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Next Liverpool manager: Stunning Pochettino approach claim made as Reds are told to snub Amorim

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TEAMtalk sources state that Liverpool’s CEO of football Michael Edwards is preparing to offer the 39-year-old coach a three-year deal.

He is considered to be one of the best young coaches in Europe. He has similar traits to Jurgen Klopp in that he likes his teams to attack with a fluid front three.

The Sporting manager also plays with a high press, with all players expected to contribute defensively regardless of their position.

While Amorim is the clear favourite, nothing is finalised until he signs on the dotted line and a lot could still change before the end of the season.

Liverpool have other managers on their radar, with former Croatia and Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac being another admired by the Red’s hierarchy, per reports.

However, former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson thinks that given the pressure any new manager would be under to emulate Klopp’s success, picking someone with experience in the Premier League could make more sense.

‘You don’t become a bad manager overnight’

In an interview cited by the Liverpool Echo, Johnson said that Mauricio Pochettino – who remains under pressure at Chelsea – could be a better appointment than Amorim.

“I don’t know a great deal about him (Amorim) but result-wise, he’s clearly doing a brilliant job at Sporting Lisbon,” said Johnson.

“However, I’m concerned for anyone that has to fill Jurgen Klopp’s shoes.

“I’m sure that Liverpool will have successful managers again in the future, but to immediately follow Jurgen is a tough job. Anyone who goes there now has a very uphill job to do. It doesn’t matter who you are, it’s going to be a tough job.”

“I know people will think that I’m absolutely mad, but Mauricio Pochettino is a big name that can go into that job and grab everyone’s attention.

Man Utd ‘in talks’ to agree masterful £60m signing as Newcastle burst into race

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Manchester United are in contact with the agent of Juventus superstar Gleison Bremer as they look to beat Newcastle United and a major Spanish club to his services, according to reports.

INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has purchased a 25 per cent stake in Man Utd, believes bolstering the defence will be key if the Red Devils are to jump up the Premier League table next season. Several of the current crop of defenders could leave, including Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The latter will be replaced at right-back by one of Jeremie Frimpong, Denzel Dumfries or Jules Kounde. Man Utd are also in the market for a new left-back due to the injuries that have affected Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia this season.

To replace the departing centre-backs, Ratcliffe is eager to land both Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite and Juve’s Bremer.

On Wednesday, TEAMtalk exclusively revealed that Everton are holding out for £70million before selling Branthwaite, a fee Ratcliffe does not want to match. Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs on the left-footed Englishman.

Man Utd could strike a deal for Bremer first. Earlier this month, it emerged that Juve are already planning for Bremer’s exit, with Arsenal-linked Ousmande Diomande one potential replacement.

As per an update from Italian source Calciomercato, Man Utd are the ‘most keen’ on Bremer and are pushing hardest to finalise his capture.

Man Utd are ‘in talks’ with the Brazilian’s agent to try and forge an agreement over personal terms.

Man Utd face Newcastle threat for Juventus capture

Bremer’s release clause – which stands somewhere between €60-70m (£51-60m) – does not become active until the summer of 2025.

But the defender has a gentleman’s agreement with Juve which means he can leave this summer if an appropriate bid arrives. As long as Juve receive around £51-60m, they will sanction his departure.

But it is no longer inevitable that the 27-year-old will end up at Old Trafford when leaving Juve. The report adds that Newcastle and La Liga giants Atletico Madrid have joined the pursuit.

Both of those clubs have held preliminary discussions over Bremer’s availability, though Man Utd are still in pole position.

Accra successfully ends 2023 World Book Capital, prepares to handover title to Strasbourg 

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The city of Accra has officially concluded its year-long role as the UNESCO World Book Capital with a closing ceremony in preparation to hand over the title to Strasbourg, France.  

At a ceremony, which was held at the Accra City Hall, officials, writers, and book lovers, gathered to honour the city’s achievements and reflect on its accomplishments over the past year. 

Accra was designated as the World Book Capital for the year 2023 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for its strong focus on the youth and their potential to contribute to the culture and wealth of Ghana.  

During the title year, authorities of the city of Accra organised activities and programmes aimed at empowering the youth through the power of books, to develop their socio-cultural identity for generational impact.  

The programmes included reading sessions in basic schools, carnivals, festivals, markets, inter-school debates, quizzes, training of Persons with Disability (PWDs) and health screening activities. 

It embarked on initiatives to improve access to books and educational resources, particularly for underserved communities. 

Mrs Elizabeth K.T. Sackey, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, said a five-acre land located at Mamprobi, Sempe, had been earmarked for the construction of the Accra World Book Capital (AWBC) legacy project. 

She said the project was expected to provide an accessible space for utilisation by book writers and other related professionals, to promote writing and reading.  

She highlighted the city’s accomplishments during its time as World Book Capital and emphasised that the theme: “Reading to Connect Minds for Social Transformation,” under which the title was launched, would continue to be the driving force and motivation to change the development trajectory of Ghana through the power of books. 

Mrs Sackey was hopeful that the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies would undertake programmes and activities to deepen the culture of reading for the ideals, successes, and legacy of the title year to live on, as the City of Accra prepared to hand over the title to Strasbourg in France.  

Mrs Samira Bawumia, Ghana’s Second Lady, in a speech read on her behalf by Alhaji Ben Abdallah Banda, touched on the privileges that the country experienced during its tenure, emphasising the opportunity of showcasing Ghana’s rich literary heritage and sharing its storytelling with the world.  

She highlighted initiatives such as the Books-to-Go Projects and the African Story Box Project, which provided over 10,000 books and sparked an enthusiasm for reading stressing that these efforts fostered the next generation of writers and readers, paving the way for a prosperous literary future for the nation. 

She assured that the government, in collaboration with the private sector, was exploring the creation of a writing facility in Accra, to foster the culture of reading, writing while promoting socio-economic growth and addressing unemployment in vulnerable communities in Greater Accra and beyond. 

The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, in a statement read on his behalf, said reading materials were distributed to schools and communities across 12 municipalities in Accra and in the Central and Ashanti regions, as part of activities to mark the year. 

He acknowledged that significant progress was made with respect to the six thematic areas set out to realise the objectives of the AWBC, adding that these achievements had helped in creating an avenue to discuss pertinent issues confronting the book industry. 

Madam Anna Bossman, Ghana’s Ambassador to France and Permanent delegate to UNESCO, who introduced a documentary on the AWBC, 2023, “The Journey thus far,” pointed out that the activities held over the past year had created a solid foundation for the country, setting a stage for the initiatives planned for the African Union Year of Education in 2024. 

The ceremony ended with the presentation of an award to the Akoto Lante Basic School for emerging winners of the AWBC debate. 

Kpone MCE commends security agencies for maintaining peace

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Dr. Samuel Okoe Amanquah, the Kpone-Katamanso, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has commended the security agencies, especially the Ghana Police Service, for maintaining peace in the municipality.

Dr. Amanquah said the security situation in the area had improved due to the hard work and vigilance of the security agencies.

He said their vigilance had resulted in a drastic reduction of violent crimes in the municipality, adding that robbery activities on motorbikes were being monitored closely by the police.

He gave the commendation during the 2024 first quarter assembly meeting, noting that the chieftaincy and land fronts had also remained relatively calm.

He added that the assembly collaborated with the police service to demolish some of the ghettos used as hideouts for criminals and miscreants.

Dr. Amanquah said that the assembly distributed and installed 342 street lights in the entire municipality as part of measures to enhance security.

The MCE said the security council would continue to collaborate with stakeholders to address and resolve all security issues that may arise.

He also said they would ensure that the police were supported in discharging their duties effectively and efficiently for the peace in the municipality.

Ghana to host Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire Cocoa Initiative Headquarters

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Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has hosted Mr Robert Beugré Mambé, the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, at the Jubilee House, ahead of the inauguration of the Headquarters of the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative.

The leaders held fruitful discussions regarding the ongoing co-operation in cocoa production for the mutual benefit of the two nations.

The Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative is to give full meaning to the Abidjan Declaration of 26 March 2018, in which the Presidents of the two States reaffirmed their willingness to define a common sustainable cocoa strategy, with a view to increasing the prices received by farmers in their respective countries in a sustainable way.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Ivorian counterpart, Alassane Ouattara will jointly inaugurate the headquarters housing the Secretariat of the Initiative in Accra on Thursday, 18th April 2024.

Vice President Bawumia announced this on his official Facebook page on Wednesday

Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly inaugurates four Zonal Councils

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 The Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly (KKMA) has inaugurated some Zonal Councils, following the elections of new assembly members and unit committee members during the December 2023 District Level Elections.

The Zonal Councils included the Kpone, Kakasunanka, Nmlitsakpo, Sebrepor, Bethlehem and Gbetsile (KAMSBEG), Zenu, Katamanso, Kubekro, Appolonia, and Santeo (ZEKKAS), and Oyibi Nanoman Saduase and Bawaleshi (ONSBAC) Zonal Councils.

Mr. William Josiah Nuertey, the Presiding Member of the KKMA, speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Kpone, stated that the entire municipality was lagging as far as development was concerned.

Mr. Nuertey noted that the various Zonal Councils must work together to ensure development reaches the doorsteps of the residents, adding that decentralisation cannot be practiced without any form of development to show.

He said partisan politics must not be entertained at the district level, saying it tended to delay development, which could affect citizens.

He added that the Zonal Councils must always perform their duties as stipulated in the Local Government Act and the Standing Orders for the various Metropolitan Municipal and District assemblies (MMDAs) to avoid creating challenges in the discharge of their duties.

The Presiding Member congratulated the newly inaugurated councillors and assured them of the assembly’s support to ensure a seamless administration during their tenure in office.

Yilo Krobo Municipal Agriculture Department launches innovative school gardening project. 

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The Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly’s Department of Agriculture, under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has initiated a school gardening project in selected institutions in Somanya. 

The goal is to teach students basic agricultural skills, such as gardening, watering, and pest control, and expose them to various career options within the agriculture value chain. 

Dr Francis Nii Clottey, the Yilo Krobo Municipal Director for the Department of Agriculture, emphasised the need to break the stereotype that farming was only for underprivileged individuals, and highlighted how modern technology enabled efficient plant cultivation even in small spaces. 

The programme, which engaged schools like the Somanya Methodist Primary and Junior High School, Sra Presby School, and Somanya M/A, sought to utilise the provided seeds effectively to achieve its objectives. 

Mr Eric Tetteh, the Municipal Chief Executive for Yilo Krobo, praised the initiative and urged young people to explore the numerous opportunities within the agricultural sector. 

The schools received seeds of crops, including watermelon, okro, maize, cowpea, pepper, carrot, and lettuce. 

Mr Peter Atta Bilson, the Yilo Krobo Municipal Director for Ghana Education Service, also encouraged students to take the initiative seriously, emphasising the growing profitability and potential for a successful career in agriculture. 

He said it would have a significant impact on their lives, saying, “Agriculture has become profitable and will continue to grow, so embrace it wholeheartedly and work towards it.” 

Countries like Kenya and Tanzania were cited as examples of nations that had profited tremendously from backyard gardening. 

The schools received seeds of watermelon, okro, maize, cowpea, pepper, carrot, lettuce, and other crops. 

Somanya is well-known for producing mangoes, vegetables such as bell peppers, cabbages, garden eggs, and carrots. 

Breakthrough: Cocoa Research Institute produces new cashew variety that ‘escapes’ heat season 

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The Cocoa Research Institute and the Ministry of Food Agriculture have produced a cashew variety that drops its nuts early before the heat season – February and March. 

They have also developed a simple irrigation technique using disposed 1.5 litre bottles to reduce seedling mortalities. 

 Dr Paul Krah Adu-Gyamah, Scientific Director of Conference of the Consultative International Cashew Council (CICC), told journalists. 

He said the breakthrough was a giant step towards reducing impact of climate change on cashew production to boost yield.  

Dr Adu-Gyamah said this on the sidelines of a cashew research dialogue ahead of the 6th Council of Ministers’ Conference of CICC from 16th to 20th of April, 2024 in Accra 

The conference is expected to serve as an opportunity to demonstrate the progress made in the cashew sector and attract investors to the industry. 

It will be under the theme: “Projecting the Cashew Sector through local Consumption, Value Addition and Job Creation”. 

Dr Adu-Gyamah said another output of a recent research had resulted in the increase in yields of cashew from four kilogrammes per tree to about 2.5 tonnes per hectare. 

“They were in two different studies. The yield for the first variety was between 800kilogrammes per hectare to 2.5 tonnes per hectare while the second variety increased yields between two to 2.5 tonnes,” he said. 

Dr Adu-Gyamah, while celebrating the milestones, acknowledged that the uptake of the technologies by farmers was slow and urged farmers to embrace the innovation to increase cashew profitability. 

In the area of pests and diseases, the CICC Scientific Director stated that scientists were piloting the use of biological control agents to address the challenge instead of chemical control. 

Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Crops, said the technical meeting would help strengthen the country’s research and development, facilitate idea sharing and best practices. 

It would help the government to develop tailor-made policies to develop the sector to harness its potential. 

“Cashew is one of the crops that is helping Ghana to sustain its forest cover and also preventing the Saharan from pushing its boundaries,” he said.  

 Mr Seth Osei Akoto, a former Director of Crop Services at MOFA, said the general concern was low cashew yield and that presentations made by countries, including Ghana showed that productivity could be improved. 

 While Ghana’s current productivity was between 800 to 1.2 kilogrammes, he said that other countries hovered around 300 to 500 kilogrammes.  

 He urged the government and development partners to invest in research to enhance production. 

 The CICC is an international organisation with legal capacity and financial autonomy responsible for promoting the sustainable development of cashew in the world.  

 Established on the 18th of November, 2016, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the CICC aims to create a consultation framework and synergies between member states for a sustainable cashew sector.  

 The Organisation also aims to promote the development of the cashew sector in the Member States through the coordination of policies and cooperation between States. 

  

To date, eleven countries are members of the CICC. 

They are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo.  

Two candidates pick nomination forms for Akan NPP Parliamentary position.

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The filing of nomination form for contest in the Akan New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate (PC) polls has closed on Wednesday with two aspirants filing to contest.

They include; Lawyer Tapha Tassah, an Accra-based private Legal Practitioner and Rabiu Awal, Akan NPP Constituency Chairman.

Mr. Bashiru Sabitious Yeziru, the Akan NPP Constituency Director of Research and Elections, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Kadjebi in the Oti Region.

He told the GNA that the vetting would be done either Thursday, April 18 or Friday, April 19, after which the balloting for the positions on the ballot paper would be done.

The Kadjebi Constituency Office of the NPP opened nomination on Monday, April 15 for will-be Parliamentary Candidate aspirants and closed on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

The election is billed for Saturday, April 27.

The poll has become necessary following the demise of the late Alhaji Rashid Bawa, who was elected as the PC on December 2, 2023, but passed on March 14 in Abuja, Nigeria.

Fidelity Bank joins United Nations Global Compact Initiative 

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Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited, the country’s largest privately-owned Bank, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing corporate sustainability as it joins the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) initiative.  

UNGC is a prestigious voluntary leadership platform dedicated to fostering responsible business practices globally. 

Joining the platform implies the Bank commits to upholding ten universally accepted principles covering human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption.  

The commitment extends to supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and efforts towards a sustainable and equitable future. 

“Fidelity Bank Ghana’s decision to join the UNGC seamlessly integrates with the Bank of Ghana’s Sustainable Banking Principles, aiming for financial institutions to positively contribute to the economy, society, and the environment.  

“This alignment underscores Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited’s dedication to responsible business practices and its role as a catalyst for positive change within the banking sector and beyond,” the Bank said in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency. 

During a brief signing ceremony, Mr. Atta Gyan, Deputy Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with global corporations to share best practices and develop sustainable business models.   

He emphasised the importance of integrating sustainability into core business operations, stating the institution’s preparedness to work with global corporations in sharing best practices that benefitted all stakeholders. 

“Our involvement with the UNGC will also provide valuable insights and tools to further integrate sustainability into our core business operations.” 

“We are excited about the journey ahead and remain committed to reporting our progress towards meeting these critical goals, thus driving sustainable development across Ghana and beyond,” he said.  

Mr. Tolu Kweku Lacroix, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Ghana, commended Fidelity Bank’s exemplary leadership and commitment to principles such as Human Rights, Labour Rights, Climate Action, and Anti-Corruption. 

He affirmed the UN Global Compact’s support for Fidelity Bank’s goals, aiming to accelerate its impact in Ghana during the “decade of Action”. 

Fidelity Bank has established itself as a corporate leader in sustainability, evident in its diverse range of sustainability-focused initiatives across sectors.  

Last year, it convened a successful Sustainability Conference as part of its ‘Sustainability Month’ initiative, drawing participation from UN representatives and sustainability champions across the continent. 

Under UNGC, the institution now joins over 15,000 companies and 3,800 non-business signatories from more than 160 countries, aligning itself with the largest global corporate sustainability initiative.  

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