith exceeds 600 hours; set to end on March 6

    Chef Ebenezer Smith, a Ghanaian, has cooked for more than 600 hours and is aiming to break the existing record for the longest cooking session by an individual.

    Monday marks day 26 of Chef Smith’s 610 hours of cooking at the Amadia Shopping Centre at Spintex, being the official sponsor. He started his cooking marathon on February 1 and plans to finish it on March 6, 2024.

    Renowned Ghanaian celebrities, including Kwaku Manu, Clemento Suarez, Nana Ama McBrown, SDK, OB Amponsah, and others, have flocked to the location of the marathon in support of Chef Smith.

    Already, another Ghanaian Chef Failatu Abdul-Razak has embarked on similar record attempt cooking for 227 hours.

    Official confirmation of Failatu’s attempt has not yet been issued by Guinness World Records.

  • Ghanaian renowned fashion icon Pokua Poku goes home today

    Ghanaian renowned fashion icon Pokua Poku goes home today

    As Antoinette Pokua Poku, a well-known Ghanaian fashion designer and creative director of the fashion brand Poqua Poqu, was laid to rest today, the country’s fashion industry laments the passing of a visionary.

    Pokua made a lasting impression on the fashion industry with her avant-garde designs and unique style. Her sudden death on Wednesday, February 14, at the age of 42, has left many people who valued her contributions to the industry and inventiveness feeling empty-handed.

    Attendees at the Lashibi Funeral Home included fellow designers, celebrities, business insiders, law enforcement, and admirers, making the funeral a moving testament to Poku’s influence. Among the celebrities seen at the funeral grounds were Sister Derby and John Dumelo.

    Her philanthropic efforts and impeccable sense of style were praised in the eulogies, which presented her as a woman whose influence went beyond the world of fashion.

    The Ghanaian fashion community united to pay tribute to Poku’s legacy during her funeral. Her designs, which are renowned for fusing contemporary elegance with traditional African aesthetics, will surely continue to influence upcoming designers.

    RIP Poqua Poqu

    The loss of Antoinette Pokua Poku touches not only her immediate family and close friends, but also the Ghanaian fashion industry as a whole. Even though she is no longer with us, her legacy lives on in the designs she made and the vibrant African fashion scene she helped to create.