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PSG manager Luis Enrique is sure that the team needs to get past its “obsession” with winning the Champions League.

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Before their group stage debut, Luis Enrique, the manager of Paris Saint-Germain, has calmed concerns about their Champions League success.

When Paris hosts Dortmund at Parc des Princes, their European campaign will get underway. And Luis Enrique acknowledged that his team will need to manage expectations going into the game.

When a club is obsessed with something, it is never a good sign. You have to have ambition but obsession doesn’t work, that’s the same in all walks of life. We want to play, to give our supporters a lot of joy, but there is no obsession,” Luis Enrique said in a pre-match press conference.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: PSG have become synonymous with failure in the Champions League in recent years, suffering a series of embarrassing exits despite high expectations. But with Lionel Messi and Neymar both departing this summer, Luis Enrique’s squad looks radically different from those who routinely crashed out of the competition.

IN THREE PHOTOS:Luis Enrique PSG 18092023GettyKylian Mbappe PSG 2023-24Getty ImagesLionel Messi Neymar PSGGetty

WHAT NEXT? PSG host Dortmund at Parc des Princes on Tuesday night, before squaring off against Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Moroccan earthquake: damage to Marrakech’s UNESCO-listed ancient city is evaluated by architects

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Two architects examined the damage caused by the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the nation while strolling through the old medina of Marrakesh, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

On Thursday, September 14, they had a tour of the 700-hectare ancient city, some of which had substantial damage, including piles of rubble and collapsed structures.

The Almoravid dynasty built the medina. Throughout the 11th and 12th centuries, a group of Berber tribes known as the Almoravid reigned over Morocco and a portion of Spain.

Several structures weren’t able to endure the earthquake that occurred on Friday, September 15, according to Jawad el-Basur.

“It was a devastating earthquake. It’s completely normal for the medina to be affected for a number of reasons. The first reason is the dilapidated state of the structure, but also the nature of its composition,” the architect said. 

“There is also the age of the dwellings and the lack of maintenance. All this means that the medina is somewhat affected.”

Almoravid dynasty

The 12th-century walls that surround the millennium-old city have been partly disfigured.

Not all buildings were on an equal footing when the quake hit, though.

“One expert’s observation is that, buildings that have preserved their ancestral building techniques have withstood the quake better than those in which a mix of ancestral traditions and reinforced concrete has been introduced. Generally speaking, buildings that have preserved their traditional qualities did better than those in which a mixture of old and new reinforced concrete structures, bricks, breeze blocks, etc…”

Many of the old city’s buildings are built of ancient adobe or mud brick.

This makes them much more fragile in the event of rain, el-Basur warns.

“The rain and the aftershocks [can negatively affect] the survival of these buildings. Even though we’ve experienced a drought over the last three years, [we hope] that this time there will be a delay in the rain. Because if the rain comes soon, it won’t be a good thing for the work we have started here.”

Around 6.7 million visitors came to the country in the first half of the year — more than 4.3 million of them to Marrakesh, according to the Tourism Observatory in Morocco.

It accounted for over 7% of the GDP in 2019.

The country is one of the most visited in Africa.

Niger fortifies its positions along the Benin border.

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On September 13, in Gaya, Niger’s closest city to Benin, near its southern border, a massive throng cheers troops as a convoy passes through. Cheers can be heard along with anti-France and anti-ECOWAS chants.

Niamey has fortified its fortifications on the border after the 15-nation group decided to mobilise a “standby force” to intervene in Niger and impose democratic governance by force.

El Hadj Moussa Ibra, a resident, is calm.

Here in Gaya we are calm and relaxed,” he said over the week-end. “We have already witnessed such a deployment in the past, I refer you to 1963-1964, at the time there were tenions between us and Benin because of the été island issue. So it’s kind of déjà vu, same country, and yet another deployment in Gaya.”

The convoy was deployed on Wesnesday (Sep. 13), one day after Niger denounced a military cooperation deal with Benin.

The ruling junta is at odds with its neighbours fom the Economic community of west African states.

“The deployment of the Nigerien military in the department of Gaya has reassured residents, including myself,” civil society actor Hamada Oussani said.

“Just recently people were worrierd as they listened to the news and read reports on social media saying that the number of troops and the military material would be insufficient. We were surprised to see the military headed to Gaya to deploy and stay at the border we share with Benin one one hand and with Nigeria on another hand. People felt reassured that the state had taken all necesarry dispositions to be able to deal with whatever comes next.”

Niger’s military rulers who’ve deposed president Bazoum have accused Benin of authorizing “the stationing of soldiers and war materials in view of an aggression” they say is desired by France in collaboration with certain ECOWAS countries.

Barcelona will proceed with care following Pedri’s latest setback, but he might return in time for the crucial Clasico against Real Madrid.

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Barcelona will be cautious throughout Pedri’s rehabilitation phase and won’t push him back to full fitness.

The Barcelona midfielder had an injury to his right thigh while training on August 24 and was anticipated to make a full recovery in a month. But, Sport reports that Pedri will require additional time to heal and will not be ready to play again until the end of October.

The Catalan giants won’t make the same mistake they did in the past by forcing the player back onto the pitch; instead, they’ll give him the time he needs to heal completely. The good news for the Catalan giants is that the Spanish international might recover in time for the crucial El Clasico match against rival Real Madrid on October 28.

Xavi Barcelona 2023-24Getty Images

WHAT NEXT? Xavi’s side will next take on Antwerp in the Champions League on Tuesday.

EC working with NPP to deny Ghanaians their right to vote – Agbodza

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Governs Agbodza, the minority chief whip, has charged the Electoral Commission (EC) with purposefully posing difficulties during the restricted voter registration drive at its district offices.

Agbodza claims that the EC is conspiring with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to make it possible for a Constitutional Instrument (CI) to be introduced in Parliament that would allow the Ghana Card to be used as the only registration document for the general elections of 2024.

Political parties, civil society organisations, and the general public have all sharply criticised the EC for insisting on holding the limited voter registration drive just at its district offices.

Speaking to Citi News, Agbodza indicated that the EC’s decision aligns with its agenda to establish the Ghana Card as the sole requirement for participating in the general elections.

“We cannot wish the democracy we have to work for all of us but everybody in this country knows the reason the EC is doing this is to create a situation where it is difficult for ordinary people to register so they can come back and say they are using the Ghana Card as the only source document for registration and it is quite clear the Electoral Commissioner who is supposed to be a fair player is in cahoot with the New Patriotic Party,” Agbodza said.

“You will notice that the NPP is not even bothered about the exercise that much simply because they know they have a plan…so don’t be surprised that they will come back to Parliament pretending that they are bringing a CI to make the Ghana Card the only source document when they know it is difficult to get the Ghana Card.”

NPP is advised by Kennedy Agyapong not to remove Dampare.

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Kennedy Agyapong, the chairman of the Defense and Interior Committee of Parliament and potential flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has warned the government against any plots to unseat the present Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

Agyapong thinks Dampare has done a fantastic job as IGP and points to the sharp decline in robberies across the nation as proof of his accomplishments.

“If you go to the police headquarters, you will realize that the man (Dr Dampare) has done well… I have fought with him once because of his refusal to act when the killer of JB Danquah confessed to him, but he has done really well,” Agyapong told Kumasi-based Kessben FM.

“How many times have you heard of armed robbery since Dampare was made IGP? People were being killed and their money was being stolen in broad daylight.

“How many times have you seen this since Dampare came into office? I have called one of the guys (in the leaked tape) who is from my village and blasted him. We don’t like change,” he added.

Agyapong also noted the transformation at the police headquarters as an indication of Dampare’s foresight.

“Since I became the head of the defence and interior committee, we have had a number of IGPs, and this man (Dampare) what he has done, I don’t think we are being fair to him… Don’t make the mistake of removing him. Under him, the rate of armed robbery has reduced drastically; he has transformed the police headquarters; the place looks so clean and beautiful”.

Agyapong’s comments come in the wake of public interest in the work of the special parliamentary committee set up to investigate the alleged plot to remove Dampare by some senior police officers as captured on tape.

GPHA’s impact assessment initiative towards Keta Port construction lauded 

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Mrs Enyonam Adzo Apetorgbor, Chief Executive Officer, Keta Investment Promotion Centre (KIPC) has lauded Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) for initiating processes towards constructing the Keta port.  

The GPHA last Friday, held separate public engagements on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) at Dzelukope, Kedzi and Havedzi in the Keta Municipality to get people to raise concerns about potential adverse social and environmental impacts of the proposed port for suitable mitigation measures.

It was organised in partnership with Coastal and Reclamation Engineering Services (CARES) Ghana Limited, consultants for the ESIA of the project, as part of processes leading to the construction of the Keta Port.

The engagements saw citizens raise concerns including compensation for families to be relocated to give way for the project, safeguarding livelihoods of the fishing-dependent communities, cultural heritage and tourism preservation.

In a press release copied to Ghana News Agency, Mrs Apetorgbor considered the initiative as an “approach to environmental stewardship and sustainable development” deserving of commendation.

“GPHA’s dedication to assessing the potential environmental and social impacts of the port construction is in line with international best practices and demonstrates a genuine concern for the well-being of local communities and ecosystems.

ESIA studies are a crucial step in ensuring that large-scale development projects like the Keta Port are carried out with due consideration for environmental conservation, social responsibility, and long-term sustainability.”

The release looked forward to the results of the ESIA and the continued progress of the proposed port project, which she described as a “strategic infrastructure development.”

“We believe that the Keta Port once completed, will not only contribute significantly to Ghana’s economic development but also adhere to high environmental and social standards;

This aligns with the broader global commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

“Furthermore, we encourage GPHA to maintain transparency and engage local communities, stakeholders, and environmental experts throughout the ESIA process. Open dialogue and collaboration will help ensure that the concerns and insights of all parties are considered, leading to better-informed decisions and a more sustainable future,” the release added.

The long-held dream of a port at Keta received attention from the Akufo-Addo government who over the years, initiated processes including signing an executive instrument that demarcates the area for the port and, an appointment of Director in charge of the port project, Dr Alexander Adusei.

The environmental and social impact assessment, the second phase after feasibility studies were completed, according to the GPHA, would span six months after which the construction stage will commence.

Fidelity partners with three entities to boost export trade in Ghana 

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Fidelity Bank, Ghana’s largest privately-owned indigenous bank, has partnered with some organisations to unveil an export value proposition targeted at Ghanaian export-oriented businesses. 

The partners are eco.Business Development Facility (eco.business DF), Development Bank Ghana (DBG), and the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE). 

The collaboration seeks to boost Ghanaian export trade in the agricultural and non-traditional export sectors.    

The plan hinges majorly on the formation of the Fidelity Export Club, an initiative supported by all the export value partners.  

It seeks to provide a common front for Ghanaian exporters and provide them with critical support in areas such as market access and expansion, capacity building, access to finance, regulatory compliance, technical assistance, and the adoption of sustainable business practices.  

Club members will also benefit from quick and stress-free application processes, flexible repayment terms and conditions, competitive interest rate charges, transaction-based lending, and competitive charges. 

Following the Club’s debut in August and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at Fidelity Bank’s Head Office, the partners also launched a nationwide series of day seminars to sensitise Ghanaian exporters on critical sustainability practices in their line of business. 

The seminars, themed “Empowering Business to Drive Sustainable Growth Through Compliance to Regulatory and Environmental Principles—The Agric and Perspective,” were held in Accra, Takoradi, and Sunyani on August 22, 25, and 29, 2023, respectively. 

The seminar series drew over 400 participants from the country’s export value chain. 

They included primary producers and processors, exporters and aggregators, and agricultural stakeholders such as experts from the Plant Protection and Regulatory Directorate (PPRD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), and Ghana Standards Authority (GSA). 

Mr Julian Opuni, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, stated that the bank was eager to provide support and advisory services to local businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the country in the various value chains in the agriculture and export sectors. 

“Here at Fidelity, sustainability principles as well as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices form a core, non-negotiable facet of all our business operations. ESG considerations have been embedded as a primary requirement in our credit facility approval modalities,” he added. 

Ms Lisa Stahl, Chairperson of the eco.business Development Facility for sub-Saharan Africa noted that the Fidelity Export Club could significantly contribute to the sustainability of the Ghanaian agricultural export sector and overall economic development.   

Mr Michael Mensah-Baah, Deputy CEO of DBG, emphasised the bank’s role in supporting the growth of the private sector.  

He said this could not be done only through funding but also by engaging “in progressive partnerships to provide a comprehensive package of funding, capacity building and technical expertise to drive the required growth of private businesses.” 

Mr Davies Narh Korboe, President of FAGE, lauded the initiative and said he was excited about the launch of the export club and the roll-out of the seminars and other related activities. 

NPP Aspirant confident of snatching seat from NDC

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Mr Francis Xavier Kambotuu, the Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency, has expressed confidence in leading the party in the constituency to snatch the parliamentary seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2024.

He said winning power thrived on unity and togetherness and that the level of support he had received from the party members, supporters and party executives in the constituency was an indication of the readiness of the NPP to snatch the seat from the NDC in the constituency.

Mr Kambotuu, who contested the NPP primaries unopposed, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa, after going through his vetting process in his bid to lead the party in the constituency into the 2024 general election.

“We cannot win the Nadowli-Kaleo seat if we are not united, and the signal is already sent and as you know this is the second of its kind.

“In 2012 when we presented a candidate that didn’t go for primaries and if you follow politics, you will realise that the NPP won the elections, so, it’s the same thing, we are going into 2024 election with that united front and the good things the government has done.

“This is certainly not a Francis Xavier Kambotuu agenda; it is an NPP agenda,” he explained.

Mr Kambotuu said it took the party members a great sacrifice to step down for him to go unopposed due to the love they had for the party but not because he was more qualified than the others.

He, therefore, gave the assurance that with that united and formidable front, they were leaving no stone unturned in the upcoming election to wrestle the parliamentary seat from the NDC.

Dr. Daniel Dawda Tanko, the Upper West Regional Secretary of the NPP, noted that Mr Kambotuu had demonstrated to the vetting committee that he was competent enough to secure victory for the party in the constituency come 2024 and had, thus, been cleared to contest the primaries.

“The Parliamentary candidate aspirant came in with his constituency executives and the District Chief Executive and that indicates that indeed they are ready to work together, coupled with the fact that he is the sole candidate for that constituency.

We are happy with the interaction that took place, and all the questions that were put before the aspirant he was able to convince us that if given the nod he would be able to rescue the seat of the Nadowli-Kaleo for the NPP party,” he explained.

Dr. Tanko said it was the wish of the NPP in the region to have all its parliamentary aspirants to go into the primaries unopposed to build a united force to fight the NDC head-on in the upcoming general elections.

Moroccan earthquake: medical volunteers are dispatched to the worst-hit areas

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Eleven volunteer physicians have been working nonstop for days in the remote, hilly location of Ineghede, southwest Morocco.

For the districts impacted by the Al-Haouz earthquake, the Moroccan Health and Social Security ministry has deployed more than 2,000 general and specialised physicians, nurses, and more than 300 tonnes of medications, according to state news agency MAP.

“Between the second and third day (after the earthquake), we have remained here since the third day. Apart from chronic ailments that were not checked during the days when the douar (editor’s note: village) was devastated by the earthquake, we have seen a lot of trauma, a lot of wounds “Achraf Azouz, an emergency physician, remarked.

“Diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic disorders are among those that go unchecked. Yet the majority of the time, we care for patients who have suffered severe injuries and trauma.”

As of Wednesday, the Moroccan authorities recorded 2,946 fatalities and a number of thousand injured (Sep. 13).

If a new chapter has opened for survivors of the quake that struck Marrakesh and the regions to its south on September 8, fear of the future remains.

“I’m afraid when the cold season will start, it’s going to be a disaster because [peaople] here have nothing. They live in tents that can hold a dozen people, no hygiene, nothing at all. There’s enormous poverty. With the help of the local population and other doctors, [I would like, I wish] for them to continue this action of taking care of the population. “

Morocco announced the launch of an aid programme on Sep. 14 to support and rehouse the residents of about 50,000 buildings damaged in by the Al-Haouz earthquake.

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