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International Junkanoo Festival 2024 launched
A festival aimed at celebrating diverse cultures worldwide, the International Junkanoo Festival has been launched with a call for unity and peaceful coexistence.
This edition, scheduled from May 21-26, will take place in Canada.
Some traditional rulers and other stakeholders from Ghana are expected to be in attendance.
Speaking at the launch which took place last Friday at the Accra Tourist Information Centre (ATIC) the Chief Director of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Madam Halima S.Yakubu urged the traditional leaders from Ghana who would be attending to properly showcase Ghana to the rest of the world and encourage African diaspora to take a trip back home.
Additionally, she charged the local organisers to better engage all relevant stakeholders to ensure a proper representation.
Also, the Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong, said, culture is diverse but unique which makes it easy for everyone to identify which one others belong to.
For this reason, he called on parents to actively teach their children their cultural heritage for them, not to emulate Western culture.
That, he said, would go a long way to strengthen and protect the country’s cultural heritage among others.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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
