General News of Thursday, 29 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.com• The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has presented the 2021 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament• In his presentation, he delivered a message from the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo• The president said the youth should look out for big opportunities from the governmentThe president of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged the youth of the country to brace up for big opportunities that are to be introduced soon. Making this known through the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, he said that even though the recent times have been challenging, what the government has in the pipeline will be beneficial to them. Delivering the 2021 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament, the minister explained that the president acknowledges that there have been difficulties in recent times and is initiating opportunities that will uplift their businesses. Your education has been disrupted; for many of you, your business plans are on hold because of lack of funding or opportunities. "But we have a message for you: big opportunities are coming, and the President wants you to be part of that.

Regional News of Thursday, 29 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe District Chief Executive Officer for Amasie South, Hon Clement Opoku Gyamfi has charged parents in the choose education over sending their children to the mining sites where they engage in all manner of activities to look for gold. Addressing the chiefs and people of Adubia, the Hon Opoku Gyamfi, popularly known as CID, who is also the youngest District Chief Executive Officer in President Akufo Addo's government, called on parents to prioritise their children's education despite the area being a known mining community. He thanked the Methodist Church for their vision and support for education by initiating the establishment of the school and encouraged the people to maintain the facility properly. Amansie South is a District in the Ashanti Region with Manso Adubia as its capital. It is a huge mining community that has continued to see some incredible transformation under the leadership of the District Chief Executive who is poised to change the narratives of the area from one known for its galamsey to a strong educational hub.

Sports News of Thursday, 29 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comFormer Asante Kotoko National Supporters leader, Kwaku Amponsah has claimed that midfielder, Emmanuel Keyekeh threatened to boycott the second half of the Porcupines’ game against King Faisal. According to Kweku Amponsah who is known in the football circles as Chairman K5, Emmanuel Keyekeh removed his jersey and threatened to play the second half because he suspected some level of foul play in the game. “Keyekeh removed his jersey at halftime and threatened not to play again if that is how they (Kotoko) are going to play. We the supporters have to come together to make sure that betting is out of our game.”“Keyekeh did that because he suspected match-fixing. Meanwhile, Alhaji Grusah, the owner of King Faisal confessed that he approached Asante Kotoko 'for help' in the relegation fight but they refused to give them the entire three points.

General News of Thursday, 29 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comFinance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has made a passionate appeal to Ghanaians to help the government with the building of the proposed National Cathedral by donating GH¢100 a month. “Work on the National Cathedral is progressing speedily and following the program of the contractor. The National Cathedral is expected to be officially commissioned on March 6, 2024. Upon completion, the National Cathedral will provide a space for formal religious activities of state and symbolize the enormous contribution of faith to nation-building,” he said in his speech. He furthered that “this state and church partnership envisaged by the president to develop the National Cathedral is on course.

This could be done through the use of a fire torch, pressure kerosene lamp, gas-lit lamp or battery, or generator-assisted incandescent lamps. It has been established by experts in the industry that such practices are unfriendly to the growth of the fishing industry but the fishermen at Elmina disagree. It is expected that on the dawn of Sunday, August 1, 2021, the ban on fishing will be lifted and the fisherfolk maintain that the stance by the minister on light fishing is problematic. Besides, they added, Mavis Hawa Koomson has not shown enough concern towards their welfare since the season was closed nearly a month now, and to be seen to now be coming to offer them anything is not welcome. It is not today that the season was almost over three days that she is bringing us food,” one of the fishermen told this portal.

General News of Thursday, 29 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comGovernment through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has today, July 29, presented its 2021 mid-year budget review before Parliament. Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta announced some key job creation programmes and projects government intends to undertake over the next three and half years. He disclosed that government will not be seeking additional funding and supplementary budget for the next half of the 2021 financial year. Making the disclosure during the 2021 mid-year budget review before Parliament, Ken Ofori-Atta however told the House that Ghana's economy was on its path to recovery. See the full statement read by Ken Ofori-Atta here:

According to him, it is the duty of the Assembly to enforce its laws to prevent people from undertaking such activities within the jurisdiction. He noted that the Assembly and the Ga North MCE have the power to stop these indisciplined citizens. His outburst comes after videos went viral on social media showing how traders were selling around the interchange. In an interview with the media after touring the completed project, the Roads Minister said, “You don’t expect the president or me to come and do this enforcement in your jurisdiction. The power is in your hands and you expect someone to come and do your work for you with all the powers that you have?”The Pokuase interchange is recognized as the largest interchange in West Africa.

Sports News of Thursday, 29 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.com• Steve Polack disagrees with Mariano Barreto's approach of running to the media with Asante Kotoko issues• Barreto is frustrated with the lack of washroom facilities at Kotoko's training ground• Steve Polack won the MTN FA Cup with Asante Kotoko in 2017Former Asante Kotoko coach, Steve Polack has taken a swipe at coach Mariano Barreto for always running to the media with the problems in the team. Asante Kotoko coach, Mariano Barreto has been ranting in the media space in the last couple of days with both internal and external problems in the Porcupine family. Mariano Barreto was recently quoted to have said on Kumasi-based Nhyira FM that the lack of washrooms at the club’s training ground has compelled the players to use a bush nearby to attend to nature’s call. But reacting to this in an interview with Oyerepa FM, Steve Polack stated that he disagrees with Barreto’s method of taking issues that can be solved internally to the media. I worked under such circumstances knowing there were plans to get the place in shape.”Steve Polack won the 2017 MTN FA Cup for Asante Kotoko after beating Accra Hearts of Oak.

Bullets have mutilated the car and the bloodstains in it will not encourage me to keep working with that car even if it is fixed. Five months after the incident, Ghanaweb Eastern Regional Correspondent, McAnthony Dagyenga, visited Akyem Pramkese to interact with the taxi driver. At the funeral, the Police Commander told me to come and take my car from the command. He said if they had used the car for a successful operation, they would have given me some money for my fuel. Amegavi told Ghanaweb that he needs a new car to work with as no car owner is ready to give him their car to use on ‘work and pay’ basis.

The former Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC explained further that job creation will be at the top of the government’s priorities, reports myjoyonline.com. “That’s why I’m saying that I’m expecting pragmatic Mid-Term policies and I think my government will not make any serious fiscal changes in terms of our taxes,” he stressed. Stephen Amoah added that the strengthening of sectors to create jobs will also feature predominantly in the budget. “The government will rather look into areas that will create more jobs and also look into strengthening production to generate taxes rather than going straight to also impose additional taxes on the people. The Mid-Year Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy will focus on job creation, improving revenue mobilization, and instituting programs aimed at revitalizing the economy.

The General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has been explaining why the appointment of MMDCEs has been delayed. According to him, the team set up for the vetting of the MMDCEs aspirants had to make sure there was a gender balance in their selection. Also, the infusion of youthful people and other factors including ethnic backgrounds contributed to the delay in settling for the selected persons. Meanwhile, the committee formed to vet the MMDCEs aspirants have completed their work and have submitted the report to President Akufo-Addo. There is the need to ensure gender balance, the infusion of youthful people, and also to respond to local dynamics and ethnic backgrounds as well,” John Boadu told Citi News.

Wunam who is just 11 years old, was born with clubfoot and with both legs clinging together. Though Wunam has a wheelchair, without assistance, he is unable to make use of it. This problem has become an obstacle to the realization of Wunam's ambition as he dreams to become a professional teacher in the future. She is therefore appealing to the general public to come to their support and help Wunam realize his dreams. Wunam, on his part called on philanthropists, NGOs, and government agencies to come to his aid and help him enroll in school so he can work towards achieving his aim.

Entertainment of Wednesday, 28 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.com• According to Bulldog, VIP split because members wanted to pursue their personal interests• The popular hip-life group fell apart in 2013• Bulldog is a former manager of VIPArtiste manager and entertainment critic, Bulldog has highlighted some reasons for the split of popular hip-life group, VIP now known as VVIP. There were initial rumours that the group fell apart due to a misunderstanding on some money issues. But touching on the exact reasons why the group separated, Bulldog who was once their manager said members of the group left to pursue their personal interests and not because they fought over money. In an interview with JoyFM’s A-Z monitored by GhanaWeb, Bulldog said:“Money was the last thing I can say for a fact. The Vision in Progress (VIP) music group was made up of Abdul Hamidu Ibrahim (Lazzy), Emmanuel Ababio (Promzy) and Joseph Nana Ofori (Prodigal) but initially also included Bone & Friction.

Regional News of Wednesday, 28 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comCorrespondence from the Upper West Region:Reports reaching GhanaWeb indicate that final year students of the Kaleo Senior High Technical school students in the Nadawli-Kaleo district of the Upper West region have ran home in protest over the expulsion of their colleagues by school authorities. The protesting final year students therefore reportedly left the school after failing to get the expected response from the authorities. The school, during the just ended Muslim Eid-ul-Adha festivity had decided to give only Muslim students free exeat to go home for the celebrations, preventing the non-muslims from leaving campus. But the now expelled students demanded to be allowed home to use the opportunity to buy themselves some provisions resulting in the expulsion. It is however not clear whether the said expelled students will be allowed to sit for their impending final examination.

General News of Wednesday, 28 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comCorrespondence from the Eastern RegionA visit to the Akumersu Waterfalls in the Eastern Region revealed that the Fall could become one of Ghana's biggest tourism havens if developed to appreciable standards. Residents say all previous calls to government, investors, philanthropists and non-governmental organisations to assist the area to develop the available waterfalls have yielded nothing. A resident of Akumersu, 75-year-old Tetteh Henry has lived in this community for the past fifty years and has known about the Akumersu Waterfalls forty years ago. “I consulted my elder that we have a certain area if developed as a tourist site, it will attract lots, from outside and within,” said Mr. Kofi. GhanaWeb's checks however revealed that the said unnamed investor is Ghanaian pastor, industrialist and entrepreneur, Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka.