Dr John Kwabena Kwakye, the Director of Research at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), has reiterated calls for the government to consider tweaking the flagship Free Senior High School, Free SHS, policy amid an economic downturn. “I don’t see why we can’t touch Free SHS . Policies that do not focus on human capacity development can be phased out,” Dr Kwakye said. The public sector needs to be downsized to be more productive so that we can remunerate them better,” Dr Kwakye added. He also touched on the need to reduce the size of government and aside from the Free SHS, consider reviewing some other flagship programmes.

The Falconets will go into the tie on the back of two wins against France and South Korea which sealed qualification into the quarter-finals. South Korea and France will also face each other the same time when the Falconets tackle Canada who have already been eliminated. The Falconets in six points top the group, France are second on three points, South Korea also on three points are third and Canada are bottom with no points. And speaking ahead of the game against Canada, Falconets coach Danjuma explained the kind of approach his team will adopt against in their last group game. “God has been helping us we’ve been building the team, game after game we’ve been building strength,” he said in a video published on the Super Falcons Twitter handle.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the McDan Group of Companies, Daniel McKorley, has disclosed that he has awarded actor and broadcaster, George Quaye, a contract of two million dollars. Speaking at a conference dubbed, ‘McDan Youth Connect - Impacting Youth Development with Entrepreneurship’ held at the University of Education, Winneba, McDan praised George Quaye for achieving more in life after making a name for himself. Aboagye you saw in ‘Taxi Driver’ just won a contract from me – about two million dollars. “You saw him in ‘Taxi Driver’ like he was joking [in ‘Taxi Driver] but Aboagye had a purpose. George Quaye is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for ImageBureau, an event organising firm.

Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 16 August 2022Source: www.ghanaweb.comThree final-year students of Opoku Ware SHS have been arrested by the Police for their involvement in a robbery attack. The students, between the ages of 17 and 19, were reported to have chartered a taxi from Santansi to Golden Tulip around 11:30pm. When the driver got to Golden Tulip, they told him they were going to Rotary park so he should proceed to that destination. While on their way, one of the students removed a knife to attack the taxi driver from behind. During their struggle, the Taxi driver kept moving his car which led to a crash around Vienna City.

Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya Constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has responded to the letter from the Presidency communicating her dismissal as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection. The Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin in a statement on July 8, 2022, announced a decision by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to relieve the MP of her ministerial role. In a letter dated August 5, 2022, Sarah Adwoa Safo has expressed gratitude to the president for the opportunity she had to serve as a minister in both of his terms. “On Friday, 29th July, 2022, I handed over all official assets to the administrator of the Ministry. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Aboagye you saw in ‘Taxi Driver’ just won a contract from me – about two million dollars. “You saw him in ‘Taxi Driver’ like he was joking [in ‘Taxi Driver] but Aboagye had a purpose. During his address during the programme, ghanaweb.com reported him to have also encouraged the youth to crave distinctiveness by taking calculated steps in life. Although Mr McKorley has spoken highly of George Quaye's two-million-dollar contract with his company, it is currently unknown to the public the kind of contract he won and how he tends to use the money. Apart from his career in the media and showbiz space, George Quaye is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for ImageBureau, an event organising company which organised the Asafotufiam Concert in Ada.

Politics of Tuesday, 16 August 2022Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has summoned former Eastern Regional Minister, Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, for attending late Evans Atta Mills’ 10-years anniversary memorial organised by Koku Anyidoho. Antwi Boasiako Sekyere’s summon comes after he defied the party’s directive, warning the party members not to engage in any event organised by Koku Anyidoho in regards to the late president. Aside from attending the event, he also laid a wreath on behalf of the party without its knowledge and authorisation. The actions of Boasiako Sekyere, according to the NDC, “contravened FEC’s directive and FEC needs an explanation,” angelonline.com reports. Please endeavour to attend and on time,” the letter stated.

The former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Alex Mould, has warned that Ghana will soon face a fuel crisis if urgent steps are not taken. In a post shared on Facebook, Alex Mould said that the country will soon be experiencing fuel shortages because companies that import oil products are running out of the needed foreign exchange that will enable them to import these products. He indicated that these companies are not getting the needed foreign exchange because the Bank of Ghana is also running out of foreign exchange. “Fuel shortage imminent due to Foreign Exchange (FX) credit crunch unless government intervenes. Alex Mould added that the government must speed up processes to get an International Monetary Fund bailout to help avert the situation.

General News of Monday, 15 August 2022Source: www.ghanaweb.comPresident Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has presented 1,500 motorbikes to the Ghana Police Service. According to the president, the motorbikes are part of government’s efforts to ensure the security agency is equipped with the necessary logistics so law and order is maintained in the country. The presentation of the bikes “is yet a further affirmation of the commitment of the Akufo-Addo government to provide the Police Service with the necessary logistics it requires, to help the Service continue to affect its mandate of maintaining law and order, and protecting lives and property,” the president stated. He added that “An institution, such as the Police Service, needs to renew constantly itself in order to respond adequately to the security needs of the country, and I believe Ghanaians are witnesses to the pragmatic steps being taken by the Service in this regard.”Akufo-Addo further stated that he believes efforts are being put in place to ensure notorious criminals are brought to book. “Government is very much aware of the efforts being put in place by personnel of the Service, under the dynamic leadership of the Inspector-General of Police and members of the Police Management Board, to intensify targeted operations in communities which, hitherto, were notorious for violent crimes,” he added.

General News of Monday, 15 August 2022Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Nursing and Midwifery of Ghana has dissociated itself from a viral video in which a supposed student nurse is threatening to kill clients she comes into contact with. In a release dated August 15, 2022, and copied to the NMC condemned the actions of the supposed student, noting that such statements contravene the professional code of conduct for nurses. In the viral video, the student nurse, who was in a nursing uniform, is heard asking her potential clients to run away from her. According to her, her clients risk losing their lives as she was forced into the profession which is not her interest. Watch the viral video below:

Chili pepper and other key vegetable exporters are worried about rising freight charges by international airlines — a phenomenon that is deterring exports to the EU and US markets amid increasing demand for the commodities. Due to their perishability, fruit and vegetables are best transported by air per international best practices and standards. But current freight charges for a kilogram of chili pepper, shallots, okra and other vegetables have gone up by more than 50 percent to US$1.90 and US$2 for others. Currently, a ton of chili pepper transported by international cargo to the EU costs the local exporter not less than US$2,000, with freight charges to the UK higher than that. Despite its prospects, local farmers are able to meet less than 40 percent of the achievable yields of chili production per annum.

Politics of Monday, 15 August 2022Source: www.ghanaweb.comA member of the New Patriotic Party, Hajia Fati, in 2019, accused the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, and some individuals of mischievously removing her name from the committee in charge of publicly auctioned cars. According to Hajia Fati, the act of removing her from the list was in pursuit of a plan to dole out the cars to family and friends of the Chief of Staff and her associates. If they want the honest truth then they should know that, the auctioned cars are being sold to family and friends like groundnuts and maize. Asked if she has called the Chief of Staff to question her on the handlings of the cars, Hajia said, “has she ever contacted me before for me to call her, does she know whether I eat or not”? I am waiting patiently for Nana Addo to come so I go and report all of them.

The CEO made this disclosure when the Commission held a press conference on Sunday, 14th August, 2022, following a video of illegal mining activities on the Offin River. He stressed that the matter is being investigated and that swift and ruthless action will be taken to deal with it and any other such illegal activities. He noted that within the last two years, Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Commission, has introduced several measures to deal with illegal mining, popularly referred to as “galamsey”. The CEO assured the Ghanaian public of its unflinching commitment in the fight to sanitize the small-scale mining sector and also sensitize the public with more educational information. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Hopeson Adorye, a stalwart of the governing New Patriotic Party, (NPP), has endorsed the candidature of John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry, to lead the party into the 2024 polls. According to him, Alan Kyerematen is the choice of the grassroots and 2024 is his time to lead the party. “The grassroots are yearning for Alan Kyerematen. “I am overwhelmed by the numbers,” the disappointed Parliamentary Candidate for Kpone-Katamanso said at the march of some party supporters in Kumasi on Saturday, August 13. Adorye is of the view that the national executives of the party should draw the modalities for interested aspirants to obey.

Sports News of Sunday, 14 August 2022Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Black Princesses of Ghana take on Japan in their second match at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The Princesses started their campaign with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the United States of America in their opening group D game of the 2022 FIFA under-20 Women’s World Cup. After a disastrous start to their campaign, coach Ben Fokou will be hoping to bounce back in the game against Japan. Ghana are making their 7th appearance at the u-20 Women's World Cup and are bent on making an impact at the tournament. The Black Princesses have failed to go past the group stages on five occasions and will hope to make it into the knockout stages this time.