Business News of Sunday, 25 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Ghana Union of Traders Association has described the latest move by the Ghanaian ECOWAS delegation to review retail trade laws as ‘laughable’. “The ECOWAS Parliament’s decision to review the GIPC Act is rather laughable and unthinkable because what is the locus of ECOWAS? Already, the Trade Union body has kicked against plans by government to review the GIPC Act which permits Nigerian retailers to facilitate trade in Ghana. The move was replicated in Kumasi, Ashanti region as most of the shops belonging to Nigerian traders were also forced to shut down that year after Ghanaian traders alleged that Nigerian traders had taken over the retail business in the country. The decision caused a clash between Ghanaian traders and Nigerian traders leading to the arrest of some persons involved while others were badly injured.

Sports News of Sunday, 25 July 2021Source: Nicholas Akussah, ContributorThe Africa Connect Cycling Club, ACCC, led by its president Richard Agu, has revealed plans of including young cyclists in its squad. This, it said will help augment the club's objective of improving on cycling from the grassroots level. ACCC are the organizers of the prestigious End of Month challenge ride in Ghana. They are also the pioneers of the first-ever west Africa challenge ride dubbed 'RideAfrique'. Young cyclists who are interested are advised to visit the club's portal for registration.

Regional News of Sunday, 25 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comCorrespondence from Northern regionDakpema D/A school in Tamale has been battling with an infrastructural deficit in the face of an abandoned storey building project which when completed could cure the chronic infrastructural problem facing the school. A Kufour administration under the supervision of the late Mustapha Ali Idriss, the then Northern Regional minister. The project, according to school authorities was been worked on by the late Mustapha Ali's brother who also died at the infant stage of the project. Mr. Alhassan said the situation is affecting academic activities in the school and if the project is completed would help solve the infrastructural deficits facing the school. He, therefore, appealed to the Northern Regional Minister, Alhassan Shaini Saibu, the Member of Parliament of the area, Hon.

Sports News of Sunday, 25 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.com• Samuel Boadu has now beaten Elmina Sharks twice in 2021• Accra Hearts of Oak has advanced to the semis of the FA Cup competition• Defender Caleb Amankwah scored the only goal in the gameAccra Hearts of Oak coach, Samuel Boadu, has waxed lyrical about the performance of his team following their win over Elmina Sharks in the MTN FA Cup. Samuel Boadu and his Accra Hearts of Oak team has progressed to the Semi-finals of the 2020/2021 MTN FA Cup competition after beating Elmina Sharks 1-0 in extra time at the Papa Kwesi Nduom Sports Stadium. Hearts of Oak FA Cup victory over Elmina Sharks meant that coach Samuel Boadu has beaten the Central Region based twice since joining the Phobians from Medeama in 2021. But according to Samuel Boadu, they were determined to beat Elmina Sharks at their own backyard to put to bed all the controversies that surrounded their game at the Accra Sports Stadium. Also, watch last week's episode of the Friday debate on GhanaWeb TV with Joel Eshun in the post below:

Ghanian government to take out $170 million loan to help preparations for 2023 African GamesThe Government of Ghana looks set to borrow $170 million (£124 million/€144 million) to help fund the 2023 African Games. As reported by GhanaWeb, the loan is intended to contribute towards the cost of sports and residential infrastructure required for the Games. The African Games are set to be hosted in the Ghanaian capital Accra as well as the cities of Kumasi and Cape Coast. The last African Games took place in Rabat, the Moroccan capital. The inaugural African Para Games are also planned in 2023.

Business News of Sunday, 25 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comA cumulative number of 282,792 direct and indirect jobs under the One-District-One Factory initiative will be created when an additional 150 companies under construction are completed, Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen has said. “The companies that are currently operational have created a total number of 150,975 direct and indirect jobs. When the additional 150 companies under construction are completed, the cumulative number of direct and indirect jobs that would be created will amount to 282,792,” Alan Kyerematen told Parliament, Wednesday. Out of this number, 104 companies are currently in operation, 150 are under construction and 24 are at the mobilization stage. 165 out of the 278 companies are new projects, representing 60%, whilst 113 companies are existing projects that are being supported, representing 40%,” he said.

It can be recalled that scores of music stakeholders including young musicians have described the two groups headed by some veteran musicians including Rex Omar, Diana Hopeson as incompetent and only focused on amassing wealth instead of being concerned about the wellbeing of members. But reacting to such, Rex Omar maintained that he has done nothing wrong to merit insults. “Sometimes the way and manner some legends in the industry carry themselves give the current musicians opportunity to disrespect them. No current or upcoming musician can disrespect me because I won’t give you that opportunity to disrespect me. I’m not broke because I worked hard to get money so I will never go and beg any current musician for survival for the person to get the opportunity to disrespect me,” he stated on Angel FM.

The Delta strain which is said to have emerged from India and already claimed many lives in other parts of the world is already running riot in Ghana. Its detection has increased the country's case load to 4,094 active cases with a death toll of 821 as of July 21, 2021. Though Ghana has commenced a vaccination programme, the country has been lagging with the availability of enough vaccines to inoculate citizens. According to the Ghana Health Service, only a little over a million citizens out of a 30 million population have been vaccinated. Meanwhile, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) says it has observed, “with concern,” some characteristics of the new Delta variant of SARS-Cov-2 detected at the institute’s testing centre since April 2021."

Since the president's last address in May this year, a new strain of the virus, SARS-Cov-2 Delta variant, has been claiming lives and increased the country’s caseload. This will be his 26th national address on the subject since Ghana recorded its first two cases back in March 2020. Though Ghana has commenced a vaccination programme, the country has been lagging with the availability of enough vaccines to inoculate citizens. The total number of cases for the country since the virus was first detected is 101,170. Meanwhile, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) has observed, “with concern,” some characteristics of the new Delta variant of SARS-Cov-2 detected at the institute’s testing centre since April 2021.

The former MP stressed that most of Sosu's constituents in the Madina constituency were opposed to the values that he seeks to defend. "The Madina MP is courageous, but foolishly courageous. If he’s minded, majority of the people he represents are very opposed to the things he seeks to defend. I believe what the speaker said are his personal views and how he feels about this piece of legislation,” he added. It is led by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, and seven (7) other MPs.

Entertainment of Sunday, 25 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.com• Celestine Donkor has hailed boxing great Azumah Nelson• The former boxer helped the musician to pay her SHS fees• Celestine Donkor celebrated Azumah on his 63rd birthdayGospel Musician, Celestine Donkor has revealed that the story of her life can never be told without highlighting the influence and impact of Ghana’s boxing great, Professor Azumah Nelson. The songwriter shared the story of how Azumah Nelson sponsored her secondary school education when she had no one to fall on. The 2020 Ghana Music Awards Female Vocalist of the Year disclosed that it has always been her heart desire to express gratitude to Azumah Nelson for coming to her aid years ago. Sharing her story in a post on Facebook, Celestine Donkor stated that it was indeed worth it for Ghanaians to stay awake to watch Azumah Nelson fight. LIVE LONG PROFESSOR AZUMA NELSON,” Celestine Donkor wrote.

• Seb Dance has described the LGBT bill as backward• Sam George questioned why the MEP has issues about legalizing polygamy• The UK politician evaded Sam George's question and decided to continue his agendaA UK politician Seb Dance who took on the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram was unable to respond to Sam George’s question on why the European Parliament has not thought about legalizing polygamy. Sam George tweeted, “I would be glad when you and your fellow MEPs come to your senses and legalise polygamy. The love is in the common sense.”Seb Dance evaded Sam George’s question and rather chosing to respond that there is no science or common sense behind the LGBT bill. In his response, Sam George alluded to how the fomer MEP was evasive in answering the question on polygamy. You should be ashamed,” Sam George stated in his response.

General News of Sunday, 25 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe world's deadliest roads have been revealed through a new research with Ghana getting top mention for the Africa region thanks to the Accra - Cape Coast highway. "In Africa, the road with the deadliest reputation is the Accra to Cape Coast Road in Ghana, which connects Accra to Cape Coast. In early 2018, the National Road Safety Commission, NRSC, disclosed that 60% of all accidents in 2017 occured on that road. Ms Affotey-Annang, the then Acting Regional Manager for the Commission told journalists that road accidents increased from 788 in 2016 to 978 in 2017; which represented an increase of 23.7 per cent. Records indicate that a third of Cameroon's 3,000 annual accidents are recorded on the road.

Politics of Sunday, 25 July 2021Source: www.mynewsgh.comThe Founder and leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana, Kofi Akpaloo, has stated emphatically that he holds no grudges against Akwasi Addai Odike, the founder and leader of the United Progressive Party, but the fact remains they are no longer friendsBefore the 2016 general elections, Kofi Akpaloo and Akwasi Addai Odike were the best of friends when it comes to political discussions and were mostly seen together at Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi. But Mr. Kofi Akpaloo speaking on Hello Fm's morning show monitored by MyNewsGh.com last Friday said “Let me make it clear that I hold no grudges against Akwasi Addai Odike but he is no longer my friend as it used to be.”According to Kofi Akpaloo “Akwasi Addai Odike was my best friend and I will never deny that fact but now we are not friends. “We used to plan together and sometimes make some political decisions together, but it is on more like that because now we have part ways.”Kofi Akpaloo, when asked if he has parted ways with Akwasi Addai Odike because of how he is criticizing Nana Addo’s government, said “I have no problem with Akwasi Addai Odike criticizing President Akufo-Addo’s government.”He added, “There is no way Akwasi Addai Odike can debate me on national issues on any platforms because I’m better than him. “Political and National debates not for those who always shout without providing any facts like how Akwasi Addai Odike is capable of doing,” refusing to state exactly what may have triggered the split between them.

Prof Kwesi Aning of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center, KAIPTC, last Thursday, (July 22) explained on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana program, how the new police chief can succeed in his role. Aning specifically cited the importance that two fellow Commissioners of Police will play if Dampare is to thrive and make a mark as Inspector General of Police. “Dampare’s strength is his strategic vision and his empathy for his personnel but also a willingness when the operational plans have been drawn up and that is why getting Yohunu and Kofi Boakye on his side are key,” Aning submitted. COP Christian Tetteh Yohunu is currently the Director General in charge of Special Duties, whiles Nathan Kofi Boakye is DG in charge of Legal and Prosecution. Incoming IGP George Akuffo Dampare was DG in charge of Administration at the time he was announced as Acting IGP.