The Ghana FA has taken a significant step toward implementing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in Ghanaian football.
A two-day meeting held with FIFA’s VAR delegation in Accra aimed to outline the steps needed for a successful rollout.
FIFA representatives Inokuchi Takaaki and Michael Bailey introduced the Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP), guiding GFA officials through key requirements, including training, infrastructure, and ongoing monitoring.
Takaaki provided an overview of FIFA’s Technology Unit and emphasized the structured path each association must follow to adopt VAR.
In his presentation, Bailey outlined FIFA’s guiding philosophy for VAR, highlighting the need to enhance refereeing quality and uphold game integrity.
He also stressed the importance of identifying potential gaps early in the process to prevent future challenges. Bailey noted that VAR implementation can adapt to different environments, making it a viable option for Ghana’s football scene.
GFA President Kurt Okraku joined the closing session, reaffirming GFA’s commitment to adopting VAR swiftly. With VAR Team Lead Alex Kotey set to develop the roadmap, this move signals GFA’s dedication to raising officiating standards, reflecting its broader vision for the growth and professionalism of Ghanaian football.
A 23-year-old unemployed man, Bernard Ampomah, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison by the Gender-Based Violence Court for defilement, sexual assault, and assault. The court, presided over by Dora Eshun, found Ampomah guilty on all charges after a trial. Ampomah had engaged in anal sex with a 15-year-old boy at Tabora, Accra, and subjected the minor to severe beatings when the boy declined to have sex with him, even while the victim was unwell. For defilement, the court sentenced him to 21 years, 10 years for sexual assault, and five years for threatening death. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a fine of GHC3,600 for the threat of death charge, which, if unpaid, would result in one year imprisonment. He also received a two-year sentence for assault and a fine of GHC1,200, which would result in six months imprisonment if unpaid. The sentences are to be served concurrently. The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyie, told the court that the complainant is a 48-year-old trader and father of the victim.
Chief Inspector Aniagyie stated that Ampomah, who is unemployed and a friend of the victim residing at Lapaz in Accra, invited the boy to his house on March 23, 2023. Without suspecting any foul play, the victim was lured to bed and had anal sex with Ampomah. After the act, Ampomah threatened to kill the victim if he informed anyone about their activities. The prosecution revealed that Ampomah continued to have anal sex with the victim and sometimes picked him up from school during class hours under the pretext of sending him to the hospital, only to have anal sex with the minor at home. On October 2, 2023, Ampomah severely assaulted the victim, smashing his right eye with a bottle and causing several bruises. Ampomah also hit the victim’s chest multiple times, resulting in the boy coughing up blood due to the beatings after declining to have anal sex with him. The prosecutor explained that the victim was unable to report the issue to the complainant due to fear of Ampomah. On October 19, 2023, after the victim informed Ampomah that he would not have sex with him again because he was sick, the accused managed to lure the victim back to his house by offering him a video game. When the victim arrived at Ampomah’s house, the accused pulled a knife at him and locked him up. Chief Inspector Aniagyie stated that Ampomah went out to buy baby oil and, upon returning, had anal sex with the victim.
Eventually, the victim, unable to endure the ordeal any longer, informed the complainant. The prosecution stated that the complainant confronted Ampomah in his house regarding the issue. Later, Ampomah traced the complainant to his house and threatened to kill the victim, even after serving his jail term, if the complainant dared to report the matter to the police. On October 31, 2023, the matter was reported to the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Tesano in Accra, and a medical form was issued to the complainant for the examination and treatment of the victim. When Ampomah was arrested, he admitted the offense in his caution statement.
The Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) has named Phillip Appiah Kubi also known as Roman Fada as new Presidential Candidate following the death of Akua Donkor.
The party announced his nomination in a letter dated November 4 to inform the Electoral Commission of its new Presidential Candidate for the upcoming 2024 elections.
The GFP said the party will file for the nomination of its new Presidential candidate with a stipulated time frame in accordance with the law.
Prior to Akua Donkor’s death, Philip was the Vice-Presidential candidate of the party.
The late Madam Akua Donkor passed away on Monday, October 28 at the Ridge hospital in Accra.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged the clergy to restrain members who continue to prophesy the outcomes of the December 7 elections, advising for restraint and respect throughout the electoral period.
In remarks delivered on his behalf by the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, at the “Agent of Peace” Campaign organized by the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) on Sunday, November 3, 2024, the president emphasized the need for decorum during this critical period.
President Akufo-Addo further cautioned political parties and religious leaders to avoid divisive rhetoric and premature declarations of victory, underscoring the importance of unity as Ghana prepares for the 2024 general election.
Highlighting Ghana’s achievements as a democratic nation, he stressed the significance of respectful political discourse and called for an end to inflammatory language that could raise tensions and mislead voters.
“Indeed, democracy requires more than elections, but the country cannot be democratic without holding genuine elections to elect its leaders. Elections are the basis for democratic legitimacy and they are a mechanism to peacefully resolve the transfer of political power.
“We in Ghana have grown and must learn the lessons of having peaceful elections. We must avoid the use of provocative and abusive language in our campaigning. Let us respect the electorate and not assume that one political party has already won the election when a single ballot is yet to be cast.
“I call on all our revered members of the clergy also to put a check on those of their members who are going round and prophesying winners of an election which is yet to be held,” he stated.
The National HIV and AIDS Control Programme of the Ghana Health Service has reported over 34,000 new HIV infections detected from January to the third quarter of 2024. Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo, the Programme Manager, emphasized the importance of public testing and screening, revealing that approximately 1.3 million people were screened during this period. “Between January and the third quarter alone, the number of people we identified as positives through our testing activities was 34,000,” he noted. Dr. Addo made the disclosure during the launch of the 2024 World AIDS Day, organized by the Ghana AIDS Commission, which included a solemn candlelight procession in memory of those who have lost their lives to AIDS. World AIDS Day, celebrated annually on December 1, serves as a critical reminder for countries to renew their commitment to preventing new HIV infections and providing essential services for all individuals living with HIV globally. The theme for 2024 World AIDS Day is “Take the Rights Path,” Dr. Ayisi expressed concern about the number of HIV infections recorded in the first three quarters of 2024, noting that it posed a significant challenge to Ghana’s goal of ending the epidemic by 2030. He urged sexually active individuals to prioritize their health by consistently and correctly using condoms as a protective measure against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. “The safest way to protect each other is to be faithful to your partner. Reduce new infections by behaving well or abstaining from sexual activities,” he advised, urging persons living with HIV to take their treatment seriously to prevent further transmission. Dr. Atuahene Kyeremeh, Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders to achieve the shared goal of ending HIV by 2030. He emphasized the critical role of screening and treatment for those infected and encouraged the public to take advantage of free treatment options, which are effective in suppressing the virus. The Ghana AIDS Commission announced a series of activities planned for World AIDS Day, including a grand durbar in Accra on December 2, 2024. This event will involve representatives from the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health, UNAIDS, and the National Association of Persons Living with HIV (NAP+), among other key partners. Participants at the event expressed their support for the GAC’s efforts to meet the 2030 target for HIV elimination.
A cross section of voters in the Sunyani Municipality have called on the government to train the media and to prepare them well to cover and report on the Election 2024.
They explained that the media required the training to refresh the minds of the practitioners that would empower and position them to guard against ‘sensationalism’ in their election reportage.
This would help curtail political tensions before, during and after the December 7, polls.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Mr Raphael Ahenu, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) said the media remained a key stakeholder in ensuring peaceful Election 2024.
The GloMef is a media advocacy and anti-corruption Non-Governmental Organisation that works to improve the livelihood of vulnerable people in society.
“We can’t neglect the media and expect them to cover and report on the Elections professionally. Journalism is changing and the government must take the responsibility and sponsor them to understand contemporary trends of reporting on Elections,” Mr Ahenu stated.
For his view, Mr Francis Osei, a civil society actor, told the GNA that though the media in general were doing well, some of the media houses and journalists needed training on Election and peace, saying “professionalism of some of the media houses is below the belt”.
“From the way some of the media houses are behaving, the government must sit up and be proactive before the unexpected happen,” he stated, saying “the government should not sit down and watch the media to trigger political violence”.
Mr Moses Benneh, a political analyst urged the media to be circumspect and regard ethical values in covering and reporting the General Election.
He admitted that though media practitioners had their choice of political parties, they must bury their biases and remain professional and neutral in the discharge of their duties as required by the 1992 Constitution.
Madam Bernice Anima, a teacher, also commended the media for their roles in educating the masses and contributions towards consolidating the gains of the nation’s fledgling democracy, urged the practitioners, especially radio presenters to be mindful of the choice of words and their political utterances.
Some of the electorates also spoke against the practice of unguarded prophecies and predictions on the Elections by some men of the Gospel.
They told the GNA those predictions remained unhealthy and had dire consequences on the nation if they were not brought under control.
“Those prophecies turn to create public mistrust in the EC and such men of God must be tamed,” Mr Kwasi Amankwaa, a political activist stated.
Mozambique opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, the runner-up in last month’s disputed presidential election, says he has escaped an assassination attempt in South Africa, where he sought refuge after challenging the results.
In a video posted to Facebook, Mondlane said he was in “mortal danger” after assassins had gone to his home to try to kill him.
Mondlane said he had to jump through the back door and run through a hair salon, while carrying his bags, accompanied by his wife and daughter.
He did not provide any evidence to back up his claim and the Mozambican authorities have not commented.
Mondlane went into hiding about two weeks ago, after his aide and lawyer were killed as they were preparing to challenge the results.
Daniel Chapo, the candidate of the ruling party Frelimo, was officially declared the winner with over 71% of the vote, as opposed to Mondlane’s 20%.
Mondlane didn’t specify exactly where the alleged assassination attempt had taken place.
In the video, he said he had been staying in the affluent Sandton neighbourhood in Johannesburg.
“I was with my wife and my daughter, running from one place to another,” he said.
South Africa’s foreign ministry told the AFP news agency they didn’t even know Mondlane was in the country and that the matter should have been reported to the police.
The BBC reached out to South African police, but they didn’t respond.
Mondlane went into hiding before the results were announced, claiming his home had been surrounded by members of the security forces.
He has called on Mozambicans to hold nationwide demonstrations against the election results, which are being challenged in court by the Podemos party which backed Mondlane.
The protests have led to violent clashes with the police and several people have been killed, with dozens injured.
The internet and social media have also been restricted.
A general strike called by Mondlane has continued, despite the prime minister’s call for people to return to work.
Three children were reportedly shot dead by police in different parts of the capital Maputo on Monday, while eight people were reportedly killed in the northern province of Nampula over the weekend.
Two different Frelimo offices were reportedly attacked in Nampula, prompting the police to respond with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, killing one person.
The demonstrators then set fire to the house allegedly belonging to a police officer accused of killing a protester.
Mondlane has been rallying people to come together for a “final march” in Maputo, on Thursday.
It is due to be the end of a seven-day protest he called last week.
The flag-bearer of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has reiterated his determination to transform the country’s economy through digitalisation and the use of technology.
He said government would launch the country’s first credit scoring system on November 7, this year, to help make it easy for Ghanaians to acquire items on a credit basis and thereby, improve their living conditions.
The credit scoring system will be the second in Africa after South Africa, which already had the system in place.
Speaking at a campaign rally at Nyinahin in the Atwima Mponua District to begin his 15-day tour of the Ashanti Region, Dr Bawumai said the government had already laid down the infrastructure to support the implementation of the credit scoring system.
They include the Ghana Card, digital address system, mobile money interoperability and others, which would make it easier for people to actively participate in the credit scoring system.
He said one of his main focuses in his presidency would be the full implementation of the redevelopment of the country’s railway system to ensure easy movement of goods, especially, from the hinterlands to the ports.
He said the Kumasi – Takoradi railway line, which would pass through Nyinahin, where there was going to be a bauxite mine, would be developed to ensure the transportation of the mineral to the port.
Dr Bawumia, who is also the Vice President of Ghana, said the duration of a driver’s license would change from six to ten years, adding that, the acquisition of a passport would also be made easier and would require only one Ghana card.
He said the government had performed very well in all sectors of the economy and said improvement in educational infrastructure, health, technology, roads and others had helped improve the living conditions of the people.
He said the free SHS policy alone had helped to increase school enrolment and lessen the financial burden of many parents across the country.
Dr Bawumia said through various interventions, a number of the Ghanaian youth had been employed and working to improve the country’s economy.
He said the successful implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs had helped improve the country’s food security, adding that, Ghana was now the third country in Africa in terms of food security.
His government would, therefore, prioritise agricultural development by making huge investments to establish agricultural mechanization centres across the country to help improve agricultural production.
He said under his leadership, the private sector would be encouraged to undertake major development projects to free the state of such financial burdens.
The ‘Buy Ghana first’ policy would also be implemented strictly to ensure that made-in-Ghana products were purchased in all government projects.
Dr Bawumai urged the people to vote for the NPP to help implement the ‘big solutions’ initiative to transform the country and improve the living conditions of the people.
Seth Osei Akoto, NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Atwima-Mponua, said the constituency had seen a lot of development under the NPP government and there was a need for the people to continue to support the government to implement interventions that would help improve the lives of the people.
He said the free SHS policy had helped many children whose parents could not have been able to support their secondary education to also go to school.
Mr Akoto called on the people to go out on December 7, this year to vote massively for the NPP to continue to implement socio-economic policies that would help transform the country and improve the lives of the people.
The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, speaking at the graduation ceremony of University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) has urged graduates to be clear about their goals and aspirations and remain determined if they aspire to achieve them.
He said through determination and commitment, not only could they surmount challenges with confidence and clarity but also achieve greatness and positively impact the lives of others and society at large.
“Your life is a miracle. It is a miracle that you work it out with the help of God. When you have a clear determination, great things happen. No matter where you find yourself, understand that with God on your side, your life can be a miracle for us. You can do more for yourself and for the humanity,” he said.
The Minister of Education was speaking at the fourth session of the 16th Congregation of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) last Friday, where students who had satisfied their respective academic requirements were conferred with certificates from the School of Graduate Studies.
Event
The school presented 906 graduates, made up of 652 Master of Business Administration students, 116 Master of Arts students, 87 Master of Science students, 33 Master of Philosophy and 18 Doctor of Philosophy students.
Seventeen students, who performed exceptionally during their academic pursuit, received special awards in recognition of their outstanding achievements and hard work.
The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of UPSA, Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, who was acting in his official capacity for the last time, was honoured with a memento, among others, for spearheading the institution’s development in the last eight years.
In all, the university offered certificates to 5,247 graduates across four out of five sessions, beginning on Monday, October 28, 2024.
They comprised 906 postgraduate, 3,711 undergraduate, and 630 diploma students.
Education
Using a video slideshow, Dr Adutwum highlighted the government’s contribution to education over the years through the enactment of various policies and infrastructural developments, emphasising the government’s flagship Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative and its benefits.
“I know most people don’t trust politicians anymore. So, I am not here to talk because today is not the day for long speeches. I am only here to make an evidence-based speech,” he said.
Dr Adutwum reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting quality and accountability inclusive education, technical and vocational skills to make them competitive on the global scale and thrive in the fourth industrial revolution.
Transformation journey
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the institution’s transformation over the past eight years, which included the promotion of research enterprise, enhancement of institutional image and environment, increase in student enrolment, development of infrastructural projects and information technology initiatives, as well as competing in global higher education rankings.
Prof. Amartey then charged the students to be courageous, strong and independent thinkers who believed in the importance of humanity to be leaders because they were graduating at a time of deep global turbulence and upheavals and national socio-economic difficulties.
“So, if in stepping out into this world, you are unsure of what it holds, I tell you to fear not. Remember, life may be tough, but our God is tougher. As it is said, tough times don’t last, but tough people do. When difficult times arise, and they will come, don’t lose hope,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
“Never forget that there is something valuable inside of you, and know with certainty that even if you cannot be sure of the outcome of challenges that come your way, you can be sure of your God, because He is with you, He is for you, and He is working all things together for your good,” Prof. Amartey added.
Mrs. Efua Ghartey has made history as the first female President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), following her recent election alongside a new set of national executives. The induction ceremony took place in Accra, with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo serving as the Guest of Honour. During the event, the newly elected executives pledged to uphold the quality of legal practice and adhere to the ethics and standards of the Bar. They expressed their commitment to introducing fresh perspectives and initiatives to shape the future of the GBA over their three-year tenure, spanning from 2024/2025 to 2027/2028. The Ghartey-led administration includes key figures such as Mrs. Victoria Barth as National Vice President, Mr. Kwaku Gyau Baffour as National Secretary, Mr. Aurelius Awuku as Assistant Secretary, and Mr. Saviour Kudze as National Public Relations Officer (PRO). Additional members are Ms. Lawrencia Adika as Assistant PRO and Mr. Yaw Boafo, who serves as the immediate past President. During the swearing-in ceremony, President Nana Akufo-Addo praised the new executives and shook hands with them, while Justice Senyo Dzamefe officiated on behalf of Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo. Mrs. Ghartey, previously chaired the Greater Accra Regional branch of the Bar Association and brings over 20 years of experience. Her election signifies a notable shift in the traditionally male-dominated leadership of the Bar. President Nana Akufo-Addo highlighted the importance of the development in a Facebook post, particularly as it coincided with the recent enactment of the Affirmative Action Bill. The new law aims to promote gender parity across various sectors in Ghana, addressing systemic inequalities in the nation’s political, social, economic, and cultural landscapes. Expressing his joy, the President remarked, “As a member of the Bar, I am elated to live to see this day when the Bar is led by a woman.” Mr. Godfred Yeboah-Dame, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, remarked that Mrs. Ghartey’s leadership of the Bar was historic and represented a significant milestone in the organization’s history. He emphasized that her election marked a pivotal moment, reflecting progress towards greater inclusivity and representation within the legal profession in Ghana. “Indeed, you have shattered the glass ceiling of male domination of the Bar’s presidency,” he noted. The Attorney-General urged the new executives to be dedicated to duty, ensuring that the dignity of the legal profession was always upheld. “It is only when practitioners maintain the highest standards of ethics that the dignity of the legal profession will be preserved. “There cannot be any compromise on this,” he cautioned. Mrs. Ghartey promised that the new executives would be working with all identifiable groups in order to achieve the GBA’s aims and objectives.
