Today, SFFILM announced the full lineup for the 65th annual San Francisco International Film Festival, the longest running film festival in the Americas. This year the Festival will make its return to theaters in person, featuring more than 130 films from 56 countries, including 16 World and 10 North American premieres, along with many SFFILM-supported titles. Of the films selected for the Festival, 56% are helmed by female or non-binary filmmakers and 52% are directed by BIPOC filmmakers. The Festival will also celebrate cinematic icon Michelle Yeoh with a special tribute to be presented by critically acclaimed actor Sandra Oh. The 2022 Festival will run April 21–May 1, with tickets on sale now at sffilm.org.
Michelle Yeoh was recently hailed by New York Times film critic A.O. Scott as “one of the great international movie stars of the past quarter-century.” Her tribute will be an intimate conversation with Emmy Award-nominated actress Sandra Oh, about her prestigious and extensive career that will take place at the Castro Theatre on Friday, April 29 at 6:00 pm. The Tribute to Michelle is preceded by a special screening of Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 35 mm at the Castro on Monday, April 25.“Michelle Yeoh is a global icon, an indelible screen presence who grounds every frame she inhabits with authenticity and explosive talent,” says SFFILM Director of Programming Jessie Fairbanks. “We are thrilled the extraordinary Sandra Oh will host Michelle in conversation to discuss Michelle’s creative body of work, shifting gears between genres and storytelling mediums, and much, much more.” The Tribute to Michelle Yeoh joins the previously announced Tribute to Jenny Slate, both highlights at the 2022 Festival. Previous festival tributes include Jackie Chan, Claire Denis, Clint Eastwood, Akira Kurosawa, and Charlize Theron.The 65th SFFILM Festival celebrates the global art and craft of film in San Francisco and the East Bay. “This year’s SFFILM Festival program synchronizes the star power of international cinema with the depth and breadth of work from around the world. Our belief in this intrinsic power of film, as well as its ability to bring us closer with each other and our own humanity, fuels both the Festival and our year-round education and filmmaker residency programs,” says SFFILM Executive Director Anne Lai. “I am delighted to return to theaters with our audiences to watch wildly imaginative films that reignite the wonder of movies.”Curated by a collective of festival programmers, the lineup includes Spotlights and jury competitions including Bay Area Voices, Cine Latino, Global Visions, SFFILM Supported, and the Golden Gate Awards with cash prizes. There are 14 Bay Area specific stories, with seven films receiving financial and professional support through SFFILM Makers, the artist development program of SFFILM. The full lineup is below.SFFILM appreciates the support of returning and continued sponsors, Apple Original Films, First Republic Bank, Dolby Laboratories Inc., Prime Group, Square, VMG Parters, National Geographic and Showtime. We also welcome new sponsors JP Morgan Chase, Disney+, Kbean, and Fandor.“We are elated to announce the full lineup for the 65th iteration of our flagship festival. The program starts with the North American premiere of an SFFILM-supported project, is anchored in vibrant international and independent content, showcases innovative Latinx films and ambitious local stories, features can’t-miss Shorts and Mid-Length programs, and culminates with a day of encore awards screenings,” says Fairbanks. “We look forward to 11 days of bold, imaginative, and unexpected films, industry meetings, conferences, festival talks, virtual events, and parties across the beautiful Bay Area.”
The Black Stars of Ghana beat Nigeria on the away goal rule after a 1-1 aggregate scoreline in their FIFA World Cup qualifier playoff to book their spot in Qatar.
Fans invading the pitch after the end of the game to attack the Super Eagles Players, the Black Stars players and Ghanaian supporters following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup meant there was no post-match press conference as a way of managing the situation.
However, JoySports’ George Addo Junior exclusively spoke to the head coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo, and this is every word he said.
On his assessment of the game
“I am really delighted and exhausted because it was a tough match. We fought our way through. We had big problems, especially in the first half, then we did some changes and the players adapted very well.”
On the performance of Nigeria
“In all the Nigerians were better, I feel a bit pity for them but this is football sometimes and we fought our way through. The referee was against us somehow.”
On Ghana’s defensive display
“They [Nigeria] had some good chances but our goalkeeper [Joojo Wollacott] was there when we needed him. The defending was outstanding and we had a little bit of luck also because we concede chances.”
On the work involved for the qualification
“Thank you to Kurt Okraku for giving me this opportunity. Also to the backroom, who are always supporting me. Milovan Rajevac and C.K Akonnor all belong to this [qualifying to the WC] We did this together and for the players who are not here.”
On the support received in Kumasi
“Thank you very much to the Kumasi fans. Kumasi I love you.”
The Black Stars of Ghana beat Nigeria on the away goal rule after a 1-1 aggregate scoreline in their FIFA World Cup qualifier playoff to book their spot in Qatar.
Fans invading the pitch after the end of the game to attack the Super Eagles Players, the Black Stars players and Ghanaian supporters following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup meant there was no post-match press conference as a way of managing the situation.
However, JoySports’ George Addo Junior exclusively spoke to the head coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo, and this is every word he said.
On his assessment of the game
“I am really delighted and exhausted because it was a tough match. We fought our way through. We had big problems, especially in the first half, then we did some changes and the players adapted very well.”
On the performance of Nigeria
“In all the Nigerians were better, I feel a bit pity for them but this is football sometimes and we fought our way through. The referee was against us somehow.”
On Ghana’s defensive display
“They [Nigeria] had some good chances but our goalkeeper [Joojo Wollacott] was there when we needed him. The defending was outstanding and we had a little bit of luck also because we concede chances.”
On the work involved for the qualification
“Thank you to Kurt Okraku for giving me this opportunity. Also to the backroom, who are always supporting me. Milovan Rajevac and C.K Akonnor all belong to this [qualifying to the WC] We did this together and for the players who are not here.”
On the support received in Kumasi
“Thank you very much to the Kumasi fans. Kumasi I love you.”
Today, the Finance Minister was in Parliament to push for the Bill’s passage a day to President Akufo-Addo’s State of The Nation Address.
From the onset, the Minority had accused the Majority Caucus of smuggling into the Order Paper the consideration of the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy).
According to the Tamale South MP, E-levy was not enlisted in Parliament’s business statement for this week.
But Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei-Asare, urged Members of Parliament to join hands in passing the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) Bill to enhance the country’s economic recovery process.
According to her, Ghanaians have already accepted the tax revenue measure and expect its passage.
But after a 30-minute break, the Minority Leader announced that his side will have nothing to do with the Bill.
He maintained that the outcome will bring untold hardship to the populace. On that note, he led the NDC MPs to vacate the chamber.
After this development, the House, despite the Minority’s absence embarked on a speedy consideration and amendment of a few changes in the bill following which the motion was moved to accept it.
In a voice vote, the Minority sided Parliament admitted the E-Levy Bill.
Speaker, Alban Bagbin adjourned the sitting to tomorrow, March 30, 2022.
“Honourable members, the Electronic Transfer Levy Bill 2021 duly read the third time and
The Russia and Ukraine war keeps impacting global food supply chains and Ghana’s major export earner, cocoa, is not left out.
Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahen Aidoo, says the situation has skyrocketed fertiliser prices, making it next to impossible to import the needed ingredients for cocoa cultivation.
Speaking to a newly constituted management committee, the Chief Executive of COCOBOD called for an emergency national strategy for cocoa farmers, saying, the acute shortage of fertilisers will last for the next two years.
“The coming years will be very difficult for us as a sector, and for our farmers because the war in Ukraine has come to compound the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic to the extent that the basic ingredients needed in producing fertilisers and other chemicals are going to be difficult to come by. We have to brace ourselves for the coming years and expect that the price of fertiliser will not be the same – even getting the fertiliser will be a challenge,” he revealed.
But COCOBOD has resolved to avert any impact this development could have on the cocoa production for the 2021/2022 cocoa crop season.
The COCOBOD CEO thus called for a national crop strategy that will see to the prioritisation of massive local production of fertiliser inputs to make for the acute shortage of fertilisers.
“It will mean that the management committee will have to come up with a strategic direction for our cocoa farmers. This is to ensure our production target is not affected,” he added.
COCOBOD inaugurated a three-member special committee including the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), the Seed Production Division (SPD) and the Cocoa Health and Extension Division, all set up to facilitate the research and development of cocoa production.
COCOBOD dismisses reports of not accounting for $1.3 billion syndicated loan
Meanwhile, COCOBOD has dismissed media reports that it’s unable to account for $1.3 billion syndicated loan.
In a statement, it said it has drawn down $1.15 billion out of the $1.3 billion facility procured for the 2021/2022, which has gone into financing the purchase of cocoa and other industry costs.
“Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has taken notice of a news story that a Member of Parliament has accused the government and COCOBOD of not accounting for a $1.3 billion syndicated loan for the 2020/2021 crop season”.
“Contrary to the assertions of the MP for Juabeso, Kwabena M. Akandoh, COCOBOD has met all its statutory requirements and agreements with its financial partners in accounting for the syndicated loan for the 2020/2021 which closed in September 2021”, the statement further pointed out.
“Information about payments to LBCs (Licensed Buying Companies) can be verified from the
LBCs and COCOBOD, to avoid putting out false information”, it added.”
Trace William Cowen is a writer who also tweets with dramatic irregularity here.Mar 28, 2022
Image via Getty/ROBYN BECK/AFP
Chris Rock isn’t pressing charges in connection with a Will Smith-delivered slap that will likely be the subject of a weeks-long discourse following Sunday night’s Oscarsceremony.
That’s the latest as of Monday morning, with studious Oscars fans and casual viewers alike still dissecting the viral moment at the 94thAcademy Awards, during which Smith also won Best Actor for King Richard.
In a statement to ABC, the network behind the Oscars broadcast, a rep for the Los Angeles Police Department addressed what they described as an “incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program.” Per the statement, it’s stated that the “individual involved” has decided to file a police report.
“LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program,” the rep said. “The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved part desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.”
The Biden administration will be giving elderly Americans a second Covid-19 booster shot, multiple people familiar with the plan told The New York Times.
Those above the age of 50 will be able to get a second booster of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.
However, multiple issues complicate the plan as the administration has to calculate when the next Covid-19 wave could hit the U.S., sources told the Times.
The administration will want to get the second booster to the elderly before another wave hits, but not too far before that protection could wane.
Other complications include how to explain the plan to the public and how long the second booster’s protection will remain strong, the Times noted.
White House adviser Anthony Fauci said last week that COVID-19 cases could begin increasing in the coming weeks.
“I would not be surprised if in the next few weeks we see somewhat of either a flattening of our diminution or maybe even an increase,” Fauci said on the ABC News podcast “Start Here.”
However, it is unclear how dangerous this wave could be compared to past increases as the BA.2 variant begins to become the dominant strand in the U.S.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
The UK sanctioned Polina Kovaleva, stepdaughter of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who owns a luxury £4 million ($5 million) property in London.
The announcement confirms reporting by Maria Pevchikh, an investigator at jailed Russian opposition leader Alexander Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation.
Kovaleva, 26, owns a lavish apartment in Kensington, one of the most expensive parts of London.
Per Pevchikh, she is reportedly the daughter of Svetlana Polyakova, 51, Lavrov’s longterm partner. UK property records show that Kovaleva bought the Kensington property with no mortgage in 2016, aged 21.
The UK Foreign Office said its sanctioning “sends a strong signal that those benefiting from association of those responsible for Russian aggression are in scope of our sanctions.”
The sanctions mean that Kovaleva’s assets in the UK have been frozen, and she is banned from travelling to the UK.
UK lawmakers had called for Kovaleva to be sanctioned ahead of the announcement, reported The Guardian.
Lavrov is a longtime member of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, and has fiercely defended Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. He has already been sanctioned by the US and other Western countries.
Sanctioning the children and other family members of top Russian officials has been a striking feature of the response to the war in Ukraine, apparently designed to make sure the measures take a personal toll on decision-makers. They may also be meant to stop sanctions evasion by allowing people to access assets held by family members.
A Political Scientist at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has urged government to consider a review of its flagship Free SHS policy, by allowing those who can pay to do so.
The suggestion by the lecturer was in reaction to the measures by government to address the current economic difficulties in the country.
Speaking in an interview with Raymond Acquah on UpFront on Thursday, Professor Gyampo stated that, even though he’s pleased with some of the austerity measures, which were announced by the Finance Minister on Thursday, he believes that there is more that could have been done.
In this regard, he stated that, the Free SHS policy is one of such initiatives which should have been modified to lessen the burden on government’s treasury.
“Several proposals have been made, but government may want to still stick to its Free SHS project. But why won’t you allow those people who can pay to pay? And then also, if that is not the case, why won’t we limit the Free SHS to only day students? So everybody gets Free SHS but those who want to lodge there, who want to enjoy boarding facilities, to pay for those boarding and lodging.
I think these would help to ease the pressure on our public purse. And I was hoping that this will feature in the measures that were proposed. But it appears
government cannot do it all, but at the same time, it is refusing to accept help from people who genuinely want to help to make sure that the system is improved”, Professor Gyampo said.
Derrick Sarfo Kantanka, known by the stage name Amerado, says he will be disappointed if he does not win the award for best rap performance at this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
However he mentioned that amongst all the categories he was nominated for, he has eyes the best rap performance category after he missed out on that award last year to Eno.
Speaking on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty on Hitz FM, he said “of course, I am human if I don’t win, I will be disappointed.”https://www.youtube.com/embed/6_cAOq6TizU?feature=oembed
Nevertheless, the rapper expressed his appreciation to the award scheme for his nomination.
The “Abotrɛ” hitmaker also voiced out his excitement for his growth and consistency in the music industry. Especially for being nominated in the Best Rap Performance category for the second time in a row.
He also spoke about the reason why he didn’t win it the first time he got the nomination in 2021.
“Last year was my first time, one thing is I’m very happy about my consistency and I have been very active in the game for the past two years and I am so happy for being nominated in the best rap performance category”
Amerado, who gained a nomination in the Best Rap Performance category for his song “Best Rapper” at the 22nd edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, gained another nomination in the same category for his song “The Throne”,
It was released in 2021 as reply to a “diss” song aimed at him by his colleague rapper, Obibini, who was also nominated.
He revealed that his aim is to always make it to the ‘Best Rap Performance’ category.
“I was so happy to be nominated in that category simply because that is one of the categories that I always aim to be nominated for even if I don’t win,” he told Andy Dosty on Thursday.
Justin Bieber filed to dismiss the defamation lawsuit he had lodged against two anonymous women who accused him of sexual assault.
The “Peaches” singer, 28, asked a Los Angeles judge last Friday to dismiss the case, Rolling Stone reported Tuesday.
A source told TMZ that Bieber decided to drop the suit because he felt he had made his point and wanted to move forward.
The Grammy winner sued two Jane Does for $20 million — $10 million each — in June 2020, shortly after they claimed on Twitter that he had sexually assaulted them in 2014 and 2015.
Bieber vehemently denied their claims, stating in court documents at the time that he had “indisputable documentary evidence” that proved the accusations to be “outrageous, fabricated lies.”
The Drew House founder also alleged in his suit that he believed the two accusers were working together to damage his reputation or that they could potentially be one person operating multiple Twitter accounts.
Engage Now Africa (ENA), a non-profit organisation in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and the Ghana Police Service has rescued five trafficked children at John Teye in the Greater Accra Region.
According to Engage Now Africa, the children were trafficked all the way from Berekum in the Bono Region, with the deception of enrolling them in school.
The Director of End Modern Slavery (EMS) Afasi Komla, who made this known during a media engagement at the sideline of the rescue at John Teye, noted that after reaching their destination the trafficker failed to fulfill her promise and rather engaged them in tedious works such as selling sachet water on the streets.
“While some organisations, such as Engage Now Africa, are working to eliminate modern slavery, some individuals continue to accept it as the norm in their local communities, oblivious to its dangers,” he expressed worry.
Mr Afasi Komla who also doubles as the Director of Operations of Engage Now Africa (ENA) said upon a tip-off given to them by one of their representatives at John Teye, they collaborated with other security agencies to rescue the victims.
Also, we got a tip-off that there were additional three children with the trafficker and so far one of them has been identified.
He said after the rescue, his outfit has provided the victims with Sustainable Livelihood Support and also ensured that they were enrolled in various schools and training centers of their choice.
Mr Afasi Komla however seized the opportunity to appeal to parents to desist from entrusting their wards into the hands of strangers without knowing their intention of coming for them.
Madam Lydia Ohenewa who is responsible for the Victim and Survives Assessment Manager defined child labor as work that is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful to children.
This she said, such menace has a negative impact on the children since it deprives them of the opportunity of schooling, either by obliging them to leave school prematurely or by requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.
People may be considered trafficking victims regardless of whether they were born into a state of servitude or were exploited in their hometown. Adding that, most of the victims are trafficked by their family members.
Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and the Ghana Police Service in Suhum, on the other hand, promised to look into the matter carefully in order to avoid recurrence of such incidents.
FanMilk PLC is again thrilling consumers’ taste buds with the introduction of the FanIce strawberry flavour in a bigger pouch size. This is the latest addition to the heritage FanIce brand.
The launch comes after the successful introduction of limited-edition tubs under the Art of Freedom Campaign in December 2021. The New FanIce Strawberry flavour in the pouch follows the “Freedom” design and architecture, with the true embodiment of the Ghanaian exuding artistic freedom celebrating what freedom means to them.
To officially launch the FanIce Strawberry, sensational Ghanaian Afropop/R&B artist, Raphael Camidoh Kofi Attachie, popularly known as Camidoh surprised and engaged employees at the FanMilk Head Office
In his comment, Samuel Dery, Marketing Director for FanMilk PLC stated, “We are happy about the excitement we have created around the brand with the introduction of the limited-edition “Freedom” design which we have adopted for our FanIce Range. I am particularly happy as a business we continue to innovate in line with our consumer needs which is today the Launch of FanIce Strawberry in a Bigger Pouch with the Freedom design. To our consumers, look forward to more exciting offerings to indulge everywhere and anywhere as we celebrate with you, all that we hold dear as a country”. FanIce “Still So Nice”
FanIce is also available in a bigger vanilla pouch size with the new Freedom design.
Grab your FanIce Strawberry and Vanilla pouches now available in shops, supermarkets and from mobile vendors in major cities across the country.
Enjoy the FanIce Vanilla 145ml at GHC1.50, and the new Strawberry &Vanilla 180ml at GHC2.00
Follow FanIce on all social media platform for more information:
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor says there is a strong need for the country’s youth to be trained to have the spirits of service and humanity.
He says elders in various communities must ensure young people are imbued with these spirits, right from the home for the betterment of the country.
The former president was speaking when students from the University of Columbia Business School, USA and some Kufuor Scholars paid a courtesy call on him at his residence.
The students from USA are in Ghana to learn about the country’s cocoa sector and the history around it.
Asked what he would do differently if he had the chance to become president again, Mr Agyekum Kufuor said he is not interested in being president again but advised that anyone that gets the opportunity to lead must stick to the basic principles of service and humanity.
“The basic principles I don’t think should change, it’s all got to do with humanity, bettering the lot of mankind across board,” he said.
“Our decisions as leaders or politicians at the top must have a positive impact at the bottom; it should be to better the interest of the people always” the former president added.
He cautioned leaders against over reliance on technology when it comes to decision making in this era of artificial intelligence.
“We are already talking about artificial intelligence; we do not want to put people in a situation where decisions are made without human feeling and human touch. So, when you get the chance know that you’re there to serve people, human beings,” President Kufuor advised.
Chair of the Management Division at the University of Columbia Business School, Prof. Stephen Meier who is expressed his excitement at the opportunity for his team to engage the former president and Kufuor Scholars. “We have learnt a lot and I hope this collaboration will open more opportunities for our students” he said.
Founder of the Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa Foundation Ambassador Johanna Svanikier who escorted the foreign delegation thanked the president for helping promote African heritage and culture for social and economic progress. “We are excited to partner the John A. Kufuor Foundation,” she said.
Chief Executive Officer of the John A. Kufuor Foundation, Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah explained to the US delegation that the Kufuor Scholars Program (KSP) is a leadership and mentorship program for young people in Ghanaian Universities.
It aims to add value to the formal education they get at the tertiary level by providing specialized orientation through programmed mentorship, skills development, and experiential activities. The program has the objective of producing leaders imbued with a strong sense of patriotism.
“The program started in 2015 and seeks to empower them with ethical problem-solving skills,” he said.
Ms. Abigal Yayra Asafo and Mr. Patrick.A. Akubilla who are both Kufuor Scholars expressed their excitement at the opportunity to engage colleagues from other parts of the world.
“This meeting has been an eye opening one; having a conversation with students from University of Columbia Business School, USA and exchanging ideas and networking is a good move,” one of them said.
Dmytro Gurin, a member of the Ukrainian parliament who is from Mariupol, tells me he believes Russia is trying to starve the city to force its surrender.
Ukraine has rejected a Russian deadline for its forces to stop fighting in the besieged port city, saying there could be no question of soldiers laying down their arms. Gurin has said the city, where an estimated 300,000 people are trapped, will not surrender.
“Russians don’t open humanitarian corridors, they don’t let humanitarian convoys enter the city,” he says.
“We clearly see now that the goal of the Russians is to start to [create] hunger [in the city] to enforce their position in the diplomatic process, and if the city does not surrender, and the city will not surrender, they won’t let people out.”
Gurin says teams are still unable to clean through the rubble of a theatre which Ukrainian officials say was bombed by Russia last Wednesday. Hundreds of people are believed to remain trapped in the basement, which withstood the attack. Moscow denies targeting the building.
“The services cannot clean this rubble because the shelling never stops and bombing never stops. It’s really dangerous,” he says.
Gurin could not give an estimate on how many people had managed to flee the area as “we don’t have connection with Mariupol”.
President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has urged women to take bold decisions to reach greater heights in their careers.
Dr. Wiafe Addai noted that women are also qualified to hold and excel in key positions.
She said this at an event at Bompata, a farming community in the Asante Akyem South District in the Ashanti Region. The event provided the opportunity for free breast cancer screening for women.
She cited former Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, former Speaker of Parliament, Joyce Bamford-Addo as women who occupied and excelled in key positions in the country. She did not leave out current Chief of Staff, Akosua Fremah Opare.
“There are a lot of women who have potential like those mentioned above that can be of great benefit to the country, but realizing and taking bold decisions towards their dreams to materialize is the major challenge that confronts them,” she added.
Dr. Wiafe Addai entreated women to believe in their God-given potentials, and work towards realising them.
“Let’s believe in ourselves. Let’s have the spirit of ‘I can do it’ and let’s boldly grab opportunities that come our ways.”
On his part, Country Director for The Hunger Project Ghana, Samuel Afrane said his team will continue to build sustainable community programmes to improve the lives of women in the rural areas.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has called on government to immediately review the country’s Covid-19 PCR testing at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
According to him, a personal experience has proven that the current measure is an “inconvenience, a financial burden and unfair.”
In a Facebook post, Mr. Mahama revealed that when he traveled to London last month, he was not required to take a Covid-19 PCR test before boarding the British Airways flight.
However, retuning home, he was informed by the airline that he would have to take a PCR test before boarding the flight as a requirement.
He said; “It cost £90 to have the test done. I was also informed that I would not be checked in for the flight back unless I filled an online form and paid a fee of $50,” adding that international arrivals, who are vaccinated “must book another $50 PCR test to be conducted on arrival in Accra.”
He described these measures as “ridiculous.”https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJDMahama%2Fposts%2F513523240129413&show_text=true&width=500
For the former President, it must not be the case that Ghanaians who have valid vaccination certificates cannot board flights back home without a £90 PCR test, and an additional US$50 PCR test booking in Accra, particularly when the UK government considers the Ghanaian Covid-19 vaccination card internationally accepted and allows entry without any testing.
Mr John Mahama, therefore, stressed that; “Government must stop the US$50 compulsory PCR test for travellers who have been vaccinated.”
He also urged government to “stop the demand for PCR tests before the same category of travellers are allowed to board flights to Ghana.”
The former President believes that it is time Ghana rolls back its Covid-19 restrictions as seen in the UK due to the reduction in deaths and severe cases requiring intensive care.
Find the current Covid-19 guidelines at KIA below:
COVID-19 Guidelines for Kotoka International Airport (KIA): Revision 8
1. Pre- Arrival Processes – Travellers intending to enter Ghana
All international passengers including those from the ECOWAS region, intending to fly to Ghana, will be required to meet the following health requirements prior to admission into Ghana:
c. Passengers are advised to visit only a TT laboratory. If there are none close to you, take your test at another accredited lab on the PanaBIOS or Global Haven labs registry.
d. If you take your test at a TT lab, give lab the same email address used to open your account, the result will be automatically delivered to your account bearing a TT code.
e. Ensure that the test is conducted within 72 hours before the scheduled departure time from the country of origin.
f. If you do not visit a TT lab, upload your test result or certificate by choosing the “test taken at a non-TT lab option”.
g. The result/certificate will be immediately analysed. If the test results issued satisfy the full requirements set by Ghana, e,g validity period or test type), a Travel Code (TC) will be issued to the traveller online and the result displayed in a few minutes as evidence that the test performed is still valid at the time of travel.
Whilst the TT code confirms that a test was performed by an accredited laboratory, the TC provides additional evidence that the test performed is still valid at the time of start of travel.
a. All persons 18 years and above arriving in Ghana will be required to provide evidence of full vaccination for a COVID-19 vaccine at the point of embarkation.
Definition of Fully Vaccinated: A person is said to be fully vaccinated when:
i. He/she has taken the full dose(s) of vaccines approved and registered by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana.
ii. He/she has taken the full dose(s) of vaccines that are on World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing.
However, persons who are vaccinated with vaccines on WHO Emergency Use Listing but not registered by FDA, Ghana for Emergency Use Authorization will be offered one of the FDA, Ghana approved vaccines on arrival at the airport.
b. All unvaccinated Ghanaians and residents of Ghana who are currently outside the country and intend to return within 14 days from 0000HRS of 14th December 2021 are exempted (14th – 28th December 2021). They would, however, be vaccinated on arrival at the airport.
c. Airlines that bring passengers to Kotoka International Airport who are not fully vaccinated shall be surcharged $3500 per passenger.
d. All passengers are required to present evidence of having filled Ghana’s Health Declaration Form (HDF) at http://www.ghs-hdf.org at the point of embarkation.
e. Airlines that bring passengers to Kotoka International Airport who had not filled HDF shall be surcharged $3500 per passenger.
f. Passengers must not have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 including body temperature >38°C.
g. Passengers must possess a COVID-19 negative PCR test from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin. The test should have been done not more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure time from the country of origin.
h. Airlines who board passengers without PCR test result or transport and disembark passengers with Positive PCR test result into Accra will be fined US$3,500 per passenger.
i. Non-Ghanaians may be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a cost to the Airline.
ii. Ghanaians will be allowed entry but subject to 14 days of mandatory quarantine at a designated facility.
i. Arriving passengers will undergo temperature screening.
j. Ghanaian residents who depart Ghana and return within one (1) week will not be required to present a COVID-19 result from the country of departure. They will, however, undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing upon arrival in Ghana.
k. Passengers will be subjected to a mandatory COVID-19 test at the airport terminal at a cost to be borne by the passenger as indicated below:
l. Airlines who board passengers without proof of payment for the COVID-19 test and would/could NOT pay for the test in Ghana, will be fined US$3,500 per passenger.
i. Non-Ghanaian passengers may be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a cost to the Airline.
m. All arriving passengers who test positive for COVID-19 will undergo mandatory isolation and treatment at a designated health facility or isolation centre, at a cost to passengers, EXCEPT Ghanaian citizens. The isolation will be for a period of seven (7) days. However, the final discharge of cases will be based on existing case management guidelines and protocols.
n. All passengers who test negative for COVID-19 will be required to continuously adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols and will receive regular information on COVID-19 within five (5) days of arrival in Ghana.
o. Passengers who test negative will be advised to continue to observe COVID-19 safety precautions following arrival in Ghana.
p. For passengers who transit through other countries before arriving in Ghana, the first country of departure will be the reference point. (Connecting flights should not deny passenger boarding, if the journey has not been terminated in any of the transit countries.)
3. Transit Passengers
a. Passengers transiting and transferring through Accra will not be required to take the COVID-19 test in Accra.
b. Transit passengers will be required to adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements for the destination countries.
4. Exemptions
a. Airline crew are exempted from the pre-departure and arrival COVID-19 testing and should follow the Airline policy for testing.
b. Children under 5 years of age will not be required to undergo testing on Arrival at the Kotoka International Airport.
c. Children between the ages of 5-12 years will be tested free of charge upon arrival at KIA.
d. Passengers who arrive under emergency circumstances such as diverted flights will not be required to undergo testing if they do not leave the airport or remain in isolation in their hotel.
5. Travelling with Pets
a. Travelling with pets into Ghana is allowed in line with guidelines of the Veterinary Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food & Agriculture
6. Airlines with Landing Rights in Ghana
a. No airline should bring passengers into Ghana without first pre-validating their TT code (received from a TT lab) or TC issued online after a genuine PCR test result has been uploaded and analyzed using the PanaBIOS or Global Haven software.
b. Airlines must issue TCs on behalf of illiterate travelers who arrive at check-in with only their genuine PCR test results.
c. Airlines that fail to comply with these rules would be surcharged $3500.
7. Pre-Departure Process- Passengers intending to exit Ghana
All international departing passengers will be required to meet the following guidelines prior to departure:
a. Create an account on the AU-endorsed site: https://trustedtravel.panabios.org. On the check-in page, check for accredited laboratories by entering Ghana as your origin country.
b. Passengers are advised to visit only laboratories that have the Trusted Travel (TT) logo next to their name on the platform to take their PCR test.
c. At the laboratory, give the same email address and mobile number you entered when creating your PanaBIOS account.
d. Once your result is ready, it will automatically appear in the account with the TT number issued by the lab. Look out for an email from admin@panabios.org or an SMS message.
e. The Trusted Travel test (TT) code shall be verified by airlines and Port Health Authorities to confirm that the test came from an accredited laboratory.
8. Departure Process – Passengers exiting Ghana
a. All Ghanaians 18 years old and above travelling out of the country are to be fully vaccinated effective 0000HRS of 14th December 2021.
Definition of Fully Vaccinated – A person is said to be fully vaccinated when:
i. He/she has taken the full dose(s) of vaccines approved and registered by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana.
ii. He/she has taken the full dose(s) of vaccines that are on World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing.
b. Passengers will be required to adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements for the destination countries
c. Departing passengers will undergo temperature screening at the entrance of Terminal 3 departures
d. Only passengers and persons with business in the terminal will be allowed entry
e. Online check-in or the use of self-service kiosks is strongly encouraged to reduce physical contact at the airport
f. Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure time.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has refuted claims that President Akufo-Addo has delayed in delivering the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Speaking on the floor of the House on Friday, he stated that the Speaker and leadership in Parliament are yet to agree on a date for the President to come and deliver the SONA.
The said date, he noted will be communicated to the President accordingly.
President Akufo-Addo was to deliver the 2022 SONA on Thursday, March 3, 2022, but the Business Committee in Parliament said the address had to be postponed.
Mr Afenyo-Markin then noted that a new date would be communicated soon.
According to the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, President Akufo-Addo’s delay in delivering the 2022 SONA stalled stakeholder engagements on the 2021 Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.
“We should have finished this but for the fact that we thought the President will deliver the State of the Nation Address earlier and once a message of the state of the nation is delivered, then we will have to debate that particular message and during the debate, it would not be possible for us to be having frequent committee meetings,” he told JoyNews.
Meanwhile, Mr Afenyo-Markin says the proposed Electronic Transaction levy (E-levy) Bill remains tabled as a government policy and will be presented for approval when government is ready.
“The E-levy is a Bill before the Business Committee. Anytime there is a need for us to look at it, you will be given notice. E-levy is on the table. It is a property of this House. It is with us. Mr Speaker, you and I know that we are engaging,” he added.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has made an impassioned plea to Russian troops in Ukraine, telling them he does not want to see them be “broken” like his father who fought for the Nazis in the Second World War.
In a video message, the 74-year-old spoke of his “affections and respect” for the Russian people ever since meeting his hero bodybuilder Yuri Petrovich Vlasov when he was 14-years-old.
But he said there are “moments like this that are so wrong and then we have to speak up”.
Addressing Russian troops who have invaded Ukraine, he warned them that “every bullet you shoot, you shoot a brother or sister”.
And he urged them to learn from the plight of his Austrian father, who was sent to Russia while fighting for the Nazis during the Second World War.https://www.youtube.com/embed/EDeIHTwwU8s
He said: “When my father arrived in Leningrad, he was all pumped up on the lies of his government.
“When he left Leningrad he was broken physically and mentally. He lived the rest of his life in pain. I don’t want you to be broken like my father.
“This is not the war to defend Russia that your grandfathers or great-grandfathers fought. This is an illegal war.”
Schwarzenegger said the Kremlin had lied to its citizens and its soldiers, referencing the claims that Russia was trying to “denazify” Ukraine.
He added: “Denazify Ukraine? This is not true. Ukraine is a country with a Jewish president. A Jewish president, I might add, whose father’s three brothers were all murdered by the Nazis.
“You see Ukraine did not start this war, neither did nationalists or Nazis. Those in power in the Kremlin started this war.”
He appealed to citizens of Russia and soldiers alike to listen to his message, adding: “Your lives, your limbs are being sacrificed for a senseless war condemned by the entire world.”
Schwarzenegger said he was speaking with the “same heartfelt concern” that he spoke to the American people with when there was an attempted insurrection on 6 January last year during the storming of the US Capitol.
Concluding his message, Schwarzenegger said the Russians protesting against the conflict who have been “beaten and jailed” are his “new heroes” and “have the true heart of Russia”.
The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department under the auspices of the Finance Ministry has launched the Government of Ghana Staff and Travel Card (GoG E-Travel Card).
The launch of this innovative product geared towards enhancing public financial management and reporting was made possible through a partnership with CAGD’s technical partner, Ghana’s largest privately-owned bank, Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited.
Fidelity Bank was mandated to issue Visa and Gh-link Cards for international and local travel.
The GoG E-Travel Card is an integral part of the robust Government of Ghana Staff and Travel Card platform to facilitate expense management of international and local travel for all Government of Ghana employees.
The GoG E-Travel Card will also function as a unique staff identity card.
Both the Visa and Gh-Link versions of the Government of Ghana Staff and Travel Cards were launched by the Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia, at this year’s Annual Conference of the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) that was held in Cape Coast.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Bawumia stated that “Our government is building a system that amongst others enhances transparency; promotes accountability, discipline and trustworthiness; enables inclusiveness; encourages efficient public sector management and public service delivery; and eliminates incentives for bribery and corruption.”
The Vice President noted that the introduction of the GoG E-Travel Card for public officials was to ensure that the government reduces certain malpractices and cuts down on waste due to over expenditure.
The Staff and Travel Card system automates and integrates all processes from the point of initiation of card issuance requests, and funding requests from MDAs and entities through approval and disbursements.
It further provides expenditure tracking and retirement of accountable imprests.
The Staff and Travel Card portal will replace all manual systems of managing travel imprests in the public service sector by delivering personalized cards to every government employee.
The Controller and Accountant General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, also maintained that the introduction of the platform is a great feat for Ghana’s digital growth and will improve operational efficiency and provide convenience to all government officials.
“The current manual and taxed-based system of handling imprests for official travel is laborious. government officials often need to change local currencies into foreign currencies at the banks, some at the forex bureaus and in some cases at unorthodox places which some people call the Black market, at exorbitant rates and this comes at a cost to Government.”
“We are set to roll out the GoG E-Travel Card to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies for use as the official system for disbursing and retiring of imprests for official travel in the public service”.
The launch of the Card is an indication of our commitment to the digitalisation agenda of government. We will continue to review every aspect of our business processes and explore ways to bring efficiency and effectiveness to bear through digitalisation,” the Controller and Accountant-General said.
The Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Ghana, Julian Opuni, remarked that the creation of the Government of Ghana Travel Card; aligns with the bank’s digitization agenda to provide convenient and seamless digital transactions for all.
“We commend the government for the bold step it has taken to check overspending and funds misappropriation in the public sector through the introduction of the Government of Ghana Staff and Travel Card.
Fidelity Bank is excited to partner with the government in the cashless disbursement of travel allowances which will ultimately allow for accountability, among other beneficial outcomes.
This partnership will afford public officials the opportunity to experience the flawless service that is the hallmark of Fidelity Bank,” Julian Opuni said.
The government of Ghana is committed to partnering with the private sector to drive the national digitization agenda.
Initiatives like the Ghana Travel Card are one of many upcoming collaborations where public-private partnerships will help to move the country forward in an efficient and technologically-savvy manner.
An agent, who claims to be working under the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the national government of United States has alleged that Instagram celebrity Hushpuppi has received fresh charges as US prosecutors submitted court documents showing that he committed fraud and laundered over $400k while in prison.
The documents which were presented before the United States District Court of California on Wed 16th March 2022 showed fresh evidence indicting HushPuppi of committing fraud and money laundering in U.S Federal correctional facility.
Rightify Ghana, a group affiliated with the LGBTQ+ community, will have a closed-door meeting with Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee over the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.
The request for a private hearing is to protect the safety of its members.
The Committee, chaired by Kwame Anyimadu Antwi has granted this request. This was confirmed by Ranking Member on the Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, in an interview with JoyNews’ Kwesi Parker Wison.
Mr Bernard Ahiafor said: “Once we are anxious to listen to everybody, whatever it takes to get information from the people – whether useful or not useful, we are in to do it. It is their right.
“Somebody may want to sit before the camera to give you the information. Somebody may not want to sit before the camera and give the information. At the end of the day, we want the information to help us do the law. If they want in-camera, why not, we will grant it to them. The Committee does not have any problem.”
He explained that the request to be granted to Rightify Ghana does not amount to discrimination.
“It would have been discrimination if those who sat before the camera requested to sit in-camera and we refused. That would have been discriminatory. Ask and you will be given. He who asked is being given.”https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1233300631&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=trueJoyNews/AdomNews · Next hearing on LGBTQ+ Bill to be held in-camera
The Ranking Member also hinted at Rightify Ghana being the last group the Committee will see on the consideration of the LGBTQ Bill.
“After we have listened to the last group of people then we will have a Committee meeting and then look at the road map. I believe clause by clause, it will not take us so long a time and we will be able to present our report to the plenary for discussion. It is possible for us to do that at this meeting.”
According to Bernard Ahiafor, the Committee would have already finished its stakeholder engagements if not for the 2022 State of the Nation Address to be delivered by President Akufo-Addo.
“We should have finished this but for the fact that we thought the President will deliver the State of the Nation Address earlier and once a message of the state of the nation is delivered, then we will have to debate that particular message and during the debate, it would not be possible for us to be having frequent committee meetings.
We thought that early this month, there would be at least a message on the state of the nation.”
He noted that for 2 to 3 weeks, “we have not scheduled a stakeholder engagement due to foreseeability of the President coming to deliver an address on the state of the nation.”
“But when we realized the state of the nation address will not be forthcoming soon, then we have decided to continue our stakeholder engagement and we are left with the last sitting to call it a day,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo was to deliver the 2022 State of the Nation Address on Thursday, March 3, 2022, but the Business Committee in Parliament said the President will not address the nation on the said date.
Speaking on the floor of the House on Friday, the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, noted that a new date would be communicated soon.
Meanwhile, Bernard Ahiafor has assured the commitment of the Committee’s clerk to complete its report on engagements held so far.
“I can assure you the clerks of the Committee are already writing their report. They will only integrate the clause by clause consideration and propose amendments coming from the committee.”
On Thursday, March 10, Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee held its fourth public hearing over the LGBTQ+ Bill discussion.
The escort in question was reportedly involved in a theft incident at an East Village apartment, where she was accused of stealing a $13,000 Rolex and Chase credit card.
On Aug. 16, Lopez said that she and her boyfriend were coming back from Florida when she received a startling text from a friend about the wanted poster, court records revealed.
“I thought it was something fake. I really couldn’t believe the police would put me on a wanted poster,” she recalled.
Initially, Lopez didn’t think anything of the mistake until her boss urged her to notify the NYPD about the error.
Lopez contacted the 9th Precinct, where a detective named Kevin Dwyer, appeared to have been already notified about the bogus wanted poster.
“…. It was still being passed around, still being talked about, still making me look like a thief and a prostitute,” Lopez told The Post, noting that on Facebook the false image had been shared over 10,000, 20,000 times. The poster also appeared on Instagram where the young woman boasts a large following of nearly 862,000.
In the photo, Lopez wore a sexy tube top, high heels, and tight leggings. Lopez said she was dressed up for her friend’s birthday party in the image used. The poster bore the words “Wanted for Grand Larceny,” along with “Perpetrator – probable cause to arrest.”
Lopez vehemently denied the allegations, telling the publication that she had never had a prior history of arrests and had never engaged in prostitution work. Since the image went viral, Lopez said the damaging situation has impacted her ability to work.
The administrative charge could be punished with a fine, community service or up to 10 days in jail.
There were fears she would be prosecuted under a more serious, new criminal law that bans calling Russia’s military action in Ukraine an “invasion” or spreading “fake news” about the conflict.
An image circulated widely on Russian media appeared to show Ms Ovsyannikova in court with lawyer Anton Gashinsky.Marina Ovsyannikova appeared in court on Tuesday with lawyer Anton Gashinsky
Ms Ovsyannikova, who said her father was Ukrainian, called on the Russian people to protest against the war, saying that only they could “stop the madness”.
“Don’t be afraid of anything, they can’t imprison all of us,” she said.
Ms Ovsyannikova’s colleagues at Channel 1 were reportedly surprised by her actions.
One told the Faridaily blog – run by former BBC Russian Service journalist Farida Rustamova – that Ms Ovsyannikova, who has two children, had never discussed politics, but spoke “mostly about children, dogs and the house”.https://www.youtube.com/embed/X4E3H0eB-WM
From the moment her identity became known, Ms Ovsyannikova received dozens of comments on her Facebook page in Ukrainian, Russian and English, thanking her for her actions.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky also praised her for “telling the truth”.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France would launch an effort to offer her protection, either at the embassy or through asylum, and said he would discuss it in his next conversation with President Putin.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called her actions an act of “hooliganism”.
Russian television news has long been controlled by the Kremlin and independent viewpoints are rare on all the major channels.
State-controlled Russian media refer to the war as a “special military operation” and paint Ukraine as the aggressor, describing Ukraine’s elected government as neo-Nazis.
Several of the remaining independent media outlets in Russia have stopped broadcasting or publishing after pressure from the authorities, including the radio station Echo of Moscow, and TV Rain – an online TV channel.
Others, like newspaper Novaya Gazeta, are attempting to report on the situation without falling foul of the new censorship laws.
Access to the BBC has also been restricted inside Russia, leading the corporation to issue guidance over how to continue using its services.
Many social media sites have also been blocked, further restricting the number and diversity of news sources available to people inside Russia.
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