As the conversation rages on about the Apiate explosion, GhanaWeb takes a look at other disasters that rocked the nation and had Ghanaians uniting in grief. The fire instantly spread to a fuel station adjacent to the gas filling station causing death and destruction. A statement from the University of Ghana indicated that twenty (20) of its students were injured in the process. Eastern Region National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) official Richard Amo-Yartey in an update on the situation on October 24 said that at least 22 people, including a baby, were killed. Rescue efforts are currently underway with several people reported dead and others receiving treatment at hospitals for their various injuries.

But ACP Ofori also revealed that the motor rider and police officer escorting the truck were also alive. He confirmed that the driver and his escort helped lessen the deadly impact of the explosion by alerting people nearby of the imminent explosion. “When the incident took place, the police officer quickly alerted those around the scene that there is a likelihood that there would be an explosion. The first occurred and the second explosion ravaged the town and the village where a lot of destruction took place,” ACP Kwesi Ofori added. “The driver, the police officer and the motor rider are all alive because they heeded to the advice,” he noted.

This Week on Twitter #TwitterGhana captures the latest in music, movies, sports, entertainment and more you might have missed. AFCON Updates: BlackStar’s shock exit from the tournamentGhana’s Black Stars suffered a shock Group stage exit from the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after failing to win any of their three games in Cameroon. This left the Black Stars with ten men for the rest of the match which they eventually lost 3-2. END OF THE ROAD FOR #TeamGhanaFirst group stage exit since 2006 for the Black Stars. Ghana's AFCON 2021: I didn't see the hunger in the Black Stars especially in Dede Ayew and Thomas Partey.

He expressed his optimism in the bill getting the needed support to push through after extensive consultations. “After extensive consultations, the E-levy will be re-submitted to Parliament this month. New year, same old insensitivity,” he wrote on his Facebook timeline on January 20, 2022. It will be recalled that in December 2022, a vote on the controversial bill ended in fisticuffs as MPs on both sides of the house violently disagreed on some voting processes. The E-levy bill if passed in its current form will see a 1.75% rate slapped on all electronic transactions including mobile money.

According to a statement signed by himself, the reason for the circular was because he had noted that certain judges and professional magistrates were flouting existing rules on dress codes - i.e. “Judges and professional magistrates must be fully robed in wig and gown for court sittings at all times,” the circular read. “For this reason, judges and professional magistrates should also ensure that members of the Bar who appear before the Courts strictly comply with the dress standards to maintain the dignity of the court. In September 2021, the CJ issued a similar circular titled: “Dress Standards in Court” addressed to all judges and professional magistrates. Which spiral he continued had led by non-conformity and legitimate demand for change of the current Constitution.

General News of Friday, 21 January 2022Source: www.ghanaweb.comCorrespondence from Western Region:The Thursday, January 20, 2022, explosion at Bogoso-Apiate in the Western Region saw about 17 individuals losing their lives with fifty-seven victims ofthe explosion being sent to three different health facilities in the Western Region, the National Ambulance Service has confirmed. The explosion was caused by a truck belonging to a mining service contractor MAXAM that was involved in a collision causing an explosion in the community. The truck carrying the explosive was from Bogoso heading towards Kinross, a mining company in Chirano in the Western North Region, 140 kilometers away from the explosion site. The truck dragged the motor on the road for some few meters, caught fire, and extended to a nearby ECG transformer which also caught fire. The vibration from the explosion was so hard like an earthquake, bringing all houses in the community down killing about seventeen and injuring an unknown number.

According to multiple reports, the incident is a result of a fuel tanker catching fire while enroute for a delivery. However videos shared on social media indicate that the tanker burned completely with the fire extending to places nearby. Some of the videos show members of the Kaase community making effort to stop the spread of the fire including throwing sand on the fuel tanker which had leaked and was extending away from the accident scene. An accident involving the transport vehicle, a tricycle and a motorbike led to a fire situation which caused the explosion. So far, some 13 deaths have been recorded with several others said to have suffered various degrees of injuries.

“As I have indicated elsewhere, Speaker Bagbin may have had genuine reasons for his request for an elevated security protection. “I recall same or similar "ugly noises" were made in 2001 when President Rawlings' security detail was reviewed by the Kufuor Administration. The NDC went to court on that issue after their "ugly noises" in the public space. BackgroundThe Chief of Staff at the Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces, Major General Nicholas Peter Andoh, withdrew four military personnel attached to the office of the Speaker of Parliament. Bonney Prince have been serving Bagbin’s office since he became Speaker in January 2021.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram Sam Nartey George has disclosed that he does not intend to father more than the three children he currently has. I welcomed the girl six weeks ago so she is the latest addition and hopefully she is the last”, he revealed. According to him, no one would want to have more kids considering the world’s economy amidst the challenges it is grappling with. “Given the world’s economy you don’t want to have too many kids”, he stressed. Sam George in August last year it would be recalled, celebrated the ninth anniversary of his marriage with Vera with whom they now have three kids.

Pregnant women can now be vaccinated against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced on Wednesday (19 January). According to the GHS, recent studies across the globe including Ghana show that pregnant women are now safe to take the COVID-19 jab. Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, the director-general of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said specific vaccines will be administered to pregnant women. “But now that we have enough evidence both international and local, we are now able to add pregnant women to it because it is effective and safe. He added: “And then we have also recommended specific vaccines that can be used for pregnant women, just like we have specific ones for 15 year olds, those below 18 and 15 years.”Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the GHS will embark on massive education across the country on vaccinating pregnant women in the coming days.

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, seeks to add military personnel to his security detail for his protection during road movements across the country.”He explained that “this is paramount, especially in this day and age of terrorism and violent armed robberies. Bonney Prince were the officers requested to be attached to Mr. Bagbin’s office. The military indicated in a letter sighted by GhanaWeb that, the soldiers were attached to the Speaker ‘without proper procedure.’“It is humbly requested that the personnel are withdrawn with effect from 14 January 2022 while efforts are made to regularize their attachment,” the letter stated. Bonney Prince have been serving Bagbin’s office since he became Speaker in January 2021. Find below the letter from the Speaker to GAF.

Ghanaian highlife singer, Eugene Marfo, popularly known as Kuami Eugene has stated that some ‘talentless’ underground artistes must be kind enough to themselves and quit music. He said sometimes these budding artistes must understand that it’s the lack of talent that is inhibiting their progress and not other factors as they believe. KiDi first shared his opinion on some factors that prevents artistes from gaining their feat in the music industry. “Maybe it’s not your calling so you’ll get frustrated and wonder why you’re doing everything right but not blowing. It was in this light that Kuami Eugene immediately interrupted KiDi and established that some underground artistes are simply not cut out for the music profession.

Captain Smart had been accused of fraud by one woman – Gifty Adwoa Twumasi. She had gone to see Captain Smart to use his influence to stop a developer who was developing the land from doing so. The statement also noted that the project was stopped by the roads minister after the broadcaster spoke about it on air. To appreciate him, the woman visited the residence of suspect Captain Smart to thank him, together with some taxi drivers, with an amount of GH¢10,000 for his assistance in halting the said project. Captain Smart was said to have visited the roads ministry with the aim of seeing the minister, without success.

Investment firm, Tesah Capital, has dismissed any connection or relationship with Tizaa Ghana Fund, an investment fund branded as “Ponzi Scheme” by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In a statement, it said it’s a licensed investment firm by the SEC, providing legitimate investment services and products to its customers. “We wish to state categorically that Tesah Capital has no connection or relationship with Tizaa Ghana Fund. We urge the public to shed any negative impression the unfortunate publication on ghanaweb might have created about Tesah Capital”. The SEC recently issued a statement on Tizaa Ghana Fund, describing it as unlicensed and unregulated company promising huge returns on Investment.

Dr. Tony Aidoo, Ghana's former ambassador to the Netherlands, has analysed the candidature of the Vice President as the leader of the governing NPP as the party prepares to 'break the eight' in 2024. According to him, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, would have to deal with the crisis of credibility as he aspires to put himself up as the flagbearer of the NPP. He described the Vice President as a “flip-flopper”, who is not disciplined and uses all kinds of derogatory words on his political opponents. “The NDC never took Bawumia on to expose the shallow depth of his economic trick knowledge,” Dr. Tony Aidoo stressed. Bawumia "defined" in few minutes by Dr Tony Aidoo.