Author: Krobea

The company providing the voting system for the re-run of Kenya’s presidential election says the equipment will not be ready in time, putting the planned date in jeopardy. The Supreme Court annulled last month’s vote, citing irregularities. It was won by the incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta. French firm OT-Morpho says it needs to reinstall the complex voting system for the scheduled re-run on 17 October. But it said the “significant amount of work” cannot be finished in time. Details of the potential delay for October’s re-run emerged in a letter from OT-Morpho to the electoral commission, obtained by Reuters news agency.…

Since 2000 the continent of Africa has recorded impressive rates of economic growth. This remarkable performance has been largely driven by the prolonged commodity boom and development assistance. While the continent shows great diversity in the socio-economic trajectories of its countries, growth rates have generally masked an underlying lack of structural transformation, which is needed to achieve socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable development. Wherever industrialization has occurred, it has been a reliable force in steering economic diversification, and has contributed to developing, strengthening and upholding the framework conditions for competitive economic growth and development. Over several decades, some developing countries…

Members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) have called off their strike barely 24 hours after it began. With numerous cases of lecturers not turning up, the strike did not have any significant effect of academics. It was called off after the intervention of Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG) following a closed-door meeting with UTAG’s leadership. The vice chancellors have resolved to find a lasting solution to the impasse at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW). The strike by the lecturers was in solidarity with academia as they claim their freedom is being trampled upon. UEW has been embroiled…

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that African countries would have to change the structure of their economies, from raw material dependent economies to industrialised, value-added economies if they are to fully finance the implementation of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to President Akufo-Addo, several countries on the continent, including Ghana, are taking steps towards converting the 17 SDGs into concrete outcomes for their peoples, with the conviction that they cannot expect others to do it for them. With the implementation of the SDGs agenda set to cost between 3.5 trillion to 5.0 trillion dollars per…

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has scheduled a solidarity march in Accra to mark this year’s Founder’s Day on Thursday. September 21 has been celebrated since 2009 – when the NDC returned to power – as a public holiday to mark the birth of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. There has been controversy over the celebration as to whether to celebrate one or all nationalists who contributed to Ghana’s independence. While some want the holiday to be known as Founders’ Day, others maintain it should be Founder’s Day to commemorate Dr Nkrumah. Others still think it should be…

Swiss prosecutors are investigating why tens of thousands of euros were flushed down toilets in Geneva. The €500 (£440; $600) notes were cut up and found in the toilets of a branch of the bank UBS and in three nearby restaurants. Thousands of francs have reportedly been spent on plumbing repairs to unclog the surrounding pipes. The high-value euro notes are due to be withdrawn in 2018 over fears they facilitate illegal activities. They will remain legal tender, but the European Central Bank will stop producing them following a European Commission inquiry into their use. Destroying notes is not an…

North Korea has warned that more sanctions and pressure will only make it accelerate its nuclear programme. In a strongly worded statement, Pyongyang called new UN sanctions “the most vicious, unethical and inhumane act of hostility”. Meanwhile, the presidents of the US and China committed to “maximising pressure” on the North through vigorous enforcement of UN resolutions. Earlier, the US and South Korea carried out joint military exercises. North Korea fired its latest missile over Japan on Friday. It travelled 3,700km (2,299 miles), putting the US Pacific territory of Guam, which North Korea says it has a plan to target,…

READ: ‘Ghana card’ to be the only ID card for transaction in Ghana – Akufo-Addo

The first casualties of this year’s Ghana’s Most Beautiful are representatives of the Greater Accra and Upper West regions. After four weeks of stage performances, the two – Henrietta Naa Ayeley Mensah and Numbu Shaguffa Pelpuo Adams respectively – had to bid goodbye to the show. They will, however, receive GH¢1,000 each and products from Enapa as their ‘severance package’. Coincidentally, Ayeley’s Greater Accra Region hosted the launch of this year’s edition at the Bukom Boxing Arena. She also swept three awards just last week. READ: Ayeley grabs 3 awards, 2 for Edem as contestants dazzle ‘Laclustre’ On Sunday, as…

The 11th edition of Ghana’s foremost beauty reality show, Ghana’s Most Beautiful, is heating up as eviction begins from Sunday night. After three weeks of stage performances, the ‘women are being separated from the girls’. One of them is expected to go out after Sunday night’s show, a thought that is sending the shivers down the spine of each and every one of the 10 contestants. Sunday’s show is expected to showcase the culture and tradition of some ethnic groups in Ghana. It will see proverbs recited with aplomb and dances performed with majesty. The previous week saw Greater Accra’s…