Author: cnadmin

The Commonwealth of Dominica has reaffirmed its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over all its territory, including the Moroccan Sahara.

This position was expressed in a Joint Communiqué issued following talks between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Vince Henderson.

In this Joint Communiqué, Henderson reiterated his country’s support for the Autonomy Plan, presented by Morocco in 2007, as the only credible, serious, and realistic solution for resolving the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

In this regard, he praised the efforts of the United Nations as the exclusive framework for achieving a realistic, practical, and lasting solution to this regional dispute.

As a member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Commonwealth of Dominica welcomed the opening of an OECS Emb
assy in Rabat on October 18, 2018 and a Consulate General in Dakhla on March 31, 2022.

This certainly represented a great opportunity to further consolidate bilateral exchanges between the Kingdom of Morocco and the six Eastern Caribbean States, the Communiqué emphasizes.

Source: Ghana News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

Popular crossdresser and socialite, Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, has filed a notice of appeal challenging his recent conviction on charges of Naira abuse.

The controversial figure, who gained fame for his flamboyant lifestyle and social media presence, is seeking to overturn the verdict that landed him a six-month jail term.

As reported by Sahara Reporters, Bobrisky’s appeal, filed by his lawyer, Bimbo Kusanu, urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the sentence imposed by the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Instead, Bobrisky is requesting that the court replace the imprisonment with a monetary fine of N50,000 for each of the four counts against him.

The case stems from allegations of Naira abuse, which refers to the misuse or defacement of Nigeria’s currency, a violation of the country’s laws.

Consequently, the Federal High Court in Lagos found Bobrisky guilty on all four counts and sentenced him to six months behind bars.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sent a goodwill message to the National Chief Imam Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, who turned 105 years on Tuesday.

The NDC Flagbearer, in the goodwill message to the National Chief Imam, said:

‘Dear National Chief Imam, on this special day, I join the entire nation in celebrating your 105th birthday.

‘Your leadership and guidance have been a source of strength and inspiration for all of us. Your wisdom, compassion, and unwavering commitment to peace and unity have profoundly impacted our society.’

Mr Mahama said the National Chief Imam’s message of tolerance, understanding, and respect for all faiths would continue to be a guiding light for our nation.

‘We pray to Allah for your good health, happiness, and continued strength. Happy birthday.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

an International Non-Governmental Organisation, the International Olympic Committee through its Olympism365 programme, together with stakeholders have launched a new initiative to help improve community sport to reduce Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Ghana.

The initiative, dubbed, ‘Community Sport and Health Cooperation’ aims to strengthen collaboration between the sports and health sectors through implementing co-created sport-based community programmes jointly delivered by health sports stakeholders to increase participation to improve physical, mental, and social wellbeing.

The three-year Cooperation initiative is led by a global steering committee including the International Olympics Committee (IOC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and designated implementation partner PATH.

According to the WHO, about 22 per cent of adults aged 18 years and above and 81 per cent of adolescents in Ghana are not physically active.

Adding that physical inactivity is one of the main risk factors for non-communica
ble diseases (NCDs), including cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Mr Ollie Dudfield, Associate Director, Olympism365, speaking as part of a multi-stakeholder meeting said the launch of the Community Sport and Health Cooperation Initiative was therefore a giant step towards addressing physical inactivity and reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases in Ghana.

This would help achieve the WHO target of a 15 per cent relative reduction in the global prevalence of physical inactivity, he added.

Mr Dudfield was confident that the IOC’s collaboration with PATH would contribute to the sport, health, and active communities’ portfolio of Olympism365, which focuses on increasing people’s access to safe, inclusive, and health-promoting sports participation opportunities.

Ms Helen McGuire, the Global Programme Lead, NCDs PATH, said noncommunicable diseases continue to burden health systems, with insufficiently active individuals facing a 20 to 30 per cent increased risk o
f premature death.

She said the incredible rise in NCDs with less support from donors and to reduce out-of-pocket spending, the initiative is a powerful tool to increase physical activity, prevent NCDs, and improve overall health.

Dr Wisdom Atiwoto, the Director, Research, Statistics and Information Management of the Ministry of Health, highlighting the importance of sports said the activity was an extremely low-cost activity and a highly effective tool to promote good health.

He said the new initiative if utilized effectively, could help reduce health expenditure by 50 per cent adding that this was in line with the national NCD strategy for 2022-2026.

Dr Patience Cofie, Country Manager, PATH Ghana, said the initiative was being activated concurrently in Ghana, Peru, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Nepal where national collectives of health and sport stakeholders would collaborate to develop and deliver community sport projects targeting over one million people across the five countries by 2025.

She said her outf
it would therefore serve as the secretariat for the implementation of the Community Sport and Health Cooperation in the country.

Dr Cofie highlighting some of the health interventions PATH Ghana had embarked on specifically NCDs, stated that the new project would improve access, enhance knowledge, and strengthen investment in community sport and physical activity to promote healthy well-being.

She called for more strategic partnerships to strengthen health system capacity and resilience in the country, adding that the media plays a key role in this regard.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The ceiling of Circuit Court ‘8’ in Accra on Tuesday collapsed, following a downpour.

The rainstorm destroyed the ceiling and some electrical wiring in the court room.

There was no sitting in the court room when the ceiling collapsed.

A worker who spoke on anonymity, said there was no court sitting because the trial judge was on leave and the incident happened fast.

When the GNA got to the court, the room was filled with debris, but no one was injured.

Meanwhile, a huge signpost in front of the Ministries Police Station also crumpled, blocking the road to commuters.

The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) officials were seen busily dismantling the metal work to ensure free flow of traffic.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) says it has opened a special window for taxpayers to rectify their records and report undisclosed incomes.

This according to the GRA was to facilitate easier declaration and payment of taxes for resident individuals.

‘All eligible individuals are strongly encouraged to utilise this opportunity to regularise their tax affairs,’ GRA said in a press statement.

The revenue mobilisation authority said it has noted some concerns raised by citizens on the tax status of individuals who earn incomes abroad and whether they are deemed by the tax laws as ‘resident individuals’ for tax purposes.

It indicated that the legal definition of a resident individual for tax purposes is grounded in the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896), Sections 3 (2) (a), 103, and 111.

GRA explained that based on the law, individuals considered resident for tax purposes include citizens with a permanent home in Ghana residing in the country throughout the year as well as those present in Ghana for at least 183
days in any 12-month period that begins or ends within the year.

It also said that it included resident individuals include government employees or officials posted abroad and citizens temporarily absent from Ghana for not more than 365 continuous days who maintain a permanent home in Ghana, the statement clarified.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Music sensation Elizha has been nominated Artiste of the Year at the upcoming Ghana Music Awards (GMA) USA.

The singer/songwriter, who had a stellar year under review, grabbed six more nominations, including Female Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Afropop/Afrobeats Artiste of the Year, and Female Artiste of the Year.

The US-based Ghanaian singer excelled with her ‘Bad Love’ single in 2023, which recorded impressive streaming numbers across various digital platforms and made waves globally.

During last year’s GMA USA, Elizha was adjudged the Best Female Vocalist after dropping some groundbreaking hit songs, including ‘RoadTown,’ ‘Lijeje,’ and ‘Police.’

The songstress recently recorded a milestone after featuring award-winning Jamaican producer and artiste, Anthony B, on her new single ‘Sugar,’ which is also making waves.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A 22-year-old shop attendant, who stole GHS39,385.00 from a Tele-Communication shop has been fined of 100 penalty units (GH?1,200) by an Accra Circuit Court.

The convict is also to serve a day in prison.

Charged with stealing, Paulina Boateng pleaded guilty and was convicted on her own plea.

The Court presided over by Mr Isaac Addoh, said the convict in default of the fine served 12 months’ imprisonment.

It ordered the convict to pay the remaining balance of the money to the complainant.

Earlier, a lawyer acting as a friend of the court, Mr Lord Delvin Essandoh prayed to the Court for lenience, saying the convict was a first-time offender and that per the facts it was obvious that she was remorseful for having paid part of the amount of money.

Mr Essandoh also said the convict did not waste the time of the court and had her whole life ahead of her.

He prayed the Court to consider all the factors and meted out the minimum sentence possible concerning the said offence.

The prosecution led by Police Chie
f Inspector Jonas Lawer confirmed to the Court that the convict was not known.

The facts initially narrated by the prosecution were that the complainant Mr Daniel Nana Amaning was an electrical engineer and doubled as shop supervisor for Glorious Bost Ventures.

The prosecution said both the complainant and the convict resided at Nii Boi Town, Accra.

It said in January 2023, the convict was employed as a shop attendant by the owner of the shop to manage the affairs of the company which dealt with selling electrical prepaid and mobile money of all kinds of telecommunication networks.

However, the prosecution said in February 2023, one Fati Sulemana, a witness in the case, was also employed as a salesperson to assist the convict in managing the affairs of the company.

It said, ‘recently, an internal auditor was engaged to audit the activities in the shop, and it was detected that an amount of GH?39, 385.00 had been misappropriated by the convict.’

The prosecution said she was confronted with the misappropr
iation of funds, she admitted and promised to refund the money when she received her salary.

It said on February 13, 2024, the complainant filed a complaint with the Police and the convict was arrested with suspect Sulemana for questioning.

The prosecution said during the investigation the convict admitted to the offence in her caution statement and stated that she took an amount of GH?15,000.00 and GH?20,000.00 which was recorded as bad debt.

It said the convict refunded an amount of GH?9,000.00 as part of the payment of the money she misappropriated from the shop.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) is advocating for the inclusion of typical Ghanaian foods in the menus of restaurants and eateries to promote local dishes.

The goal is to ignite the passion of citizens to patronise such indigenous Ghanaian meals which are not being cooked or eaten at home.

Mr Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer of GTA, who made the appeal, said this would also ensure healthy eating and well-being since most of these foods contained essential nutrients the body required.

He was speaking at the Asanteman Queenmothers’ Day and Food Fair (Feast Ghana event) at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

The event, which sought to promote the consumption of indigenous Ghanaian cuisines forms part of activities marking the 25th anniversary celebration of the enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.

It was an assembly of Asante Queens who portrayed the beautiful culture of Asanteman through their dressing and display of assorted traditional cuisines.

All the paramountcies in Asante prepare
d and showcased traditional foods which were not often sold in eateries within and outside of the Ashanti Region.

Among the foods showcased during the colourful event were boiled yam/plantain and kontomire mashed in earthenware bowls, ‘etoo’ (mashed plantain and eggs), fufu and green soup, boiled cocoyam and grounded pepper, groundnut soup with fufu, among others.

Mr. Agyeman said the Authority would continue to elevate Ghana’s local cuisines, culture, and traditions.

The ‘Feast Ghana’ event, he said, was being celebrated under the theme ‘Flavours of Ghana: Celebrating Ghana’s Cultural Diversity Through Food.’

Mr Agyeman said the theme aligned with the GTA’s initiative of ‘See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana, Feel Ghana’ campaign which was launched in 2017.

He said Asantes local food played significant roles in telling the Ghanaian food story.

According to Mr Agyeman, the grand celebration of ‘Feast Ghana’ would be held on May Day in Accra with a spectacular display of Ghanaian cooked meals.

Source: Ghan
a News Agency