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Hearts target maximum points against King Faisal
Defending champions Hearts of Oak will look forward to returning to winning ways in their top Ghana Premier League (GPL) fixture on match-day 15 against resilient King Faisal at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Hearts, having gone winless in their last two fixtures against Medeama and Karela United (both away at Akoon Park and the Cam Park respectively) after suffering dying-minute defeats in both matches, seem hungrier for all three points tomorrow.
Having lost to Great Olympics at the Accra Sports Stadium in a cagey fixture, Faisal will try to escape a second Accra defeat in a row.
Alhaji Grusah’s Faisal tasted an engaging victory against Hearts’ sworn rivals, Kotoko, and they will be eager for the opportunity to sink the Phobians on the league table. The game promises to tough for the home team, though Hearts look good for the maximum points.
AshantiGold will host Dreams FC on Sunday in a fierce fixture to prove their dominance at the Len Clay Stadium. Although AshGold is 10th on the league table, they are still formidable enough to worsen the awful away performance this season of Dreams FC.
Fresh from a painful defeat at home, Accra Lions will journey to battle Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park on Sunday. After picking a point away at Elmina, the ‘Blues’ of Berekum appear the favourites in this fixture, but might suffer an upset from the hungry debutantes if they take them for granted.
After picking up a gripping win against Hearts at home, Karela will make the journey from West to the North to lock horns with 11th-placed Real Tamale United. The home team will welcome their marksman, David Abagna into the game, after returning from the AFCON assignment with the Black Stars.
Bottom-placed team, Elmina Sharks will face Medeama at the Tarkwa Akoon Park in a dicey tie. After a late goal defeat against Kotoko in week 14 fixture, Medeama will seek to find winning ways against the Sharks of Elmina.
Struggling Legon Cities will face a tough task against Eleven Wonders to battle it out as to who can stretch the lead from the relegation zone.
Academy boys, WAFA, will welcome new entrants, Bibiani Gold Stars to Sogakope on Sunday. WAFA need a win at all cost to steer clear from the relegation zone in this tight fixture.
At the Nana Agyemang Badu Park in Dormaa, home team Aduana Stars will oblige Bechem United to a ferocious Bono Ahafo derby that could see some ‘battered bodies’ littering the field.
Both teams will battle it out to determine who comes to the second place on the league table.
As of press time yesterday, Asante Kotoko were battling it out with Great Olympics at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
By Emmanuel Asante
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
