Prof. Martin Okyere Owusu is his name and he is a renowned playwright, a lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Theatre Arts, an actor and a film director. Through his grooming, personalities like Clemento Suarez and Foster Romanus shot up to stardom with their comic acts. He speaks about his journey into acting, literature and directing and how he groomed these persons to become who they are. Testimonials of his works from some of these personalities will also feature as we sit with Prof. Martin Okyere Owusu to have a conversation in this edition of People & Places on GhanaWeb TV. Watch the full video below:

Business News of Thursday, 22 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comPresident Akufo-Addo has appointed lawmaker and Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong as board chairman of the Ghana Gas Company Limited. You are by this appointment expected to provide direction and leadership in the day-to-day running of the nation’s premiere mid-stream gas business company,” the energy minister said. “I am aware that in times past one of the major challenges Ghana Gas has faced is Volta River Authority’s indebtedness to it; payments for the gas supplied them in their operations were quite irregular. He continued, “As sector Minister, one of my priorities is to rid the sector of avoidable debts especially, ones I call intra-energy sector debts. The Ghana National Gas Company was first established in July 2011 as a limited liability company with the core mandate geared towards building, owning and operating natural gas infrastructure required for gathering, processing, transportation and marketing.

General News of Thursday, 22 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comA lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law, Kissi Agyabeng, will today July 22, 2021 be vetted by Parliament's Appointment Committee as the next Special Prosecutor. Mr Agyebeng, if approved, will become Ghana’s second Special Prosecutor replacing Martin Amidu. Profile of Kissi AgyebengAccording to the University of Ghana Law School, Kissi Agyebeng has been a lecturer at the institution since October 2006, teaching and researching into Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Law, Corporate Law, and Legal Research and Writing. He was awarded the Bentsi-Enchill prize for best graduating student of the University of Ghana School of Law in 2001. Mr Agyabeng proceeded to the Ghana School of Law and was called to the Ghana Bar in October 2003, earning the E.N.

Sports News of Thursday, 22 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comAhead of his bout against Namibian opponent, Nathaniel Sebastianus on July 30, 2021, Ghanaian featherweight boxer John Laryea has been visiting some influential persons to seek their blessings and wise counsel. Addressing the delegation, Nii Lante Vanderpuye commended Laryea for his commitment to his craft but cautioned that there is a long road to becoming a boxing great for Ghana. To reach that level, Nii Lante Vanderpuye advised John Laryea known popularly as 'expensive boxer' to be willing to sacrifice his time and everything to the sport. On Monday , July 19, 2021; John Laryea and his team also paid courtesy call on the the Major of Accra, Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah. John Laryea described the visits as ‘morale booster’ for the upcoming fight.

He however referred the MP to the Ministry of National Security as the appropriate quarters to provide answers on how much the President’s use of a private jet during the travel cost the country. He clarified his position saying, “I will go further to say that even when the Minister of National Security has to give any information, it should not be done in the public. The MP in a latest social media post has announced that he has filed another urgent question to demand answers from the Minister for National Security following the response by the Finance Minister. I have therefore immediately filed an urgent question under Order 64 of Parliament’s Standing Orders for the National Security Minister to appear before the House with a response. "The palpably dishonest efforts to be evasive, elusive and engage in elaborate coverups under the latest guise of national security considerations would not be allowed to succeed.

He believes that the plot had the backing of veteran journalist Kweku Baako Jnr who is Anas' boss. Agyapong is convinced that Kweku Baako gave Anas approval for the said investigations as he has been behind most activities undertaken by the journalist. The NPP members entertaining Kweku Baako will see how he is using Anas to destroy the party,” he added. They think Kweku Baako supports us but he is not. I will show Kweku Baako that he is corrupt.

He recounted that Edward Akufo-Addo and JB Danquah with support from Ivory Coast and other foreign powers tried on twelve separate occasions to assassinate Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president. JB Danquah and all those guys were terrorists. So if your fathers and grandparents were all terrorists, bombing and destabilizing this country, why do you complain about terrorists? They were mentored by your grandfathers, JB Danquah and the rest of them,” he said on the Wednesday, July 21 edition of his show on Accra-based Zylofon FM. Blakk Rasta was speaking to a recent report in which Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah disclosed that terrorists are now recruiting in Ghana.

General News of Thursday, 22 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.com• Captain Smart's 'fake, fraudulent' academic history was the subject of a TV program• Accra-based Net2 TV reported that Captain Smart was expelled from a varsity where he was pursuing a degree program• This is the latest installment in Smart's public spat with Net2 TV owner, Kennedy AgyapongKweku Annan, host of The Seat Show on Net2 TV on Wednesday, July 21; published a document that supposedly exposed the fraudulent academic history of Onua TV host, Captain Smart (Real name Godsbrain Smart Blessed Yirenkyi). Annan and Net2 owner Kennedy Agyapong slammed Captain Smart while discussing issues on ‘The Seat’ program which aired on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, which was monitored by GhanaWeb. He had earlier charged that the Ghana Police Service must get involved in the issue and pick up Captain Smart for the illegalities that he engaged in. The back and forth between Captain Smart and Net2 TV owner, Kennedy Agyapong, has been raging for the past few months. The last Captain Smart responded to the allegation, he asked Ken Agyapong to come to his house for his money.

General News of Thursday, 22 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comSir Sam Jonah, has spoken about the infamous $5 million hotel that was demolished by former President Jerry John Rawlings in 1999. On the subject of the demolished hotel, he said it belonged to a good friend of his but that at the time of the demolition he had zero equity in the investment. When the hotel was demolished in 1999, barely a year before Rawlings left office, the official reason was that it was built on a watercourse. In 2009, under the John Evans Atta Mills government, Alhaji Yusif went to court and obtained a judgment debt of over six million cedis for the loss. But Alhaji Yusif in a TV interview had said he had forgiven the former president for the episode.

Business News of Thursday, 22 July 2021Source: thebftonline.comThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected the country’s public debt to hit 83.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by end of the year, thereby throwing the economy into the dreaded list of debt-distressed countries. This technically means that for every GH¢1 worth of economic activity produced in the country in 2020, 78.9 pesewas was classified as debt. “While there are encouraging signs of an economic recovery, they noted that it remains uneven across sectors. The IMF further emphasised that government’s digitisation drive and structural transformation are key to recovering the economy. “Structural transformation and digitalisation agenda are critical to support the recovery.

As of June 2021, local pension funds had increased their trades on the market to 7% of total trades compared to 0.38% in 2020. When the market goes to where normal market levels should be, you will see them behave differently.”On the current attractiveness of the market, she said: “Last year, their [pension funds] holdings in equities was 2.5%. That is why we are seeing many more of them coming back into the equities market”. Having seen the market rally, it has struck interest in equities among pension funds. However, he remains doubtful of the stake from pension funds on the equities market possibly rising above 3%.

General News of Thursday, 22 July 2021Source: starrfm.com.ghA Chief has been arraigned before the Koforidua Circuit Court for allegedly defiling and impregnating a 15-year-old girl. According to the parents, they observed strange physical changes and symptoms of pregnancy on the victim. The parents alleged that the victim indicated that, the chief subsequently had sexual intercourse with her again the same month. Prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Benard Annor charged the chief with the offence of defilement. The Girls Education Unit of Eastern Regional Police Command has expressed worried over increasing sexual abuses against teenage girls leading to an increase in teenagers.

Sports News of Thursday, 22 July 2021Source: ghanasoccernet.comGhana captain Andre Ayew will be one of the highest earning African footballers with a reported take home of US$ 200,000-a-month should he pen a three-year deal with Qatari champions Al Sadd. GHANAsoccernet.com understands the Ghana captain will earn 2.4 million a year with added bonuses that come with performance and appearances. What has been said:Al Sadd posted a video with a statement confirming the capture of the former West Ham and former Swansea City forward. The statement read: ''Al Sadd have reached an agreement to sign Ghana star Andre Ayew. “The player will arrive in the morning to complete the routine procedure, followed by the signing of the contract and the official announcement.''

According to Nana Kwaku Mensah, the more insults his wife receives the more it reflects on her bank account. “I won’t say it is difficult getting married to someone like Xandy Kamel because we all have our lifestyles. "I understand the showbiz game so whatever path she chooses on social media, I accept it. We all know that Xandy makes most of her money from social media so the more you insult her, the more money she makes." Xandy was slapped with a 1 million cedis lawsuit for alleging that Salma is an international prostitute who deals with older men.

Sports News of Thursday, 22 July 2021Source: ghanaguardian.comGhanaian teen sensation Kamaldeen Sulemana on Wednesday made his debut for his new side Stade Rennes days after sealing record breaking move. The 20-year-old Ghana who sealed his move from Danish side FC Nordsjaelland last Friday and barely trained with his new teammates made his first appearance in a preseason friendly against Spanish side Getafe. Kamaldeen joined the action from the bench in the 70th minute as Rennes were condemned to a 2-1 defeat by the Spanish La Liga side at Pinatar Arena Football Center in Murcia, Spain. The home side took the lead through Turkish striker Emes Unal in the 18th minute before Sehrou Guirassy pulled parity for the French side from the penalty spot in the 57th minute. Fans of Stade Rennes saw glimpses of why their team paid that much and went every length to trump Ajax who were leading the race for the player's signature.