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PSG make a new €80 million bid for Randal Kolo Muani and may allow Hugo Ekitike to join Eintracht Frankfurt in a separate deal.

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Paris Saint-Germain had long sought Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt and has increased their offer.

With PSG interested in signing the French international, Eintracht has proven to be a significant obstacle. The German club had requested a sum of more than €100 million (£86m/$109m), but PSG has now submitted a proposal of €80 million (£68m/$86m) and would allow Ekitike to join the Germans for a’special’ fee to sweeten the deal.

Kolo Muani scored 23 goals and laid on 14 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions in the previous season and is therefore a big target for the Parisiens, considering the ever-changing situation of Kylian Mbappe at the club.

Randal Kolo Muani Frankfurt 08202023(C)Getty ImagesHugo Ekitike PSG 2023-24Getty Images

Kylian Mbappe PSG 2023-24Getty Images

WHAT NEXT? With the end of the transfer window fast approaching, the two clubs will have to move quickly if they are to get both transfers completed this week.

New Country Managing Partner Emmanuel Adekahlor to lead EY Ghana 

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EY Africa has announced the appointment of Emmanuel Adekahlor as Country Managing Partner of the Ghana practice with effect from 1 July 2023. 

Mr Adekahlor succeeds Ferdinand Gunn who retired from EY on June 30 2023.  

The EY Africa Executive and Leadership team are pleased that he will take on this new role, with strong support from his fellow Partners.   

Mr Adekahlor joined EY in 2006 and currently an Assurance Partner with extensive experience servicing clients across many sectors including financial services, telecoms, consumer products and government and public sector (GPS). 

 He has over 17 years of experience acquired from working across three EY Offices (Ghana, UK and South Africa) and plays significant roles in regulatory and stakeholder engagements. 

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy & transactions and consulting services.  

The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY Teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate. 

“We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities,” the statement said. 

Agric lands: Government begins stock taking   

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Mr Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Food and Agriculture has inaugurated a nine-member committee to take stock of agricultural lands countrywide and reclaim them for commercial agriculture and research.  

The committee is to investigate encroached lands, identify the encroachers and submit a report in three months. 

 It is also to come up with an appropriate deterrent and remedial action to address the encroachment. 

 Speaking at a brief inauguration ceremony in Accra, Mr Acheampong said the initiative would play a key role in the implementation of the soon to be outdoored  Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Phase II. 

 The Committee is chaired by Mr Julius Opoku Agyei, with Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, Peter Antwi, Nana Yaa Nortey, Winfred Kuma Apaw, Mr William Arthur, Paul Siameh and Mr Clemence Gyato as members. 

 The Minister said encroachment of land earmarked for agriculture activities, including breeding centres, training institutions, State farms, research stations and mechanisation centres had undermined Government’s efforts to promote the development of agriculture. 

 “Records indicate that these lands were acquired by  Executive Instrument or through voluntary releases by traditional authorities to support agriculture,” he said. 

 “we cannot sit unconcerned to allow this to happen, especially when these lands can be put to productive use to serve the purpose for which they were intended, contrary to what some may think.”  

 Mr Julius Opoku Agyei thanked the Minister for the opportunity to serve and assured him of the committee’s commitment to deliver on its mandate. 

 Government will this month outdoor PFJ Phase II, with a focus on cooperative farming where inputs will be distributed through aggregators to nuclear farmer groups.  

NPP to summon Kennedy Agyapong, others before disciplinary committee

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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a flagbearer aspirant will be summoned before the Party’s Disciplinary Committee (DC) under Article 10 (7) (5) of the Party’s Constitution.

A statement signed by Mr Justin Kodua Frimpong, the General Secretary of the NPP and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Sunday, said the summons would allow Mr Agyapong to provide responses and further details to an alleged accusations and threats he made against some personalities in a video that had since gone viral on social media and mainstream media.

On Saturday, August 26 during the Party’s nationwide Super Delegates Conference to elect five flagbearer aspirants ahead of its Saturday, November 4 primaries, Mr Agyapong, also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, threatened to unleash a political showdown following the alleged abrupt removal of his agent from a polling centre in Cape Coast.

It also cited Mr Rapheal Patrick Safo, Mr Charles Dokyi Yaw-Addo, Mr Musa Sulemana and Mr Hopeson Yaovi Adorye to be referred to the Party’s DC for potential violations of the provisions outlined in Article 3 (5) (A) of the Party’s Constitution and a potential misconduct under Article 4 (7).

“While most of the voting centres experienced a smooth process, we acknowledge that isolated incidents occurred at certain locations. The leadership of the Party unequivocally condemns such incidents and emphasises our unwavering commitment to the integrity and fairness of the election process.

“We are confident that this discipline process will be conducted with fairness, transparency and impartiality,” it said.

The statement extended its heartfelt appreciation to all stakeholders who contributed to the successful execution of the Special Electoral College Election which took place on Saturday, August 26, 2023.

“We commend the collaboration of the Presidential Elections Committee, the Electoral Commission, the Ghana Police Service, Media partners, aspirants, delegates, supports and the public for their unwavering dedication to the democratic process,” it said.

The statement pledged the Party’s commitment to upholding democratic values, accountability and the highest standards of conduct.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia won the NPP Super Delegates Conference with 629 votes, representing 68.15 per cent of the vote.

Mr Agyapong came in second with 132 votes which represented 14.30 per cent with Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a former Minister for Trade, placing third with 95 votes representing 10.29 per cent.

I have not resigned; I am prepared for the run-off – Boakye Agyarko

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Flagbearer contender Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko has denied withdrawing from the party’s heated presidential primaries.

Mr. Agyarko vehemently denied such claims in a brief statement, reiterating his steadfast willingness to face the approaching run-off to settle the deadlock between him and flagbearer contender Addai Nimo.

The New Patriotic Party has scheduled a run-off on Saturday, September 2, to decide the fate of Boakye Agyarko and Francis Addai-Nimoh after both presidential candidates secured nine (9) votes each in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential race organised on Saturday.

The Special Delegates Conference was organised to shortlist five candidates for the ultimate on November 4, 2023, but both candidates secured nine votes each meaning a tie at the 5th position.

Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of the elections committee, Mike Oquaye stated that the party will hold another election on Saturday, September 2 to decide the fate of Boakye Agyarko and Francis Addai Nimoh if neither of the two aspirants drops out.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia won the super delegates conference with a total of 629 votes, representing 68.15% of the vote.

Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong came in second with 132 votes, or 14.30% while former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen placed third with 95 votes, or 10.29%.

The results mean that Agyapong has qualified for the NPP’s presidential primaries in November, along with Bawumia.

This is the first time that either of the two men has run for the presidency. Kyerematen has been in the race since 2007 but has never been able to secure the party’s nomination.

Alan has a greater chance than Bawumia on November 4th, according to Prof Gyampo.

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According to Professor Ransford Edward Van Gyampo, Associate Professor of Political Science and Head of the University of Ghana’s Centre for European Studies, the positions of the first three victors in Saturday’s NPP Super-Delegates Elections are not surprising.

Dr. Bawumia received 629 votes (68.15%), with Kennedy Agyapong and Alan Kyerematen receiving 132 votes (14.3%) and 95 votes (10.29%), respectively.

According to the renowned political scientist, the majority of the delegates were “politically made” by the establishment, and their continued stay in office as appointees, and even as elected people, is based on the establishment’s support, and thus “couldn’t have varied their votes,” the Professor wrote on his Facebook page shortly after the results were announced by the Electoral Commission.

He contended that Ken also garnered his kind of “great show” among those who felt they could get his support in terms of money in their future electoral and political endeavours.

“He (Ken) could be a kingmaker and would easily nominate some of these guys for positions” Prof Gyampo noted and further explained that “what makes him a serious force in the future is that, he is also very much a grassroots person”.

The political scientist, therefore, cautioned the Vice President not to be complacent because the real kingmakers will be at the grassroots where both Alan and Ken are likely to make huge incursions quoting very scientific data on the NPP delegate preferences.

Prof. Gyampo has, therefore, urged Alan and Ken to work harder contending that “the future of the NPP Presidential Aspirant race is heavily pregnant with hugely uncertain possibilities”.

He noted that the Veep will have to do more work to get to the grassroots and that more work must be done by Alan to win more people at the top believing that he (Alan) is likely to put up a better show among the grassroots in November.

Prof. Gyampo who sees Ken as a maverick advised him to work harder to appeal to both segments of the delegates.

He explained his position on the three presidential aspirants in the fact that those who voted in the super delegates elections can still change their mind towards any direction for which reason no one must be complacent, and neither should any of them give up.

He suggested that delegates at the grassroots must remain fired up to decide who must lead the party according ONLY TO THEIR CONSCIENCE and not to be influenced by the outcome of the just-ended electoral exercise.

He, congratulated all the Aspirants, especially the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Assin Central MP, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong and the former Trade and Industry Minister, Hon. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen. E N D

Alan expresses gratitude to the NPP’s special delegates and expresses regret about the attack on his agent.

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Alan Kyerematen, a former Trade Minister and one of the top candidates for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership, has expressed thanks to the Special Electoral College delegates for picking him as one of the presidential hopefuls to compete in the November 4th primaries.

Kyerematen expressed gratitude to God in a press release dated Sunday, August 27, 2023, for directing his route this far.

He also expressed gratitude to the delegates for their trust in him.

“I wish to use this opportunity to thank the Almighty God for His grace and mercy in guiding my path this far,” Kyerematen said.

“I would also like to express my profound appreciation to the Delegates of the Special Electoral College who voted for me in this initial selection process.”

Kyerematen also expressed his sorrow about the brutal assault on his polling agent in the North East Region.

He said the attack was an indelible blot on the integrity of the internal democratic process within the NPP.

“I would however like to express my deep sorrow about the brutal assault on my polling agent in the North East Region. This is an indelible blot on the integrity of the internal democratic process within the NPP.”

Kyerematen said the A4P Campaign Coordination team is currently analysing the results of the Special Electoral College Election, and in the course of this week, he will deliver a public broadcast on the way forward for his campaign.

He also reassured his teeming supporters, particularly those at the grassroot level, that the battle is still the Lord’s, and that those who wait upon the Lord shall have their strength renewed.

“The A4P Campaign Coordination team is currently analysing the results of the Special Electoral College Election, and in the course of this week I will deliver a public broadcast on the way forward for my campaign,” Kyerematen said.

“I wish to reassure my teeming supporters, particularly those at the grassroot level that the battle is still the Lord’s, and that those who wait upon the Lord shall have their strength renewed.”

The NPP presidential primaries will be held on November 4, 2023.

The winner of the primaries will be the party’s flagbearer in the 2024 general elections.

Alan Kyerematen is part of the four elected to contest the November 4 presidential primaries of the NPP.

Background

Former Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and spokesperson for Alan Kyerematen’s campaign, Yaw Buaben Asamoa was not pleased with the alleged breach of rules in the party’s ongoing super delegates conference in the North East Region, as well as the assault on their agent.

“In the North East, they have beaten our agent, our agent is in the hospital, and they were showing the votes because they voted for the Vice President. They have been asked to show the votes.”

“If they add the results it is obviously a public sham, that is why I am telling the entire world including His Excellency, the president to put his foot down because if we all make rules, and we decide that the rules will not be enforced [it doesn’t auger well]. The rules are for the benefit of the candidates and the public and yet on the grounds they are not enforced. Force will be applied, impunity is applied then the result is a sham,” he stated.

But the Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the North-East region, Walibe Amos said the attack on the campaign coordinator for Alan Kyeremanten has been exaggerated.

In a press statement, he dismissed reports that the agent, Ali Zakaria, was attacked by supporters of flagbearer aspirant Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Mr Walibe explained that the incident was an altercation between the agent in question and the regional youth organiser of the party and not an attack by thugs.

The incident happened on Saturday, August 26, during the NPP’s Super Delegates Conference. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia won the super delegates conference with a total of 629 votes, representing 68.15% of the total valid votes.

Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong came in second with 132 votes, or 14.30% while former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen placed third with 95 votes, or 10.29%.

Following the tie by Boakye Agyarko and Francis Addai-Nimoh, a run-off election will be held for both of them on Saturday, September 2, 2023, to decide which of them will join the primaries.

Libya: Islamic State chief apprehended – government

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A senior of the terrorist group Islamic State (EI), the “designer and sponsor” of three deadly assaults in the Libyan capital Tripoli in 2018, has been apprehended, according to the chairman of Libya’s Government of National Unity on Thursday evening.

“On Tuesday, our forces apprehended a leader of the terrorist organisation Daech (Arabic acronym for EI, ed. note), who was involved in the planning and command of terrorist acts that targeted our country’s institutions and their fallen officials,” Abdelhamid Dbeibah, the head of Libya’s UN-recognized government based in Tripoli, said in a live TV address.

According to the government’s media office, the operation was carried out jointly by the Radaa (Deterrence) Force and the Rahbat al-Dourou (Shields) Brigade from Tajoura (an eastern suburb of Tripoli).

Mr. Dbeibah renewed his government’s commitment to “fighting terrorism in all its forms”, “prosecuting anyone involved” in terrorist acts, and “strengthening stability throughout the country”, despite “difficulties and challenges” to protect Libya from “obscurantists, terrorists, and criminals”.

On May 2, 2018, 14 people were killed in a suicide attack claimed by the EI against the headquarters of the Libyan High Electoral Commission (HNEC) in Tripoli.

On September 10, 2018, a suicide attack by the jihadist group against the headquarters of the Libyan National Oil Company (NOC) in the heart of the capital, killed two and wounded ten company staff.

On December 25, 2018, three people, including a Libyan diplomat, were killed in an attack claimed by the Islamic State (EI) group against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Taking advantage of the disintegration of the country’s security apparatus since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the EI, which has carried out several deadly attacks across the country, had set up strongholds in Derna (east) and Sirte (north-central), from which it was driven out in 2018 and late 2016 respectively.

Nigerians react to the death of Wagner chief

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Despite news of the likely death of Russian mercenary head Yevgeny Prigozhin, residents in Niamey remained hopeful on Thursday that the Wagner mercenary force would aid in the region.

After the coup at the end of July, Nigerien tailor Baraou Souleimane began manufacturing Russian flags and voiced his desire for Moscow to intervene in the region.

“If the friendship is good and robust, it’s feasible that they’ll keep the agreement going even after his (Yevgeny Prigozhin) death,” Souleimane added.

As pro-Russian sentiment grows, he claims to have sold roughly 150 flags so far.

Russian flags have been seen lately at various pro-coup rallies across the country.

In a Niamey street, Russian flags are easy to find, while French flags seem to have disappeared.

“There won’t be any problems, they can come, there won’t be any problems, and we wish for them to come,” said local resident Oussman Diafar.

Prigozhin and some of his top lieutenants were presumed dead in a plane crash on Wednesday.

Russia President Vladimir Putin talks on the death of Wagner boss amid questions.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his “condolences” at the death of Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin in an aircraft accident on Thursday, characterising him as a guy who made errors but “achieved accomplishments.”

An inquiry into what caused Wednesday’s disaster, which occurred precisely two months after Wagner’s brief mutiny against Moscow’s military command, is presently ongoing.

“First and foremost, I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to the relatives of all the victims,” Putin said in a televised meeting, calling the situation a “tragedy.”

“I knew Prigozhin for a very long time, since the early 90s. He was a man of complicated fate, and he made serious mistakes in his life, but he achieved the right results,” Putin added.

He said that an investigation had been launched into the crash, and that “it will take some time”.

“It will be conducted in full and brought to a conclusion. There is no doubt about that,” Putin said, in footage showing a meeting with the Russian-installed head of the Donetsk region Denis Pushilin.

The circumstances of the crash, which claimed the lives of some of Prigozhin’s close entourage, have prompted furious speculation about a possible assassination.

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