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Asamoah Gyan, Randy Abbey, Gifty Oware-Mensah spotted at day 2 of Black Stars training

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L-R: Gifty Oware-Mensah, Dr. Randy Abbey and Asamoah Gyan L-R: Gifty Oware-Mensah, Dr. Randy Abbey and Asamoah Gyan

Some sports personalities were present at day two of the Black Stars’ training at the Accra Sports Stadium on March 18, 2025.

Black Stars’ all-time top scorer Asamoah Gyan entered the stadium with Ghana Football Association (GFA) officials, including President Kurt Okraku.

After the training session, Gyan was seen on the field holding separate conversations with Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayew.

Black Stars Management Committee Chairman, Dr. Randy Abbey, and other members, including Stephen Appiah, were present to engage the players and the technical team to assess their preparations ahead of the game.

Executive Council member of the GFA, Gifty Oware-Mensah, was also seen interacting with some of the players.

Most of the players showed up for the day two training session as the Black Stars intensify preparations for the game.

The Black Stars will face Chad on March 21, 2025, at the Accra Sports Stadium before facing Madagascar in an away fixture on March 24, 2025.

Ghana are second in Group I with nine points, tied with leaders Comoros, while Madagascar are third with seven points, followed by Mali with five points.

Watch the arrivals of the personalities in the posts below:

Meanwhile, watch Minister of Sports Kofi Adams dismisses criticism of Black Stars’ commitment

SB/EK

Taba, the tobacco drug Gambian women share in secret

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On a humid March afternoon on the outskirts of Banjul, a woman known only as Saf* carries a basket of plants from her garden. Moving with urgency to avoid prying eyes, she makes her way to a hidden location, where the air is thick with the earthy scent of raw, unprocessed tobacco leaves waiting to be turned into the popular drug taba.

Suddenly, her phone rings. A customer. She smiles knowingly. “She’s one of my favourites because she keeps coming back,” says Saf, whose name is a code word that means “sweet” in Wolof.

Secrecy is important, says the 68-year-old taba seller, who for decades has made and discretely sold the substance to women.

Taba, a local Mandinka word for powdered tobacco, has been consumed in The Gambia for generations, usually through smoking, snuffing and chewing. But in recent years, taba, modified by adding other substances to the tobacco powder, is being used for different purposes.

Sellers like Saf take regular taba and mix it with potent chemicals to enhance its intoxicating effect. Many women then use it intravaginally, believing it enhances sexual pleasure.

Meanwhile, others, including some traditional healers, insist its intravaginal use has medicinal properties – from helping treat genital infections and headaches to conditions like epilepsy, hypertension and infertility – though these remain medically unproven.

Though taba is not illegal, health authorities, doctors and activists in The Gambia warn of its dangers and caution against its use. But many women continue to seek it out.

For Fatmata*, 36, “taba works wonders.”

Married for a decade, Fatmata’s husband left for Europe just three years into their marriage. Struggling with his absence, a close friend introduced her to taba.

“I don’t want to have extra-marital affairs for religious reasons, so I resort to taba,” she says, shyly.

The first time Rose*, 28, used taba after a friend suggested she try it, she felt an overwhelming sense of dizziness and nausea before violently vomiting. She continued trying, but the third time she used it, she says she nearly lost her life.

“I remember the burning sensation, the excruciating pain, and how my body reacted as if my insides were on fire,” she says. “I could barely breathe and thought I was going to die.”

The pain was intense but brief, she says. Afterwards, she fell asleep, and when she woke up, there was an uncomfortable ache between her legs. But she did not seek medical help, fearing it would expose her as a taba user at a time was the government was warning against it.

After her ordeal, she pledged never to touch taba again.

“It is dangerous, and women need to stop inserting it into their genitals before it’s too late,” she warns.

Taraba*, 28, and Isatu*, 42, began using taba to address health concerns.

“Taba damaged my system,” says Taraba, who initially took it in an attempt to cure gonorrhoea.

“At first, I only used it for that purpose. But a month later, I began inserting it into my vagina for pleasure. That was the worst mistake of my life.”

What followed was excruciating. “It felt like fire burning inside me, and my whole body became [temporarily] paralysed.” Unlike Rose, whose pain was brief, hers lasted for an entire week.

Isatu also first used it as a supposed remedy for gonorrhoea. “I first heard about this powder three years ago from a colleague. She told me she had used it in her vagina to relieve a bad headache, and it worked.”

But when Isatu tried it, “I was bleeding profusely; I nearly died.”

Neither Taraba nor Isatu sought medical help, choosing instead to endure their pain in silence. Isatu says she remains traumatised from the experience.

Regular user Fatmata, however, insists that taba has no harmful effects on her health and claims most women use it with no complaints.

Taba seller Saf agrees, saying most of her customers have been buying from her for years. “If it was harmful, they wouldn’t keep coming back.”

Little is known about the health consequences of intravaginal taba, according to the peer-reviewed journal, Tobacco Control. But it is “likely to have negative health effects” based on what is known about the use of other smokeless tobacco, said the authors of a 2023 paper on taba.

“Intravaginal taba is harmful,” insists Dr Karamo Suwareh, a gynaecologist at Kanifing General Hospital, the second largest public hospital in the country.

“It causes irritation, infections, burning sensations, itching, foul-smelling discharge, and bleeding during intercourse,” he tells Al Jazeera.

Dr Suwareh warns that taba contains carcinogens, and says research is needed to see whether it could lead to cervical and vaginal cancers. During pregnancy, the nicotine and other unknown substances may increase the risks of preterm labour, foetal growth restriction, and stillbirth.

“Taba disrupts vaginal pH, making women more vulnerable to STIs like gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV. It damages tissue instead of healing it.”

Gambia’s Ministry of Health has been vocal about the potential health risks of using taba intravaginally, cautioning that it could pose an increased risk of cancer or life-threatening complications during childbirth. Some women use it in an attempt to ease labour pains, but medical experts warn that it can cause severe harm instead.

The ministry has used social media to educate the public on the risks, and in a video that went viral, Minister of Health Lamin Samateh was seen addressing a gathering in a local language to warn about its harmful effects.

“Taba is dangerous, and women should reject it,” said Minister Samateh in the video that first emerged online in 2022.

Women’s rights organisations have also been raising awareness about the harmful effects of taba.

“No woman should feel pressured into harmful practices like taba,” says Sariba Badjie, a programme officer at NGO The Girls’ Agenda. “Our goal is to provide women with the knowledge and support they need to make decisions about their health without fear or stigma.”

Mbassey Manneh, a human rights activist, has also been outspoken about its use. But she notes how rooted the use of taba is among communities of the Gambian women.

“If you go to naming ceremonies and social events, you will find women selling taba among themselves,” she tells Al Jazeera. “Many of these women are not sexually satisfied by their husbands, so they turn to taba as an alternative.”

Some women even speak in code when referring to taba. “They call it ‘simang kolla’ a-Mandinka for ‘after dinner’,” Manneh says.

Though no law currently bans intravaginal taba, its taboo nature prompts the secrecy surrounding it – and both sellers and buyers operate in the shadows. Taba is commonly sold secretly in markets and within circles of older women, but it is not available in shops.

For Saf, who runs a makeshift business on the outskirts of Banjul near patches of farmland and grazing cattle, discretion is key.

“I sell taba for a living – it makes me happy when people come to me because of a simple recommendation,” she says with a broad smile, taking pride in the fact that word of mouth brings her new customers.

Saf’s location is known only to trusted customers, and in the community where she lives and works, she is known as a gardener who sells regular plants in the marketplace.

“My family isn’t entirely against me selling it [taba], but they don’t want me to do it publicly, for fear of being arrested or exposed,” she reveals.

At her shop, the taba is typically wrapped in paper or plastic. For 5 dalasi (7 cents), her customers get a small pinch – just enough for a single use. The 15-dalasi (21-cent) portion is slightly larger but still modest. Heavy users or those buying in bulk may spend up to 500 dalasi ($7) at once. A larger quantity, such as what bulk buyers get, can fill a tea mug.

Saf says she sources her raw tobacco leaves from a supplier in Guinea-Bissau and processes them herself, mixing them with other substances to make them “more powerful”. Some claim intoxicants such as heroin are added.

“It’s a secret recipe,” she tells Al Jazeera when asked what’s in her mix. “I never share it with anyone.”

The taba supply chain extends beyond The Gambia. Tobacco traders like Saikou Camara, who sources his stock from Guinea-Bissau and Casamance, both to the south of the country, insists that taba products should not be used in the wrong way.

“I’ve heard that women are using it for other reasons, but that’s not what it’s meant for,” he says. “I don’t believe it cures back pain or enhances sexual pleasure. Taba is meant for inhaling, nothing else.”

The sellers, though, believe in the unproven health benefits of their product.

At one of the busiest markets in Banjul, a 75-year-old seller insists on taba’s medicinal properties, claiming it heals wounds, relieves back pain and cures headaches.

At her makeshift stall, the woman who has been in the trade for decades works openly but also in secret.

To the unsuspecting eye, she is just another vendor selling cooking ingredients. But tucked away in a clay jar – one that looks abandoned at first glance – is the taba. Each transaction is swift and calculated; she scans the surroundings before carefully opening the jar, retrieving the product, and slipping it into the hands of a waiting customer.

When asked if she takes the jar home, she shook her head. “I leave the jar, but I go home with the taba.”

Women travel from across the country to buy taba from her, she says.

At her stall, a customer from a rural village buys taba worth 2,000 dalasi ($28). The woman, in her 50s or 60s, is a seller too – she purchases it in bulk, repackages it, and resells it in her village at a higher price.

“She’ll be back next month for more,” the older seller says.

According to a 2023 study published in the Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 63.2 percent of the Gambian women sampled were current users of intravaginal tobacco powder.

The study revealed that women over 40 were 3.2 times more likely to use taba than younger women, while women in rural areas were 2.2 times more likely to use it compared with urban dwellers.

Despite some research into taba use, Dr Mustapha Bittaye, the chief medical director of Gambia’s only teaching hospital, says data on the health effects remains limited.

“We lack sufficient evidence to draw a definitive conclusion,” he tells Al Jazeera. “As a ministry [of health], we will conduct a more thorough and objective study to properly assess the scale of the issue.”

While general tobacco use is regulated in the country – smoking, for example, is prohibited indoors and in public places – the use of tobacco powder including taba remains unregulated.

Dr Bittaye suggests that a starting point in addressing the taba issue may be the Tobacco Control Act, which legislates how the substance is used and sold, while the Ministry of Health works with NGOs to educate the Gambian women about the dangers of taba.

But while the authorities deliberate, women continue to demand it and sellers are happy to supply.

“I make a lot of money from selling taba,” Saf says. “The government and other people saying it’s harmful won’t give me what I earn from this business.”

And what if the government does clamp down?

“We will just find new ways to keep our trade alive,” the seller says.

“Women need it. They’ll always find a way to come to us, and we’ll always find a way to help them.”

FIX FOUNDATIONS BEFORE FUNDING GHANA’S FILM INDUSTRY — Filmmaker, Leila Djansi Urges President Mahama’s Government

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Ghanaian filmmaker, Leila Djansi has urged the government led by President John Dramani Mahama to put structures and systems in place before considering funding and improving the Ghanaian film industry.

Sighted on myjoyonline.com, the award-winning director wrote;

“Whenever there is a change in government, the moment you tune in to hear news about the film industry, all you hear is filmmakers begging for money.

As a government we were wicked to Ghanaians – Adwoa Safo admits

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Sara Adwoa Safo, former Gender and Social Protection Minister has admitted that the former Akufo-Addo Bawumia government was wicked to Ghanaians.

According to Adwoa Safo, Members of parliament who spoke against the Akufo-Addo government were targeted.

She further asserted that NPP members who spoke against the government were also targeted.

Afenyo-Markin accuses government, High Court colluding to allegedly harass MP

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By Elsie Appiah-Osei

Accra, March 19, GNA – Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has allegedly accused the government of colluding with the Koforidua High Court to harass Mr. Ernest Yaw Kumi, New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Akwatia.

This accusation comes after Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka’s explanation of attempts to arrest Mr. Kumi following a bench warrant issued for his arrest on contempt charges.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin expressed dismay at the Minister’s justification, stating, “Clearly, there’s collusion between the government and the high court, Koforidua, to use their own set of laws in our country.”

The Minority Leader emphasised, during a press conference in Parliament House, in Accra, on Wednesday that the government’s actions were not in line with the country’s laws, highlighting the proper procedure for enforcing a court order.

“When there is a court order, it is for the registrar to assign a bailiff for the purposes of enforcing the order,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin explained.

“This was a situation where the Supreme Court had already frozen the enforcement of that order,” he added.

The Minority Leader recounted the alleged harassment of Mr. Kumi by state security operatives, alleging, that, “They were armed with pickup vehicles, and in fact, they actually pulled a weapon, a pistol on the MP, trying to threaten him, to force him into the pickup.”

He also announced plans to file a question with the Attorney General to address the alleged collusion between the judiciary and the national security coordinator.

GNA

BM

Ghanaians want accountable leadership but prefer opposition cooperation – Afrobarometer survey

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An Afrobarometer report has revealed that while most Ghanaians demand greater government accountability, many also believe opposition parties should prioritize cooperation with the ruling government over holding it accountable.

The report, released on Wednesday, March 19, highlights a complex public stance on governance. While 68% of Ghanaians favor accountability over fast decision-making, support for a more efficient but less consultative government has increased from 20% in 2022 to 31% in 2024.

The survey also found that 85% of respondents insist that elected leaders should listen to voters rather than make unilateral decisions.

Additionally, 76% believe Parliament—not the President—should have the power to make laws, while 79% agree that the President must obey all laws and court rulings, even if he disagrees with them.

However, in a notable contradiction, 66% of Ghanaians think opposition parties should focus on cooperating with the government for national development rather than acting as watchdogs. Only 33% support a more confrontational approach by the opposition.

The survey was conducted by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) as part of Afrobarometer’s Round 10 research. It engaged 2,400 Ghanaians in August 2024 and has a margin of error of ±2 percentage points.


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‘There’s a combat for Rivers’ economic soul’, Dokubo condemns Fubara’s removal

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Nollywood actress and member of the Labour Party, Hilda Dokubo has condemned the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.

Dokubo also described the suspension of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara and all lawmakers of the state by the president as unfair and an attack on the people of the state.

Govt revokes mining licences issued after December 7

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The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has revoked all mining licences issued after December 7, 2024, as part of efforts to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

The decision is aimed at tackling the widespread environmental degradation of forest reserves and water bodies caused by illegal mining activities.

Speaking at a press briefing on the ministry’s policies and programmes, the sector minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, also disclosed that seven out of nine forest reserves affected by illegal mining have been successfully reclaimed.

“Based on the advice and recommendations of key committees, jointly with the minister supported by the EPA, the Minerals Commission, the Forestry Commission, and the Water Resources Commission, we are taking the following steps. We are going full steam ahead to revoke all licenses based on the findings. All small-scale licenses that were issued from December 7 are hereby revoked.

“Whether you have EPA licenses or not, the finding is very clear—those licenses issued from December 7 were rushed, due processes were not followed, and the right procedures were ignored.

“However, affected parties will have the opportunity to appeal to ensure the right processes are followed.”

Suspect in Hussein-Suale murder remanded

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Ahmed Hussein-Suale was an investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale was an investigative journalist

The suspect connected to the assassination of investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale, Daniel Owusu Koranteng, has been remanded into custody.

Koranteng, a 35-year-old businessman, was remanded by the Madina District Court following his appearance on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. He has been provisionally charged with murder.

Speaking on the case, the legal counsel for Koranteng, Kofi Essel, described the charges leveled against his client as “shambolic,” stating that the initial charge of abetment brought by the police had been changed to murder.

“The police hurriedly put a charge sheet together on the offence of murder. First, they were talking about abetment but today, we were sprung up with a surprise charge sheet of one count of murder and they prayed the court to remand our client with no basis.

“The charge sheet is shambolic as I said in court because they have nothing on our client. It is just a multitude of suspicions, allegations, and hearsays put together,” he said in a JoyNews interview sighted by GhanaWeb on March 19, 2025.

Koranteng and his team are expected to reappear in court on April 1, 2025.

The suspect was arrested in connection with the death of investigative journalist, Ahmed Suale.

Koranteng, identified as a friend of Suale, reportedly released some photos of the deceased to a popular politician in Ghana before he was murdered.

The two had worked together at Tiger Eye Private Investigations before the suspect, also known as Akwasi Amakye, disguised himself and left the shores of the country after police picked up information about his involvement in the case.

The report noted that the suspect relocated to the UK when police were closing in on him.

He was arrested at Amasaman-Adease at a salon.

MAG/EK

Catch up on the mysterious and historic details of Fort Amsterdam in this final part of our Ghana Month Series on People and Places on GhanaWeb TV below:

Shift to commercial farming key for food security

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The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Legacy Crop Improvement Centre (LCIC), Amos Rutherford Azinu, has called on the government to implement measures and policies aimed at empowering smallholder farmers to transition into commercial farming.

According to Azinu, this transition should be a top priority for the government if it hopes to achieve long-term food security and economic growth in the agricultural sector.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, March 19, Mr. Azinu highlighted the inefficiencies in the current agricultural framework, particularly the heavy reliance on imported seeds under the Food and Jobs programme by the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

He argued that a more sustainable approach would be to strengthen local seed production and ensure that smallholder farmers are given the necessary support to scale up their operations.

Mr. Azinu pointed out that Ghana’s agricultural policies in recent years have created what he termed a procurement economy around the seed industry, where a significant amount of money is spent on importing seeds that may not even be suitable for the country’s climatic conditions.

“We have built a procurement economy around the seed economy. In the past, we spent GH¢2.6 billion on the Food and Jobs programme trying to import seeds from elsewhere and bringing them to this jurisdiction which some of them will not even survive the high temperature that we have and so government must look at that.

“But basically, the most important thing for the government to do is to see how we can transition from the smallholder system to commercial farming. One of the things the government is not looking at over the years is to set the floor price for major commodities that we produce and consume.”


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I Have the Money to Sue You and Pay the Best Lawyers in America- Throwback Video Of Ken Daring Anas

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A resurfaced video of former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, has reignited discussions about his long-standing feud with investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. In the video, Kennedy Agyapong is heard declaring, “I have the money to sue you and pay the best lawyers in America. I will strip this boy naked.”

The video, shared by a social media user on X (formerly Twitter), has brought back memories of intense legal and public battles between the two. Kennedy Agyapong, known for his outspoken nature has been a fierce critic of Anas, accusing him of using unethical methods in his investigative work.

Background of the Feud

Their conflict dates back to 2018 when Anas released his “Number 12” documentary, exposing corruption in Ghanaian football. In response, Kennedy Agyapong produced “Who Watches the Watchman”, a counter-documentary aimed at discrediting Anas. The journalist the sued Kennedy Agyapong for defamation, demanding GHS25 million in damages. However, in March 2023, the Accra High Court dismissed Ana’s suit, describing his investigative methods as “investigative terrorism”

The legal battle did not end there. In a recent twist, a U.S. court ruled in favour of Anas, finding Kennedy Agyapong guilty of defamation and ordering him to pay $18 million in damages. This ruling contrasts sharply with the Ghanaian court’s decision, fueling debates about press freedom, accountability, and the ethics of undercover journalism.

The resurfaced video has sparked fresh debates online, with many weighing in on Kennedy Agyapong’s aggressive stance against Anas. Some view it as justified move against what they believe to be an unethical journalism, while others see it as an attack on press freedom and investigative reporting.

Source: Original video on X

ECG installs 200 new smart prepaid meters in Suame District

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By Naa Shormei Odonkor

Kumasi, March 19, GNA – The Ashanti West Region of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has installed 200 new smart prepaid meters at Asuoyeboa and Bantam Racecourse in the Suame District of the region.

The installation exercise is a pilot project which is expected to last for three months, after which a decision to roll out the new smart prepaid meters in all the towns in the Suame District would be made.

Mr. George Amoah, Ashanti West Regional General Manager of ECG, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the pilot project was under the Loss Reduction Project (LRP), a flagship project of the ECG.

He noted that among the 200 new smart prepaid meters installed, 150 single-phase prepaid meters had been installed at Asuoyeboah, while 50 three-phase meters were installed at Bantama.

“Under the pilot project, customers with non-smart prepaid meters, faulty prepaid meters and some postpaid meters had their meters replaced for free,” Mr. Amoah said.

Although the Suame District and other five districts had a smart prepaid meter, he said the pilot project was to pave way for the introduction of a dedicated smart prepaid meter for only Suame District.

This was because Suame District had over 120,000 customer population, which is the largest among the eight districts under the Ashanti West Region.

He said it was important to get a dedicated prepaid meter to meet the demands of our customers in the area.

The new smart prepaid meter, according to Mr. Amoah, had a recorder, which recorded every activity done on the meter making it easier for the ECG to detect any illegalities.

Again, he said when the meters were tempered with, the meters automatically went off and disallowed the purchase of prepaid credits to recharge the meters.

To ensure the success of the pilot project to meet the growing demands of the customers in the Suame District, Mr. Amoah said the ECG was keenly monitoring the meters installed.

He assured that customers who had credit on their meters before being replaced will receive their credits on the newly installed smart prepaid meters.

Mr. Amoah mentioned that the introduction of the new smart prepaid meter was in compliance with the Meter Management System (MMS).

This, he noted, allowed customers to buy prepaid credit online without visiting vending points saving money and time.

Additionally, customers will be able to get real-time information on the energy use and purchased at the comfort of their homes due to the User Interface Unit of the meters.

Mr. Amoah disclosed that currently the ECG had cleared all 2024 backlog of meter application for customers in Adum, Ahinsan, Danyame, Kokoben, Abuakwa and Suame districts.

He called on citizens to help curb illegals connections by reporting any illegal activities to the nearest ECG office.

“There is a six percent commission of any amount we recoup as incentive for anyone who gives us reliable information to unearth any illegalities,” Mr. Amoah said.

GNA

Yaw Darling sets sights on Grammys despite TGMA 2025 snub

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Budding Ghanaian singer, Yaw Darling, remains undeterred by his exclusion from the 2025 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) nominations, stating that his ultimate goal is to win a Grammy.

While acknowledging the importance of TGMA, he insists that missing out on a nomination does not define his career trajectory.

“I acknowledge TGMA is a big platform, my godfather Andy Dosty is part of the team. I always focus on long-term goals. The fact that I didn’t get nominations at the TGMA doesn’t mean I cannot win Grammys. It’s a matter of time. If you’re born to kill an elephant, you’ll not rush to kill a rat. So I believe with time and hard work, we will get there. We definitely will win the Grammys one day,” he told Zionfelix.

Yaw Darling’s optimism and determination highlight his commitment to growth and global recognition. The young artist’s statement comes just days after the TGMA 2025 nominations were unveiled on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Grand Arena. The Artiste of the Year category includes the likes of King Paluta, Team Eternity, Stonebwoy, King Promise, Black Sherif, Kweku Smoke, and Joe Mettle.

Other top acts such as Kofi Kinaata, Okyeame Kwame, Empress Gifty, Diana Hamilton, Sarkodie, Flowking Stone, Eno Barony, and Lyrical Joe also earned nominations across various categories.

While missing out on this year’s nominations might be a disappointment for Yaw Darling’s growing fanbase, his unwavering ambition signals a promising future.

As he continues to refine his craft and push his musical boundaries, the young artist is determined to make a mark not only in Ghana but on the global stage, with his eyes set on winning a Grammy in the future.

Don’t manage maternal cases until it’s very late to refer

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Chief Executive Officer of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Atik Adam Chief Executive Officer of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Atik Adam

Correspondence from Northern Region

The Tamale Teaching Hospital has appealed to health facilities in Northern Ghana to endeavour to refer maternal-related cases early as it steps up efforts to significantly reduce maternal deaths in the area.

TTH, which is the only tertiary health facility in the five regions of the north said delays in referring critical pregnancy-related cases to the hospital continue to be a leading cause of maternal deaths in the area.

The Tamale Teaching Hospital recorded 57 maternal deaths in 2024, with as many as 49 of the deaths due to late referrals from other facilities.

Although this is a significant reduction from the number of deaths recorded in 2023- 79, the hospital said much more needs to be done to further reduce the numbers.

Prof Alhassan Abdul-Mumin, Medical Director of TTH who disclosed this at the 2024 Annual Performance Review of the hospital on Thursday explained that most of the deaths were caused by delays by the patients to report to the hospital and delays within the health systems.

“So, they call them the three delays. Actually, before a pregnant woman decides to [go] to the hospital, they would’ve done a lot of things, so that is already the first delay. If they even decide to [go] to the hospital, how to find an appropriate place to come to the hospital is also another delay. Either there’s no vehicle-appropriate ambulance or the road is not even good and when they decide to come to the hospital, sometimes also, there are delays within the health systems that can cause deaths. Those are the key issues that we get,” he explained.

He said as part of efforts to reduce maternal mortality, Specialist Doctors of the hospital have been dispatched to the various health facilities to support them in managing pregnant women, to reduce incidents of late pregnancy complications.

Prof Abdul-Mumin said the TTH needs partnership with partners to ensure the initiative does not become “a nine-day wonder”.

He added that the hospital has also worked on some broken-down equipment at the Maternal Intensive Care Unit while training more specialist doctors to help improve maternal health care in the hospital.

Speaking on some of the challenges that hindered effective healthcare delivery at TTH, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Atik Adam said the current water and power crisis that has hit Tamale is significantly affecting the operations of the hospital.

He appealed to the utility service providers to work to improve the situation.

Dr. Atik said despite the challenges, the hospital has continued to procure modern equipment, expand its Pediatric Unit and embarked on outreach programs to offer free services to people within its catchment area.

He said he was confident that the hospital would continue to deliver the best services to achieve its target of becoming a centre of excellence in health service delivery in the country.

The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John said the John Mahama government will implement initiatives to provide affordable and quality health care services.

He said the government remained committed to making health accessible to all Ghanaians.

He said “The government of HE John Mahama remains committed to making health accessible to all Ghanaians. I assure you that this administration will continue implementing initiatives in the health care sector to provide quality health care at affordable cost.”

There's no VAT collection on third-party motor insurance in Ghana – Okyere Baafi

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Video | There’s no VAT collection on third party motor insurance in Ghana – Baafi sets record straight

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You should resign – Charles Taylor blasts Fatau Dauda for dropping ex-West Ham goalie

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Former Black Stars player Charles Taylor has criticized Black Stars goalkeeper trainer Fatau Dauda over the perceived poor treatment of former West Ham United goalkeeper Joseph Anang.

Taylor accused Dauda of placing Anang on the Black Stars’ standby list without giving him an opportunity when a spot became available.

Speaking on Angel TV, he acknowledged Hearts of Oak’s Benjamin Asare’s call-up but argued that Anang’s continued exclusion suggests the technical team does not prioritize young talent.

“After seeing the three goalkeepers, I think Fatau Dauda should resign. Football has changed. Teams prioritize quality over names. I advocated for Benjamin Asare to be included in the squad, but why not consider Joseph Anang? We have young players who should be our priority,” he said.

“Fatau Dauda invited him to be on standby, and that was it. This is why our players choose to naturalize for other countries, even smaller ones. You keep selecting players who have contributed nothing. If this continues, our football will keep declining,” he added.

The Ghana Premier League legend further claimed that Fatau Dauda has no real authority over goalkeeper selection despite holding the goalkeeper trainer position.

“Now we know that Fatau Dauda is only a goalkeeper trainer and does not decide who gets called up.”

Joseph Anang was born and raised in Ghana before moving to England to continue his youth career at West Ham United. he currently plays for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick’s Athletic.

This season, he has played 13 games in all competitions, keeping six clean sheets, with half of them in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Watch the video of Charles Taylor lashing out at Fatau Dauda below:

EE/EK

Meanwhile, watch Black Stars’ first training session ahead of Chad game

How BBC reported Anas defamation suit victory over Ken Agyapong

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A US court awarded Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18m (£14m) in damages, after a jury said he was defamed by former Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong.

The case stems from comments Agyapong made about Anas after his BBC investigation in 2018 that exposed football corruption in Ghana and elsewhere.

The court heard that Agyapong, among other accusations made on a podcast, had called the reporter a “criminal” and alleged he was behind the murder of fellow journalist Ahmed Suale

Anas lost a similar legal action in Ghana seven years ago. But after the release of the podcast episode in 2021 Anas went to court in the US state of New Jersey where Agyapong has a property.

The politician was in New Jersey when he was interviewed for the Daddy Fred Show podcast, according to court papers filed by his lawyers.

Last week’s initial verdict was confirmed on Tuesday. The $18m in damages was the result of a unanimous decision by an eight-member jury in Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey, finding Agyapong liable for defamation.

The figure included $8m in punitive damages.

“Justice has prevailed. This victory is not just for me, but for truth, press freedom, and every journalist who risks everything to expose corruption and wrongdoing,” Anas said in response.

“No amount of intimidation or falsehood will silence the pursuit of accountability even in the face of assassination. Our work continues, undeterred and unafraid.”

The journalist, who has won multiple international awards for his reporting, has vowed to continue fighting corruption and holding wrongdoers accountable.

Agyapong’s lawyers had unsuccessfully argued that the case should not have been brought in the US in the first place. They also said that the comments made on the podcast were the kinds of things other courts had described as hyperbole and opinion and were not subject to a defamation case.

Meanwhile, police in Ghana have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Anas’ colleague, Ahmed Hussein Suale, who was killed in 2019.

The suspect allegedly shared pictures of the undercover journalist with a popular Ghanaian politician before his death.

The death of Ahmed was also linked to a football corruption exposé.

The investigation sought to expose corruption in African football and was reported by BBC Africa Eye.

Castro Was Alive When Adepa was Born But We Were No Longer Friends – Mzbel Reacts to Rumors of Castro Fathering Her Son Adepa

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Veteran Ghanaian hiplife star, Belinda Nana Ekua Amoah aka Mzbel, has reacted to rumors started by her former friend, Afia Schwarzenegger, that Castro is the father of her son, Adepa.

According to Mzbel, although Castro was once her friend, and was alive at the time her son was born, he was not her son’s father. She said by the time of Adepa’s birth she hadn’t been friends with Castro for six years.

Mzbel said she was previously in the same clique with Castro as they were both musicians however as time went on, the friendship broke down.

Castro went missing in July 2014 during a holiday trip to Ada. Mzbel said he was alive when Adepa was born but by then they hadn’t been friends for years.

Despite all the rumors, Mzbel refused to reveal the identity of her son’s actual father.

According to her, she has yet to see anyone who revealed their relationship on social media benefiting from it.

Mzbel said right now if she and her son’s father breaks up, no one will know anything to even talk about it. However, once his identity is known, Ghanaians would put their noses into her business and she doesn’t want that.

Watch below…

President Mahama begins northern regions tour tomorrow on Thursday

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President John Mahama will this week visit the Upper East, North East and Northern regions to thank the chiefs and people for his resounding victory in the December 7, 2024 election.

The President is expected to address separate durbars of chiefs and people in the three regions, during which he will express gratitude for the trust in his vision for the country which translated into the massive votes for the National Democratic Congress.

He will announce priority projects to be considered this year as part of a broad agenda to reset Ghana’s economy to improve the lives of the people.

He is expected to visit Bolgatanga on Thursday, March 20, 2025; Nalerigu on Friday, March 21, 2025 and Tamale on Saturday, March 22, 2025.

The President’s Thank You Tour has already taken him to the Volta, Western and Central regions of the country.

The tour aims to show appreciation for the support received during the elections and to outline the government’s plans for the future.