Regional News of Tuesday, 10 January 2023Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Kintampo Constituency Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Robert Sakyi, has had his home destroyed by fire. Confirming the incident, the constituency communications officer, Matthew Atanga, said about 90% of the house was razed by the fire. The onset of the harmattan season has seen an increase in fire incidents across the country. The Eastern Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service has reported that it recorded 23 cases of fire outbreaks in the first week of the year. Vehicular fires were two (2), refuse dump fires (others) also two (2) and industrial fires one (1).

General News of Tuesday, 10 January 2023Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe staff of Databank Group are expected to resume operations from January 10, 2023, after they were earlier directed to work remotely from home amid verbal attacks and abuse levelled against them by clients. The resumption, according to an Asaase Radio report, will take place at independent branches of the investment firm across the country. In an email and text message to clients on January 7, 2023, Databank said it “will apply a phased approach to re-opening its physical locations”. The development comes after staff of the investment bank were allegedly subjected to physical and verbal abuse from clients due to its inability to pay them their funds. The investment firm however explained that this was due to ‘liquidity challenges’ as a result of the current economic challenges in the country.

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, has announced that preparations for the NDC's presidential and parliamentary primaries will be finalized by the end of the week. According to a citinewsroom.com report, Fifi Kwetey spoke in an interview with Citi News saying that the national executives are still deliberating on the processes for the date. “I am not in a position to disclose that yet because the processes haven’t been completed as yet. Hopefully, we will complete them by midweek and once that is done, I will come out with a formal announcement as to exactly what is going to happen,” Fifi Kwetey said. The party, last week, refuted claims that it had set the date for primaries on May 6, 2023.

Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Food and Agriculture, is expected to resign from his position in the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government. Multiple media reports suggest that the minister is expected to communicate his resignation formally to the president on Tuesday afternoon. This comes four days after Trade Minister Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen resigned from the government. Alan Kyerematen and Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto are expected to contest for the flagbearership of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). President Akufo-Addo thanked Mr. Kyerematen for his service to his government and to the country and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Ghanaians on Twitter and Facebook especially slammed Mill for including footage shot at the presidency, Jubilee House, in a yet-to-be aired music video. The said video, initially posted on his Instagram reel has been deleted early Monday morning of January 9. He posted his apology on Twitter stating thus: "My apologies to the people if any disrespect! Social media users are incensed about what they describe as near desecration of the presidency, citing moral and security grounds. Major influencers on Twitter especially have attracted comments that are largely critical of government for allowing such sensitive areas to be filmed for a music video.

Politics of Monday, 9 January 2023Source: www.ghanaweb.comA New Patriotic Party flagbearer hopeful, Boakye Agyarko, has warned the party against allowing some individuals to manipulate the party’s presidential and parliamentary primaries for their interests. In a piece titled “THE NPP TIMETABLE FOR PRIMARIES; LET US FOR ONCE STRIVE TO GET IT RIGHT” Mr Agyarko raised concerns about the handling of issues related to the selection of a date for the party’s primaries. The NPP is, later this year, expected to conduct primaries for its parliamentary and presidential candidates ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Ahead of the primaries, the likes of Mr Agyarko and other figures have expressed their interest in putting themselves up as parliamentary and presidential candidates. Meanwhile, the party is yet to announce an official date for the elections.

National Leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) completed the party’s religious thanksgiving service with a visit to one of the major charismatic churches in Accra. Led by National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the newly-elected leaders joined the congregation at Perez Chapel International for worship on Sunday, January 8, 2023. Asiedu Nketiah, in an address, recounted how 2020 was a busy year for the party having elected over 400,000 party officers in over 47,000 elections nationwide. “On behalf of the party, we present a token of GH¢20,000 to the church as thanksgiving to the Lord for how far he has brought us. Thank you very much and may God bless us all,” Asiedu Nketiah said at the tail end of his address.

Politics of Sunday, 8 January 2023Source: www.ghanaweb.comCletus Avoka has announced he will not be contesting the Zebila seat in 2024 after serving for 24 years. According to him, his decision to bow out is to give the younger ones in his constituency the opportunity to serve. My constituents are happy stepping down in a high image even though some of them are not happy.”Cletus Avoka is one of the longest-serving members of parliament. Cletus Avoka was also the MP for Garu Tempane from 2000 to 2004. In 2024, he would have served 24 years in parliament.

General News of Sunday, 8 January 2023Source: www.ghanaweb.comMember of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has praised Speaker Alban Bagbin labeling him as the best leader of the legislative arm of government under the Fourth Republic. In an interview with Oyerepa TV, the MP stressed that but for the leadership and fairness of Bagbin, Ghana would have experienced lots of chaos in the lawmaking chamber. “Alban Bagbin is one of the perfect and excellent speakers that we have ever had because of the circumstances that he finds himself. Assafuah said Bagbin opting to serve the interest of the nation above that of his party had positioned himself as a statesman. At the time of his election as speaker, Bagbin had left Parliament after close to 30 years as a lawmaker, during which time he served as Majority and Minority Leader at different times and later as a Minister of Health.

Politics of Sunday, 8 January 2023Source: www.ghanaweb.comNew Patriotic Party flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has questioned the competence of his competitors in the party’s upcoming contest. At least I have 7,158 people I have employed as workers. All the candidates coming, ask who amongst them has employed at least 300 workers,” he stated. “ If you know the thinking people do, like this Christmas period having to pay my workers and the attached bonus. While Vice President Bawumia and Mr Kyerematen have received endorsements from several figures within the current government and the ruling party, Kennedy Agyapong has noted that such endorsements are motivated by individual interests.

General News of Saturday, 7 January 2023Source: www.ghanaweb.comChairperson of the Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, has called for the pairing of Dr Mahamadu Bawumia and Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen ahead of the 2024 general elections. Speaking in an interview on Joy News, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang argued that it is important for the party to consider its two most popular people, Dr Bawumia and Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen leading the party. “In fact, if I were to be asked, I would say ideally if we can get the vice president, my own brother Kyerematen, and my own brother Bawumia together it will be fantastic,” he said. According to myjoyonline.com, he added that the NPP have a responsibility to collaborate and accomplish a common goal. Meanwhile, some prominent names as flagbearer hopefuls include Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and Agric Minister Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto – none of them has officially declared their intent.

Business News of Saturday, 7 January 2023Source: dmarketforces.comCrude oil prices rebounded early Thursday, recovering from a steep decline at the start of the year 2023, after a United States (US) pipeline shut operations for unscheduled maintenance. US pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline said Wednesday it has halted operations at its Line 3, with a restart scheduled for Jan. 7, Reuters reported. Prior to the pipeline shutdown, oil prices had been hit by uncertainty in the near-term economic prospects for China as COVID-19 cases rise. The falling value of the US dollar supported higher oil prices by encouraging traders using other currencies. Adding more on demand worries, the world’s second-largest economy, China, significantly increased its first batch of 2023 export quotas for refined oil products.

The post also lauded Ghana's northern neighbours for standing up to the French whiles cautioning that removing the ambassador did not neutralize the threat of their machinations. "For Africa to be free, it needs the free hand to pick and choose its geopolitical partners. Ibrahim Traore this week ordered the French ambassador, Luc Hallade, to leave the country amid deterioration of relations between Ouagadougou and Paris. Read Barker-Vormawor's full post on the developmentI woke up to news that the Burkina Faso have asked the French Ambassador to leave the Country. They claim to be fighting the terrorist threat in these several francophone countries.

General News of Saturday, 7 January 2023Source: www.ghanaweb.comPresident Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on January 6, 2023 asked Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to serve as the caretaker Minister of Trade and Industry. "In your Minister’s absence from Cabinet, his/her colleague Cabinet Minister held his/her brief and provided reports and briefings to Cabinet and not the Deputy Minister," Essuman explained. Below are some of the reactions:Addo D after appointing ken ofori atta as trade minister minutes after Alan cash resigned ???? I'm therefore not suprised that he has given him additional responsibility as caretaker Trade Minister. (@Ebenezer_Peegah) January 6, 2023It’s quite disgusting to read that Ken Ofori Atta has been name supervising minister after Alan’s exit.

General News of Friday, 6 January 2023Source: www.ghanaweb.comSix persons, including four teachers, have been killed in a suspected jihadist attack in southern Burkina Faso near the country’s border with Ghana. The report citing Channelstv said the attackers following the shooting on Monday fled into a nearby forest of Nouhuo and are being pursued by security forces. A regional federation of education unions said four teachers at the local high school, including the head teacher, were among the six fatalities. Burkina Faso is one of the countries within the West African sub-region battling with insurgency and terrorist activities. There are currently concerns about jihadist advances towards countries on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea including Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast.