General News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has defended its decision to burn down excavators and other equipment seized by security operatives at illegal mining sites. There have been concerns with the burning of the excavators with some persons proffering that the equipment could have been used for other important activities. “The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has taken note of concerns from certain quarters of our society about the decommissioning of excavators in the ongoing military operations to safeguard the RED ZONES, i.e. “While we continue to acknowledge the mandate of the National Security Apparatus to enforce the laws, regulations and/or directives relating to the Mining Sector, we wish to reiterate, forcefully, that the “RED ZONES” remain what they are; red zones, and, thus, NO GO areas. “We need to preserve our Waterbodies and Forest Reserves for our survival and those of future generations.

Business News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe 17 pesewas per litre increase in fuel margins as announced weeks ago by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has been reduced. Effective Wednesday, May 5, 2021 prices of petroleum products at various pumps will witness a decrease of 9 pesewas per litre. A communique sighted by GhanaWeb said, this decision was taken after a crunch meeting was held at the Ministry of Energy with some stakeholders in the fuel ecosystem. Minister for Energy and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCS), Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Co Ltd (BOST), the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), the Institute for Energy Policies and Research (INSTEPR), it has been agreed as follows. “The 17 pesewas per litre increase in fuel margins previously announced by the NPA has been reduced to 9 pesewas per litre effective tomorrow, Wednesday 5th May 2021," the release read.

General News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Methodist Church Ghana has objected to a directive by the Ghana Education Service (GES) instructing the management of Wesley Girls High School to allow any student who wishes to fast for any religious reason to do so. In a statement sighted by GhanaWeb dated May 4, 2021, and signed by the Administrative Bishop of the Methodist Church, The Rt. The policies of the School over the 186 years of its existence have resulted in Wesley Girls High School being the school of choice, Excellence and Achievement and the Church remain in full support of these policies." According to the management of Wesley Girls which happens to be a Mission School, the decision was taken in the best interest of the students of the school. Below is the statement from the Methodist Church Ghana:

General News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comIllegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey has left most water bodies mud-spattered. In a video sighted by GhanaWeb, a man weeps bitterly as his excavators are being burnt in front of him. The unidentified man who could not control himself sat on the floor to shed tears seeing his equipment for galamsey in flames. Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last week ordered the deployment of 200 security officials to mining areas in the country to clamp down on activities by illegal miners. The operatives have since been seizing galamsey machinery especially of persons operation on or close to water bodies.

Sports News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comBlack Stars forward, Emmanuel Gyasi has urged young and aspiring footballers to learn from five-time world footballer of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo. The 27-year-old Italian-born Ghanaian international has often made it public that the Portuguese player has been an inspiration for him. According to him, Ronaldo has been very successful in his career but his desire to still play at the highest level and win trophies is something that young footballers should emulate. "Cristiano Ronaldo has won everything and still has the same determination: he is an example every child, who wants to become a football player, should follow." Emmanuel Gyasi has faced Ronaldo twice in Spezia's home and away games against Juventus in the ongoing 2020/2021 Italian Serie A season.

General News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Chairman of the National Media Commission, Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, in May 2020, maintained that the Commission can neither sanction TV stations that show pornography or prevent the activities of money doublers on TV stations. But, reacting to the call, Mr Ayeboafo noted that, “we can’t do anything to that person or that media house”. The NMC says it can neither sanction TV stations that also show pornographic materials because the law does not mandate the Commission to do so. The Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, petitioned two state institutions – Bank of Ghana (BoG) and National Media Commission (NMC) – about the activities of “money doublers” on television and urged them to take appropriate action. The Minister in a tweet stated: “I have written to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and National Media Commission (NMC) to take note of the activities of money doublers on TV and act appropriately to tackle it”.

In a tweet on Tuesday, April 4, 2021, Manasseh said: “it seems Akufo-Addo wants the NPP to "break the 8" in opposition after 2024. Manasseh is one of many public figures who have tweeted in support of the #FixTheCountry social media campaign. Fix the irregular water supply. — Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) May 3, 2021Deplorable roads in Ghana are one of the most talked about problems in Ghana. Fix the irregular water supply.

Regional News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comCorrespondence from Western RegionReports reaching GhanaWeb news desks indicate that an Immigration Officer, Hannah Nwolley has been killed by a cargo truck on Jaway Wharf-Anlomatuope road in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region. According to the eyewitnesses, "on her way, a certain cargo truck tried to overtake them and unfortunately knocked them down and killed the female Immigration Officer on the spot." According to reports, the late Hannah Nwolley is sister to the Ellembelle NPP Constituency Secretary, John Nwolley. The remains of the late Hannah Nwolley has since been deposited at the Half-Assini morgue for preservation and investigation. In the meantime, the driver of the cargo truck is on the run whiles the Jomoro Police Command has promised to track him down.

They expressed worrying concerns about some pressing issues ruining the party that is likely to stab the party should the leadership refuse to address them as soon as possible. According to the group, it's high time the party's leadership take a serious step to address those pressing issues. "Suspension of over three hundred (300) party members majority of whom were party executives, for instance, affected the party's votes. The group also lamented over the poor care that is been given to the party grassroots by the leaders. The group described such attacks as mere baseless ones which are only levelled to tarnish the image of the party's leadership.

The forum brought together banking experts, minerals governance experts, academics and students to explore the concept and the best practices in the monetizing minerals royalties. Dr Carl Odame-Gyenti called for a review of all existing gold mining agreements to enable the country maximise the benefits of monetizing its mineral royalties. He insists that monetizing our mineral royalties is the only way government can raise the needed investment. He said moving away from rent collection would require the country to look at the option of monetizing its mineral royalties. Mr Baah pledged to deepen consultations to ensure that the Special Purpose Vehicle for monetizing the country’s mineral royalties, Agyapa, achieves its goals for the benefit of all.

General News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comOn the back of a strong social media trend calling on government to sit up and fix what is broken in the country, a youth coach, Amos Kelvin-Annan has called on security agencies to stay alert. His call on security agencies to be on the alert is to avert any incidents in future. The youth coach furthered that although Ghanaians have the right to speak on any issue in the country, it must be done in a respectful manner. “And where it is getting to, that will create tension and discomfort in the society. Twitter users have however stated categorically that the #FixTheCountry is not politically motivated rather one purposely aimed at pointing out some critical issues that need to be dealt with as soon as possible.

General News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comGhanaian businessman Alhaji Ahmed Bandoh has been cited as a possible conspirator in the fake currency syndicate who were arrested by National Security operatives on April 27, 2021. The Chief Executive Officer of Bahmed Travel and Tours is suspected to be a member of the gang following his conduct after the arrest of the 13-member gang. Both the Ghana News Agency and pro-government newspaper Daily Guide report that Alhaji Bahmed, as he is widely known, allegedly stormed the office of the National Security and assaulted the officer who led the operation. Bahmed, it is being reported threatened to deal with the officers and also ensure that the suspects are freed. Bahmed is known a member of the New Patriotic Party and former management member of Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

General News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comIt probably may sound like the most unlikely way of making ‘big’ money but these young men are doing it. They say it is lucrative and convenient and that is how they are able to live by the day. They get different colours of the dye, which cost averagelyGH¢25 for one, some water, used water bottles, plain clothing, mostly second-hand, and a dose of creativity. They find it fulfilling because for them, they are making enough to sustain them on the ‘streets’, whilst they figure life out and they are happy this is a legitimate way of making money. They spoke to Wonder Ami Hagan on the People & Places show, and this is what they had to say:Watch the full interview below:

Business News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe probability of Ghanaians paying new fares is high, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union of Ghana (GPRTU) has said. First vice-chairman of GPRTU, Emmanuel Nii Ankrah, in an interview with Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm asked Ghanaians to expect between 20-25 per cent increment in fares. He stated that though this is not the agreed percentage, Ghanaians need to brace themselves up for this. Let’s wait till tomorrow and then come out with the new fares,” Mr Ankrah stated. Meanwhile, the GPRTU is in a crunch meeting in stakeholders deliberating on the percentage to add to the current fares being charged by transport operators.

Sports News of Tuesday, 4 May 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comSpezia forward Emmanuel Gyasi has set his sights on helping Ghana to break its 39- years trophy drought ahead of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. The Black Stars last won the Africa Cup of Nations in Libya 1982 and is yet to win a trophy again despite getting to the finals in 1992, 2010, and 2015. The manager and his staff are very prepared too and we can't wait to go there." “We know it won’t be easy and we will have to think game by game, but we’ll go there to make our dreams come true. We have to believe in ourselves that we can win the next AFCON," he told the BBC in an interview.