The Ghana Music Awards UK 2024 celebrated the best and brightest of Ghanaian talent at London’s Meridian Grand, N18 3AF on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Among the winners was UK-based-Ghanaian Afro-gospel singer Joseph Matthew, who took home the coveted award for Highlife Artiste Of the Year. Joseph Matthew who is also known as JM, was nominated in three categories at the prestigious UK Music Awards event. This is the 3rd major award that the ‘Fear No Evil’ crooner has won. In 2020, he won the International Artiste of the Year award at the maiden edition of the Emerging Ghana Music...
Ensure peace and fairness – Akufo-Addo tells Ghanaians ahead of December 7 polls
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has made a sentimental plea to Ghanaians to bulwark peace during the upcoming elections on December 7. He accentuated the relevance of preserving Ghana’s hard-earned democratic credentials, depicting them as a national treasure that must be safeguarded at all costs. Speaking at a Thanksgiving service at the Cathedral Anglican Church in Accra, marking the start of his three-day tour of the Greater Accra Region, President Akufo-Addo reiterated his call for a violence-free election. He encouraged all citizens to validate that the electoral process is conducted peacefully, musing the nation’s dedication to democracy. “My message today...
Election 2024: Stay out of trouble on December 7 – Afenyo-Markin urges Ghanaians
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, member of Parliament for Effutu, has advised the youth to avoid engaging in violence during the upcoming elections. According to the lawmaker, political party supporters should prioritise issue-based campaigns that showcase the achievements of their respective parties, rather than resorting to confrontations or unrest. Speaking at the annual Teachers’ Awards ceremony in his constituency, the Majority Leader in Parliament emphasised that any individual caught engaging in acts of violence will face the full force of the law. He stressed that politicians would not intervene to release offenders, emphasising the importance of peaceful and lawful behavior during the election...
Mahama promises to enhance trade and business growth in Ashanti Region
The NDC flagbearer, John Mahama, has reiterated his determination to revitalise trade and business activities in the Ashanti Region, pledging tailored interventions to benefit local traders and entrepreneurs. Speaking during the “Enti Asanteman Aseda Ni” walk held in Kumasi on Sunday, 1st December, Mahama unveiled plans to implement a fixed exchange rate scheme. This initiative, he explained, would help stabilise the cedi against the dollar, thereby creating a more predictable and supportive environment for business operations within the region. Mahama acknowledged the Ashanti Region’s significance, noting that while it is often regarded as a stronghold of the New Patriotic Party...
Free dialysis: NHIA releases ¢200m claims payment to health facilities as treatment begins nationwide
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has released GH₵200 million as claims payment to health facilities nationwide while rolling out the free dialysis treatment programme, effective December 1, 2024. The NHIA’s prompt payments regime, introduced earlier this year, has been instrumental in maintaining a debt-free status for 2024, ensuring timely reimbursement to healthcare providers across the country. This latest payment brings the total amount released by the NHIA over the last two months to GH¢1 billion, underscoring the Authority’s ongoing commitment to supporting healthcare providers and ensuring the sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Dr. DaCosta Aboagye, Chief...
Akufo-Addo criticises Mahama over lack of roadmap on 24-hour economy
President Nana Akufo-Addo has criticised former President John Mahama and the NDC flagbearer for failing to provide a clear roadmap for his proposed 24-hour economy policy five days before the December 7 election. He said Mahama’s lack of a comprehensive plan for implementing the policy raised concerns about its feasibility and potential impact on the economy. President Akufo-Addo said the four years under former President John Mahama’s Administration and performance were responsible for his defeat in the 2016 elections. He said Mr Mahama would lose again in the 2024 election. Speaking in Dambai, President Akufo-Addo noted that every President before...
Special voting underway in 14 regions in early poll
Hundreds of security personnel, emergency service staff and Electoral Commission officials among others are taking part in the special voting exercise in 14 out of 16 regions. The two other regions, Eastern and Western will have their special voting on Thursday, December 5, following a ballot paper mishap that has compelled the Electoral Commission to order a recall and a reprinting of ballot papers for the two regions. According to reports from Joy News’ correspondents from various constituencies, the voting largely started on time at 7:00am with initial queues at some centres. However, as the day goes by, the queues...
BOG keeps policy rate at 27% to tame currency and inflationary pressures
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has maintained the policy rate at 27%. Holding the policy rate steady after it was lowered from 29% in September 2024 is aimed at anchoring inflation expectations and curbing exchange rate volatilities. The decision was taken after the committee reviewed the current economic developments in the country. “Inflation projections show a slightly elevated profile driven by high and unstable food prices, pass-through of previous exchange rate pressures, fuel prices and utility tariff adjustments. The price increases in food items have been steep in the course and together with a...
GFA owes Otto Addo and his backroom staff salary arrears – Asante-Twum
The Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante-Twum, has disclosed that head coach Otto Addo and his backroom staff are owed several months of unpaid salaries. Speaking on Game Plan on Joy FM, Asante-Twum explained that the responsibility for paying the Black Stars’ technical team falls on the Ministry of Youth and Sports, not the GFA. “I am not sure of the exact duration, but there are salaries in arrears. We owe him [Otto Addo] a few months, and it’s not just him but also the backroom staff,” Asante-Twum said. He explained that, “It is the Ministry’s...
Mikki Osei Berko discloses why he might become a parliamentarian
Ghanaian actor and broadcaster, Mikki Osei-Berko has said in an interview with Joy Prime that he might go back to politics. When Mikki, who was an Assembly Member for the Ayidiki Electoral Area in Accra about 20 years ago, was asked by the host, Roselyn Felli, about the possibility of returning to politics but this time around as a parliamentarian, he replied “probably yes,” “Because I think there are so many things that our parliamentarians have not looked at. I feel that governance in this country has not been so creative, they only take taxes and borrow money. But I feel that...