Home Blog Page 87

Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes it possible for AC Milan to acquire Joao Felix from Chelsea on a long-term basis.

By
Editor
-
0

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has made it possible for AC Milan to get Joao Felix from Chelsea in the summer on a permanent basis.

Felix, 25, moved to Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid for £45 million last summer, but he soon discovered that it was difficult to get consistent playing time there. It was never going to be easy for Felix to establish himself in Enzo Maresca’s lineup since Chelsea had so many offensive alternatives, including England international Cole Palmer. The attacker only made three appearances in the Premier League before deciding to start again in Italy.

Despite there being no obligation for Milan to buy Felix at the end of his loan spell, Ibrahimovic has not ruled out the possibility of making the move permanent. Speaking to Sky Sports, Milan’s senior advisor said: “Everything is possible. We want to trust Joao in order to see his best performances, then everything is possible.”

Chelsea, having seen little return on their £45 million investment, may be open to selling Felix in the summer. However, the Blues are expected to demand a fee close to what they originally paid, which may be an issue in any negotiations with Milan.

Felix has made an immediate impact since arriving in Serie A, scoring on his debut in a 3-1 victory over Roma. This spurred Ibrahimovic to express confidence in Felix’s ability, saying: “He has already introduced himself with a magical goal. He is a great talent, he has experience, but he is young and can still grow a lot. We looked for a player between midfield and attack for blocked matches, against closed teams and here he can make the difference. He is a player of magic and this is something you either have or you don’t. His quality speaks for itself and we are satisfied. We must now put him in a position to do the best he can.”

Securing Felix permanently would require significant financial investment, and Milan may need to offload key players to fund the move. Reports suggest that the Rossoneri could be prepared to part ways with star winger Rafael Leao, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona. If selling Leao is not an option, Milan may instead consider offloading Theo Hernandez in the summer to prevent him from leaving for free when his contract expires next year.

Felix’s next challenge will be to help Milan overturn a 1-0 deficit against Feyenoord in the Champions League. The Italian side suffered a disappointing first-leg defeat in the round of 16 playoffs last week, and the Portuguese playmaker will be keen to make an impact in the return leg on Tuesday.

President Mahama declares assets, instructs ministers/appointees to do same

By
Editor
-
0

President John Dramani Mahama has in compliance with Act 550 of the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act 1998, Tuesday, February 18, officially declared his assets.

The Act is in line with Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution.

Act 550 states that “A person who holds a public office shall submit to the Auditor-General a written declaration of all properties or assets owned by, or liabilities owed by him, whether directly or indirectly, before taking office at the end of every four years; and at the end of his term of office.”

President Mahama made the declaration when he submitted a declaration of all his assets and properties in writing to Mr Johnson Akuamoah-Asiedu, the Auditor-General at the seat of Government in Accra.

The move by the President is part of his commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in his leadership, a key theme in his 2024 campaign.

President Mahama after the declaration of his assets, also instructed all his appointees to do same by March 31, 2025, or face consequences, including removal from office.

The President said a look at the Statutes on Assets Declaration and Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, named the President, the Vice-President, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament and Judges.

He said under Act 550, Public Office Holders Declaration of Assets, all Public Officers, including those in the Civil Service, Public Corporations and Statutory Boards, Chief Executives of all Public Corporations, District Chief Executives and then Members of the Council of State.

He said there were many people in public office who do not know that they were covered under this Assets Declaration Regime.

He reiterated that there must be a reminder to all those people that they were covered under the Assets Declaration Regime.

“And so, I have presented mine this morning…”I’ve just performed a simple but brief, very important act of presenting my completed Assets Declaration forms to the Auditor General as required by Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Officers, Public Office Holders Declaration of Assets and Disqualifications Act 1998, Act 550.”

President Mahama said Ghana’s Assets Declaration Regime and its related activities had often been shrouded in secrecy and only unless in special circumstances, compliance was often difficult to measure.

He noted that in times past, he would privately have presented the forms to the Auditor-General in fulfillment of his statutory obligation.

“I’ve taken this step of presenting these forms publicly as a way of injecting some openness and transparency into the process of Assets Declaration,” the President stated.

“I’ve always maintained that while it is all well and good to punish corruption, a more effective way of addressing the canker is preventing it from occurring in the first place.

“I honestly believe that if properly curated and enforced, the Assets Declaration process can become a sustainable tool for tackling corruption.”

President Mahama said corruption by nature was insidious and thrives under the cover of darkness.

He noted that the more light that was shown on it, the more likely that it would be fought successfully.

He said he had also taken the step to send an unmistakable signal to all public office holders, especially those that he had appointed, that he takes the Declaration of Assets very seriously and expects full compliance from them.

“I’ve asked the Chief of Staff to send word to all appointees to ensure that they declare their assets by the end of the first quarter of this year, that is by 31st March 2025,” President Mahama said.

“I wish to stress that any appointee failing to meet this deadline would face severe sanctions, not excluding removal from office”

President Mahama said even as they strived to hold past government officials accountable for their stewardship, he deemed it even more imperative to enforce anti-corruption among the present public office holders; declaring that “Charity, they say, begins at home”.

The President said he was therefore determined to take the necessary steps to ensure that they fought corruption vigorously, so that the precious little resources that had been entrusted to them by the Ghanaian people were used only in their interest.

He said that there had been issues raised about the effectiveness of the current Assets Declaration regime, which they must take advantage of the current Constitution Review process to strengthen the Assets Declaration regime to make it more relevant to changing times.

He proposed that a shift to a regime where the assets so declared could be published before and after public office so that the phenomenon of unexplained and overnight wealth, obviously and through the proceeds of corruption, could be checked.

He called for a healthy debate over the issue and consensus built on the way forward so that collectively, Ghanaians could defeat the canker of corruption.

UN chief admits Sudan humanitarian status ‘extremely worrying’

By
Editor
-
0

The humanitarian situation in Sudan is still “extremely worrying,” according to the spokeswoman for the UN Secretary-General on Monday.

“We are especially deeply concerned about the impact of violence on civilians in and around the Zamzam displacement camp in Al Fasher, the capital of North Darfur,” stated Stéphane Dujarric.

Famine has been observed in a number of places in Sudan, including Zamzam.

Following the escalation of hostilities in Zamzam over the past week, about 5,500 people were displaced and sought safety and shelter in Shamal Jabal Marrah locality in Central Darfur, according to Dujarric.

“There were also reports of others seeking to leave the area being prevented from doing so, due to the intensity of the fighting and key exit routes being blocked,” he said.

Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters have besieged the city of El Fasher, capital of North Darfur province for nearly a year in an attempt to capture it from government forces.

Sudan aspires to strengthen diplomatic ties with Iran.

By
Editor
-
0

On Monday, Sudan’s foreign minister met with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran to strengthen the two nations’ diplomatic ties.

Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Ali Youssef Ahmed Al-Sharif, who has been to Tehran for meetings with high-ranking Iranian officials, met with Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, on Monday evening.

During the discussion, the Iranian Foreign Minister emphasised Iran’s commitment to maintaining its principled policy of building ties with all Islamic countries, including Sudan, a key Arab and Islamic country.

Araghchi expressed remorse for Sudan’s internal wars, which have caused tremendous moral and material damage to the African country’s people and infrastructures.

He stressed the importance of preserving Sudan’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, ending foreign interference in its affairs, and creating the conditions necessary to resolve the conflicts and achieve national consensus. 

The conflict has killed more than 28,000 people, has forced millions to flee their homes and has left some families eating grass in a desperate attempt to survive as famine sweeps parts of the country.

It has been marked by gross atrocities including ethnically motivated killing and rape, according to the United Nations and rights groups.

The International Criminal Court said it was investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The U.S. has accused the RSF and its proxies of committing genocide in the war.

Government’s major task is to amend Constitution, ensure accountability- President Mahama   

By
Editor
-
0

President John Dramani Mahama, has informed Ghanaians living in Ethiopia that the major tasks ahead of his Administration are to amend the Constitution, hold past and present Government officials accountable and stabilise the economy.   

He was interacting with the Ghanaian Community living in Ethiopia at a dinner reception held in Addis Ababa for him.  

The dinner reception formed part of the President’s itinerary during his recent participation in the 38th African Union Heads of State and Government Summit in Addis Ababa.   

The event, which was held at the Residence of the Ghanaian Ambassador to Ethiopia began with speeches, seamlessly transitioned into a vibrant buffet dinner as the scent of exotic spices wafted through the air, teasing the taste buds and drawing everyone to the delectable spread of Ghanaian cuisine.  

In his remarks, President Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to resetting Ghana and promoting good governance and accountability.  

He painted a candid picture of Ghana’s economic struggles, revealing that the country had been grappling with severe economic crisis marked by unstable macroeconomic indicators.  

He said the economic woes have been further complicated by Ghana’s debt crisis, noting that the country, under the previous administration was forced to admit to the international community that it was unable to pay its debt.   

“For the first time in recent memory, we had to tell the rest of the world that we can’t pay our debt,” the President said.   

To mitigate this risk, President Mahama said the government plans to re-establish the Sinking Fund to prevent future default.  

He however, said the Government’s fiscal space remains severely constrained, with high expectations from citizens and limited resources to meet them.   

He said a significant challenge facing the administration was the legacy of unfinished projects initiated by the previous government, including over 80 hospitals that required more than $1 billion to complete.   

Touching on accountability, President Mahama said while the government would go after corrupt officials in the previous government, appointees in his government would also be held accountable according to their stewardship.   

“Those of us in leadership must lead by example, be prepared to be held accountable for taking the public trust,” he said.  

President Mahama said while people were excited about receiving appointments, they all must be reminded that “the green letter comes with a lot of responsibilities.”  

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, highlighted Ghana’s impressive performance in the recent African Union elections, where the country secured three positions.   

He attributed that success to the trust and confidence that Africans had in Ghanaians, saying, “Everyone on the continent believes that Ghanaians can be trusted, they will deliver.”  

He reiterated the need for Ghana to increase its representation in international organizations.   

Mr Joseph Ofosu-Appiah Duah, the President of the Ghana Community in Ethiopia, congratulated President Mahama on his re-election in the December 7, 2024, elections.   

He expressed the community’s confidence in President Mahama’s leadership, vision, and dedication towards national development, expressing the hope that Ghana would continue to be a beacon of democracy, stability, and progress on the African continent under the President.   

GIfT trains grasscutter farmers to enhance production

By
Editor
-
0

Some grasscutter farmers in the Upper West Region, under the Ghana Grasscutter Project, have received training to boost their production to meet the high market demand for the meat.

The Grasscutter Initiative for Rural Transformation (GIfT), had acquired certification to process the grasscutter meat into canned food, providing a ready market for the farmers.

Enhancing the farmers’ knowledge and ability to increase the grasscutter production would also enhance their income fortunes and nutritional status.

The training was organised by GIfT on the theme: “Innovative Feed Selection for Grasscutter: Maximising Efficiency and Availability”.

Its centrality on feed formulation for the grasscutter stemmed was because feed was one of the major challenges farmers in the region faced.

Professor Miho Murayama, the Director of GIfT, at the workshop explained the potential of grasscutter farming in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as “No Poverty, “No Hunger”, “Gender Equality, and environmental conservation.

She explained that the Grasscutter project was launched in 2014 with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to promote grasscutter domestication over a three-year period.

The project was premised on the concept of improving livestock production to serve as an alternative to wildlife consumption, contribute to sustainable food production and natural resource management.

The Ajinomoto Foundation supported the project from 2018 to 2024 to improve nutritional knowledge and to support grasscutter breeding, she said.

Prof. Murayama said GIfT had begun promoting the cultivation of moringa to improve the nutrition of humans and grasscutter as well as assisting farmers in constructing breeding sheds and cages to enhance grasscutter production.

She thanked all partners including the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ajinomoto Foundation, JSPS Bilateral Programmes, Innovate UK, KAKENHI AND JICA for their support for the project.

Mr Francis Kamara, the Upper West Regional Livestock Officer, said there had been a significant transformation in the grasscutter initiative in the region since its inception in 2014.

He observed that domestication and increased grasscutter production would also help reduce hunting and its attendant consequence of bush burning.

Dr Titus S. S. Dery, the Regional Manager of GIfT, encouraged farmers to resort to eco-feed production for animals including grasscutter and poultry, to help meet the nutritional needs for the animals’ growth.

Eco-feed consists of a mixture of agricultural by-products, grasses, and fermented products such as ‘pito’ mash to produce pellets to feed animals.

He said apart from helping in the growth of the animals, improving their health and productivity, it was also environmentally friendly.

Dr Christopher Adenyo of the Livestock and Poultry Research Centre, University of Ghana, took the participants through the status of grasscutter taming in Ghana and how the farmers could assess the tameness level of their animals.

The farmers were also introduced to the pelleting machine to produce feed for the animals.

Some grasscutter farmers at the training lauded the initiative, especially the pellet production and eco-feed formulation as that would help reduce their challenges in feeding their animals.

Madam Sophia Digbang, a farmer in Wa, said she would complement her traditional ways of feeding the grasscutter with grasses and pellets for improved production.

Mr Sukyir Bowuo, also a farmer from Jirapa, testified that the grasscutter production had provided him with financial security and thanked GIfT for the new knowledge to enhance his production.

Using cotton buds to clean can lead to conductive hearing loss – ENT Specialist

By
Editor
-
0

Cotton buds are widely available in every home for cleaning ears, but many people are shocked to discover that they might have a major impact on their hearing.

Cotton buds could give off a fleeting sense of cleanliness, but because the ear canal is so delicate, they can cause harm to the ear and lead to hearing loss.

Mr. David T. Sang, the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) nurse specialist at the Saint Martins De Porress Catholic Hospital in Agormanya, Eastern Region, stated in an interview with Ghana News Agency that cleaning the ear with cotton buds can harm the eardrum or the ear balloon.

“Because the eardrum plays an important role in hearing by interacting with other systems in the middle ear and converting the sound wave into what the brain can understand (electrical impulses), using a cotton bud can cause the eardrum to burst, resulting in a conductive hearing loss,” he said.

He noted that such hearing loss is not because the nerves have a problem, but it is because there is a problem in the flow or movement of the sound.

According to the specialist, another way that one can have a challenge in hearing is that when using a cotton bud to clean earwax, you push the wax deeper into the ear, and it will be piling up like the way sedimentary rocks form, and it becomes hard, blocking the external auditory canal, eventually leading to hearing loss.

When your ear itches or you have an allergy, you may feel compelled to insert anything into it, such as a broom, cotton bud, pen cap, matchstick, feathers, or other objects that are likely to tear the eardrum and cause conductive hearing loss.

Mr. Sang stated that persons who use brooms, feathers, pen tips, sticks, and other items do not use them to remove wax from the ear, but rather to cure themselves for itching or an undiagnosed allergy, which causes the itching.

He explained that the ear is filled with sensitive nerve endings, and stimulating these via cotton bud use can trigger all sorts of visceral pleasure, making it sweet when you put something in the ear, and you will be enjoying yourself, but before you know it, it will perforate the eardrum, resulting in hearing loss.

“When your ear itches continuously or for some time, it could be due to an allergy or infection. Therefore, you should see a specialist for an examination to discover the cause,” he added.

He went on to say that cotton buds were designed to clean the pinna, the ear’s outer surface, rather than the wax in the external ear canal.

The pleasure it provides causes people to forget themselves, and they progressively stimulate themselves until something unexpected occurs.

The Nurse encouraged everyone to attend ENT clinic when they felt discomfort rather than treating oneself with cotton buds.

Earwax is a natural defence system that prevents dust and particles from getting to the delicate eardrums and has antibacterial and lubricating properties, thereby promoting ear canal health.

Cotton buds’ fluffy ends can easily push earwax deeper into the ear canal, causing blockages and ear discomfort and leading to hearing loss.

French diplomats visit the contested Western Sahara area.

By
Editor
-
0

Rachida Dati, the French Culture Minister, visited the disputed Western Sahara on Monday as part of a trip to Morocco to enhance cultural connections.

Dati and a group from French cultural organisations paid trips to the Moroccan-controlled cities of Laayoune and Dakhla in Western Sahara.

Dati also made a detour at Tarfaya, southern Morocco, to explore a nineteenth-century castle and a museum.

“It’s a political moment, a symbolic moment and also a great historical and cultural moment because my three visits (Laayoune, Tarfaya and Dakhla) will witness the signing of agreements in the various fields of culture,” Dati said.

In Laayoune, Dati chaired an official ceremony to inaugurate a French Alliance that will benefit local pupils, students, schools and teaching institutions. The ceremony was attended by her Moroccan counterpart, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, and local officials.

Moroccan observers have trumpeted the visit as a victory further cementing their presence in the disputed territory. Though international courts have reaffirmed local residents’ right to self-determination, western nations have gradually backed Morocco. France’s decision to do so last year vaulted Franco-Moroccan relations to an all-time high.

In addition to deepening their political ties, Rabat and Paris also agreed to boost cultural cooperation through a new roadmap and letter of intent on video game production.

Among the French cultural institutions represented in the visit were the National Center for Cinema and Animated Pictures (CNC), the National Library of France (BNF) and the National Audiovisual Institute (INA).

On Tuesday, Rachida Dati will meet several members of the Moroccan government and visit the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat.

South Africa: Dismay over the murder of a Muslim cleric who was openly homosexual

By
Editor
-
0

A man regarded as the first openly gay Muslim imam has been fatally shot while sitting in a car in South Africa in what many are calling an assassination because of his teachings.

Muhsin Hendricks was ambushed by two men in a pick-up truck while visiting the southern city of Gqeberha on Saturday.

Police said the men involved in the killing had their faces covered.

A security video of the shooting shows one of them jumping out of their vehicle, running up to the car Hendricks was in and firing a pistol multiple times through a side window.

Police said Hendricks was with a driver, who survived.

Police have not established a motive for the killing, but political parties and LGBTQ+ organisations say Hendricks was targeted because he started a mosque in Cape Town for gay Muslims and called for members of the LGBTQ+ community to be welcomed into Islam.

Homosexuality is forbidden in the Islamic religion.

“From my perspective, this is definitely a religious instigated hate crime. Because he preached and stood for an unpopular Islamic message, and he called for a new way of interpreting the Quran, that is inclusive and compassionate,” said Reverend Ecclesia de Lange, director of Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM), South Africa.

South Africa’s Justice Ministry said it was investigating claims that Hendricks was the target of an assassination.

Hendricks was known internationally and spoke at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association’s (ILGA) conference in South Africa last year.

The ILGA said Hendricks had spoken of how some people were calling for the closing of his mosque and had branded it the “gay temple.”

The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second biggest political party, said “the nature of the killing strongly suggests a professional hit.”

“This was a cold blooded murder, which needs to be condemned unequivocally, without putting any conditions to the condemnation,” said Khaled Sayed, African National Congress member of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature.

Hendricks said in an interview with a South African newspaper in 2022 that he felt he was the target of a series of fatwas – rulings in Islamic law – issued by South Africa’s Muslim Judicial Council that year.

They reminded the country’s Muslims that same-sex relationships were prohibited, although the council said gay Muslims who abstain from “same-sex actions” should be welcomed at mosques.

Hendricks was the subject of a documentary film released the same year called “The Radical,” in which he said that there had been threats against him but “it just didn’t bother me. The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die.”

The film also focused on young gay Muslims who said Hendricks provided somewhere they could pray and practice Islam while still being themselves.

The Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa said in a statement on Sunday that while it had consistently stated that Hendricks’ position was incompatible with Islamic teachings, “we unequivocally condemn his murder and any acts of violence targeting members of the LGBTQ community or any other community.”

Rebels supported by Rwanda strengthen their hold over the second-largest city in Congo.

By
Editor
-
0

A day after taking control of the second-largest city in eastern Congo, Bukavu, whose citizens seemed resigned to their destiny under the new rulers, Rwanda-backed rebels reinforced their hold on the city on Monday.

The 1.3 million-person metropolis was abandoned by Congolese army and taken over by M23 insurgents on Sunday. The rebels captured Goma in late January, while Bukavu is about 63 miles (101 km) to the south.

The M23 is the most well-known of over 100 armed organisations fighting for control of the billions of dollars in mineral riches in eastern Congo, which is essential for a large portion of global technology. According to U.N. experts, some 4,000 troops from neighbouring Rwanda are helping the rebels.

The decades-long fighting has displaced more than 6 million people in the region, creating the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

As the rebels made their way into Bukavu, its streets were flooded by residents attempting to leave and looters filling flour sacks with what they could find. A pall of silence set in later as residents and business owners braced for M23’s entrance into the city center.

On Monday morning, people gradually started coming out again while the rebels patrolled major intersections in the city.

“People are still scared to go out because of the insecurity so it’s not business as usual yet,” David Balezi, a shopkeeper in Bukavu, told The Associated Press.

Bukavu’s border crossing to Rwanda was closed on Monday morning, as were most shops and stores while traffic gradually picked up again.

“Now we thank God that the situation is OK, even if we don’t know what’s coming. Whatever happens, we will live with it,” David Munyaga, a resident of Bukavu, said.

On Monday, Erasto Bahati Musanga, the rebel-appointed governor of North-Kivu province announced that Goma and Bukavu’s ports will reopen Tuesday. Navigation on Lake Kivu, one of the largest lakes in Africa, had been banned since late January, during the rebels offensive on Goma.

In rebel-controlled Goma, hundreds of protesters gathered to call for the departure of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo, known as MONUSCO, and the withdrawal of troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which includes countries ranging from Congo to South Africa.

The protestors organized a sit-in in front of the MONUSCO headquarters in Goma, with some brandishing signs and chanting slogans calling for the resignation of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi.

“The war does not end in Congo, why? They have nothing to do here, they should leave,” Bauma Sukali, a protester, said.

Another protester, Fiston Nsabimana, said: “Tshisekedi is not able to ensure peace, let him leave power.”

1...868788...1,457Page 87 of 1,457