General News of Wednesday, 31 July 2024Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Majority Caucus in Parliament has formally petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to summon an extraordinary session of Parliament within seven days. This request, led by Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, indicated that there is a need for the House to consider critical matters which require parliamentary attention. Per Article 112(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992, and Standing Order 53 of the Parliament of Ghana, we hereby formally requisition an extraordinary session of Parliament." Various critical bills including the Budget Bill 2023, Rent Bill 2023, University of Local Governance and Development Bill 2024, Environmental Protection Bill 2024, Social Protection Bill 2024, Intestate Succession Bill 2022, Chartered Institute of Reconstruction and Insolvency Practitioners Bill 2023, Ghana Industrial Property Office Bill 2024, and the National Petroleum Authority Bill 2024," the statement said. He also urged prompt action from the Speaker of Parliament.

Entertainment of Wednesday, 31 July 2024Source: www.ghanaweb.comFollowing the resurfacing of a viral video showing Ghanaian socialite Efia Odo shedding tears while narrating her childhood experiences, the influencer has assured fans of her mental health. In the viral video, Efia Odo, in a 2022 interview, shared her emotional journey growing up in a single-parent home. Responding to one fan who offered to be there for her, Efia Odo replied, stating “This interview is almost 2 years old. I’m in a much better space now.”See the post below:This interview is almost 2 years old. I’m in a much better space now https://t.co/11W2Ym0TnO — EFIAODO (@Efiaodo1) July 31, 2024ID/NOQ

“Suddenly, John Mahama and the NDC are singing the praises of the judiciary they have bastardised and maligned for several years. Suddenly, the court is no longer an appendage of government. “The double standards of the NDC are regrettable and does not bode well for our democracy. While the AG disagree with the decision of the Court, we accept it in good faith and hope Mr. Mahama and the NDC do not change their chorus should the decision of the Court of Appeal be reversed by the Supreme Court,” he wrote. The Court of Appeal on Tuesday, July 30, acquitted and discharged the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and businessman Richard Jakpa, a third accused in the ambulance procurement trial in a split 2-1 decision.

Entertainment of Monday, 29 July 2024Source: Dickson Boadi, ContributorGhanaian musician Criss Waddle is back with a video for his song "Psycho". The AMG Business CEO dropped the scorching hot new track which is a high-energy banger that has been on replay on many streaming platforms. With his signature style and infectious flow, Criss Waddle takes fans on a wild ride in "Psycho." The music video, released recently has already generated buzz and is expected to top billboards in the coming days. Known for his hit tracks like "Ayi," "Bie Gya," and "Azonto Ghost," Criss Waddle continues to push the boundaries of Ghanaian music.

Politics of Sunday, 28 July 2024Source: www.ghanaweb.comAll People’s Congress flagbearer, Dr. Hassan Ayariga, has cautioned against men of God making prophecies and predictions about the next presidential candidate. Addressing concerns about the rise of prophetic prophecies regarding the elections on the JoyNews Upfront show, Dr. Hassan Ayariga expressed that religious interference could lead to chaos if the prophecies do not prove accurate. He urged religious leaders to allow the masses to elect their preferred choice of political candidates without influencing their decision-making through prophecies. "Many Ghanaians believe in their prophets, let’s say their pastors, and in this crucial election of 2024, I’m pleading with the pastors to stop the prophecies of who is going to become the next president of Ghana because this election is a crucial one. We don’t want the interference of prophecies by pastors and so-called men of God, from imams, chiefs, and all that.

General News of Saturday, 27 July 2024Source: www.ghanaweb.comA Professor of Political Science at the University of Ghana, Ransford Gyampo, has described the suspension of the road toll collection in 2021 as an error made because the government failed to listen to wise counsel. It could be recalled that while presenting the mid-year budget review in Parliament on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, announced that the government is considering bringing back the collection of road tolls. He disclosed that the Cabinet has approved a framework established to facilitate the process of the reintroduction of the tolls in 2025. He indicated that the government currently lacks the necessary funding for infrastructure development and suggested that innovative solutions, such as road tolling, could offer a viable solution. However, the E-levy has failed to live up to expectations, prompting the government to bring back the tolls in 2025.

Its impact on the 2024 elections, particularly in the Northern region, is significant because Dr. Bawumia is being credited for facilitating its progress. The biggest city in the north, Tamale, has an interchange that is proudly and precisely labelled "the first-ever interchange in the north." Again, Vice President Bawumia, the NPP's Flagbearer for the 2024 elections, was deeply involved in making the Tamale interchange possible. Again, Vice President Bawumia is believed to be at the forefront of this project, which gives him a huge advantage over former President Mahama in the 2024 elections. Dr. Bawumia is directly involved in the new Tamale International Airport Phase II project, like the other northern projects.

However, the delegation was asked to leave and return at a later time, onuaonline.com reports. Sources at the Jakpa Palace reported that the delegation included Minister of Chieftaincy, Stephen Asamoah Boateng and the Savannah Regional Minister. The ban on Samuel Abu Jinapor was imposed by Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Soale Jewi, the King of the Gonja Kingdom, on Sunday, July 21, 2024. The ban prevents Jinapor from entering any palace in Gonjaland due to allegations of insubordination, disrespect, and abuse of government powers. Jinapor later issued a public apology, describing the Yagbonwura as a grandfather and father.

According to reports, the confusion started after Koku Anyidoho exceeded his allotted time, causing a delay for the second event organised by the NDC at the same venue. Samuel Atta Mills, brother of the late Prof. Mills, said “You’re not related to this man and anybody could come here and celebrate him. He [Atta Mills] is for the country so why would you want to clash with us? Every political power in this world has an expiration date. A day will come that the political power he is hiding behind will expire,” he stated, a report by myjoyonline.com said.

Politics of Wednesday, 24 July 2024Source: www.ghanaweb.comVice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia has announced that Ghana is set to join advanced countries where mobile phones can be obtained for free. According to him, this will be made possible by the impending implementation of a Credit Scoring System in the country. "In most advanced nations, mobile phones can even be obtained for free from the phone companies with a two or three-year contracts, subject to your credit score," he explained. Dr. Bawumia highlighted the benefits of the Credit Scoring System, noting that it will make it easier for ordinary Ghanaians to purchase essentials such as cars, mobile phones, and obtain loans at lower interest rates. "We will make mobile phones accessible.

General News of Tuesday, 23 July 2024Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe presentation of the 2024 Mid-Year Budget Review by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, was scheduled for 10:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, but as of 1:45 pm, it has not yet started. GhanaWeb's team at Parliament, where the review was to be presented, reported that the Minority Caucus of the House has decided to boycott the event and is currently engaged in negotiations. The team has learned that the Minority Caucus is demanding that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government pay common fund arrears owed in their districts. Members of Parliament from the National Democratic Congress have threatened to delay the presentation of the review until the payment of the common fund is approved. The mid-year budget review is required by Section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), which mandates the Minister to provide a mid-year fiscal policy review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government.

In a statement sighted by GhanaWeb, the IEA refuted assertions that it wants to use the debate to manipulate the electoral processes in favour of a particular political party. It pointed out that it has not notified any political party of the debate and planned to issue invitation letters right after the announcement of the debates. It added that it has been organising presidential and vice-presidential debates in the country since 2000. “Respectfully, in our Press Release of 17th July, 2024, the IEA did not indicate that it had engaged or informed any Political Party or Presidential Candidate to participate in the Debates. Indeed, the IEA had not engaged any Political Party or Presidential Candidate prior to its Press Release.

Entertainment of Monday, 22 July 2024Source: www.ghanaweb.comMedia personality and marriage counselor, Maame Yeboah Asiedu, has revisited and opened up again about her divorce. According to her, she never thought, nor would she have believed, that she would be divorced or go through a divorce. Explaining her ordeal in an interview published on the Instagram page of Marigyata, Maame Yeboah, who is a staunch advocate against divorce, explained that she never thought she would be divorced because she is highly against it and would never initiate such a process. “I never thought I would be divorced, but I was divorced,” Maame Yeboah explained. In an earlier interview, Maame Yeboah revealed that the decision to divorce her previous husband after almost 20 years of marriage stemmed from the man's action to annul the marriage in court, which she did not agree with.

General News of Monday, 22 July 2024Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has ordered the removal of Kwaku Afriyie, the Member of Parliament for Sefwi Wiawso, after he made contemptuous remarks in parliament. While the microphone did not capture the specifics of Afriyie's comments, Speaker Bagbin evidently found them disrespectful and subsequently instructed the MP to leave the chamber, the report added. "I will not entertain such disrespect, Marshal please take him out," the Speaker ordered. On many occasions, the Speaker had warned MPs not to make passing and derogatory comments while sitting in session, which is a common behaviour. However, this is the first time the Speaker of Parliament has taken any such action.

Sharaf Dramani Mahama:Interestingly about the son of John Dramani Mahama, he is into sports and was a promising footballer at a point. And also at that health walk was Kofi Sam Atta Mills, son of the late former president, John Evans Atta Mills. Kofi Sam Atta Mills:In this list, Kofi Sam seems to be the least popular, having only been launched into the public limelight after the death of his father 12 years ago. Walking side by side his ‘brother,’ Kofi Sam made, arguably, his first major political outing during this event. This was during a campaign event for the flagbearer of the NDC, John Mahama, in Accra.