Hot!
Scrutinise anti-gay bill, it’s likely to resurrect criminal libel law – Afenyo-MarkinDeputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called for increased media scrutiny of the Anti-Gay Bill currently before Parliament.
He expressed concern that the bill could inadvertently reintroduce elements of the repealed criminal libel law for journalists and media houses reporting on LGBTQ+ activities.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin voiced his opposition to custodial sentences for individuals found guilty of engaging in LGBTQ+ activities.
On Thursday, February 8, Parliament approved a three-to-five-year jail term for individuals who intentionally promoted or sponsored LGBTQ+ activities. Those caught in the act could face a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years in prison.
During the amendment process of the bill promoting proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values, Mr. Afenyo-Markin argued that punitive measures would not contribute to the rehabilitation of the offenders.
He expressed concern about the state of the country’s prisons and their inability to provide the necessary rehabilitation for offenders.
The Effutu lawmaker proposed replacing a minimum two-month imprisonment sentence with a minimum one-month community service for individuals found guilty of LGBTQ+ activities.
In an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr. Afenyo-Markin urged journalists to pay more attention to the bill to ensure it does not infringe upon the rights of individuals.
“I do not think the media has paid due regard to this bill because it is written in ink that if a media house expresses any editorial policy on any issue regarding sexuality, that media house and its members or that media person will be jailed. If you impose custodial sentences, you are setting the country back to where, as a country, we said a journalist who errs must face civil liability instead of criminal consequences.”
“We all have to be very careful and pay due attention to the issue in Parliament…And then also those journalists or media houses who may be writing their own editorials or who may be expressing views about it, or talking about it. It is not just talking about you promoting it. Just mentioning it in itself is a crime.”
Source: Citinewsroom.com
Entertainment
Edem’s debut album gets praise from Sarkodie
Ghanaian rap star Sarkodie has celebrated fellow artiste Edem for his groundbreaking debut album “The Volta Regime”, calling it one of the greatest albums in Ghana’s music history.
In a heartfelt social media post, Sarkodie, whose real name is Michael Owusu Addo, reflected on the first time he heard Edem rap.
He said he was instantly impressed and knew Edem would have a serious impact on the music scene.
“I remember when I first encountered my brother Edem, I came back home to tell one of my hommies that this guy will have a serious impact on the music scene,”
“He was like naa because of the language barrier. I said I don’t hear language, I hear greatness. Big up my brother, you are still on my favourite emcee list.” Sarkodie wrote.
Edem, born Denning Edem Hotor, released The Volta Regime in 2009. The album boldly embraced the Ewe language and featured collaborations with top Ghanaian artists including Tinny, Kwabena Kwabena, and Jeremie Van-Garshong.
Despite initial doubts about how well Ewe rap would perform commercially, the album proved to be a major success and introduced a new wave of local-language hip-hop.
Songs like Bra Fre Me, Nyorvuviade, and the powerful Intro helped establish Edem’s lyrical prowess and cemented his place as a unique voice in the Ghanaian music industry.
At a time when the local scene was dominated by Twi and Ga-speaking rappers, Edem’s success broke barriers and made it clear that talent speaks louder than language.
His impact opened doors for more linguistic diversity in hiplife and hip-hop music across the country.
Sarkodie’s tribute is especially meaningful because both artists emerged around the same period. Sarkodie’s own debut album Makye also dropped in 2009, and the two have long shown mutual respect for each other’s craft.
Today, over 15 years after its release, The Volta Regime continues to inspire fans and artists alike. It remains a symbol of bold originality and cultural pride.
Edem has since released several projects and remains an active voice in Ghanaian music and youth advocacy. His legacy is a reminder that true greatness is not limited by language.
Hot!
Remove all unauthorized outdoor advertising signs and billboards mounted at road medians – NRSA cautions advertising companies
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has announced plans of continuing its enforcement exercise to remove all unauthorized outdoor advertising signs and billboards located in road medians.
The decision to embark on this exercise, according to the authority, is to avert risks posed by the signs, which cause visual and cognitive distractions to drivers and obstruct the view of both motorists and pedestrians.
The authority in a statement disclosed that the exercise would cover the N1 Highway (from the Achimota Overhead to the Dzorwulu Fiesta Royale Traffic Light), the Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Circle Stretch (from Circle to Odorkor through to the Weija intersection), Spintex Road (from the Action Chapel intersection to the Palace Mall), and the Kawokudi to Achimota stretch.
The NRSA said it will begin this phase of the removal exercise in August, in collaboration with municipal assemblies in the Greater Accra Region.
The authority warned advertising companies, their clients, and sign owners to voluntarily remove their signs with immediate effect.
The NRSA stressed that failure to do so will lead to forceful removal, and the full cost of the operation will be charged to owners of the non-compliant signs.
The Authority added that this exercise is part of efforts to ensure safer roads for all road users and called for the cooperation of all stakeholders.
By Jacob Aggrey
