DONALD Trump’s impressive victory in the recent US presidential election focused attention on the issue of incumbency.

In 2024, the representative of the party in power at the time of a general election seems destined to lose.

This year has seen dozens of elections across the globe, and pundits have noticed a trend: the party in power at the time of the election loses. 

IN 2008, after the first round, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won the parliamentary elections. The presidential contest needed a run-off.

I recall wishing for a divided government- New Patriotic Party (NPP) controlling the executive and NDC, the legislature.  

FAITH is a firm belief in something for which there is no proof.  Faith is also a belief in God. A nation is blessed if its leaders have faith.  

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; …. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5, 8.

Apart from the emotional stress, people who go through divorce and do not get the needed support could suffer significant psychological stress which has the potential to exacerbate underlying mental health issues, a mental health professional, Stanley Addaquay, has said.

Here are certain things that are difficult to be subjected to an individual’s interpretation, especially where they become acceptable norms with common interpretations worldwide.

In Ghana, stools hold a revered place in the country's rich cultural heritage. In the traditional setting, the stool symbolises chieftaincy, leadership and spiritual connection to ancestors. 

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has since 2019 led an annual summit that seeks to address social issues in a bid to promote equality, protection and empowerment within the Ghanaian society. 

During the summits, stakeholders from different sectors converge to exchange ideas and map out actionable plans that ensure that Ghana becomes a more inclusive society.

For the first time in 20 years, the Ghana Black Stars and four times champions, will miss the next African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after failing to win their penultimate Group F game against Angola in Luanda Friday evening.

Going into Friday’s game with only two points from a possible 12 games from four games, the Stars had hoped to fight for a slot for tournament being hosted in Morocco in 2025, but as has been their misery through out this campaign, they had to surrender a lead which cost them a place among the 24 teams that will be in Morocco next year.  

Following errors in the serial numbers of ballot papers meant for the Volta and Ahafo regions for the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) has decided to reprint all ballot papers for the two regions.

The ballot papers have not yet been distributed to the regions [SEE LIST ATTACHED BELOW FOR DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE] and are still at the printing house. They are therefore to be destroyed. 

Political party representatives are to be invited to observe the destruction of the ballots, that is shredding and burning.  The party representatives present at the disposal will be made to sign a certificate of destruction, copies of which will be given to them.

New printing houses, Bulk and Acts Commercials, have been assigned to reprint the ballot papers. 

The Supreme Court has held that a Member of Parliament (MP) does not vacate his seat if he intends to contest in a future election on the ticket of another political party other than the one that brought him to the House.

In a 5-2 majority decision, the Supreme Court upheld a suit by the Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin that Article 97(1) (g) and (h) of the Constitution, which formed the basis for the Speaker of Parliament to declare four seats in the House vacant, pertained to future Parliaments and not the current.

For the first time in 20 years, Ghana’s Black Stars and four times champions, will miss the next African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after failing to win their penultimate Group F game against Angola in Luanda Friday evening.

Going into yesterday’s game with only two points from a possible 12 games from four games, the Stars had hoped to fight for a slot for Morocco to the end, but as has been their misery through out this campaign, they had to surrender a lead which cost them a place among the 24 teams that will be in Morocco nest year.  

Ghanaian football is in mourning following the death of Michael Osei, former Asante Kotoko player and coach, who passed away in London on Friday, November 15, 2024. 

Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and other game-changing tech companies, somehow finds time to read a lot of books when he’s not sending rockets into space.

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has declared six individuals wanted for their alleged involvement in various financial crimes, including possession of forged documents, defrauding by false pretences, and money laundering.

The vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, says the next NDC government will make the agriculture sector attractive.

Addressing supporters at Walewale on Wednesday as part of her campaign tour of the North East Region, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the next NDC government will implement innovative policies and make significant investment in the agriculture sector to ensure food security and provide jobs.

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, the Global Chairman of Group Nduom (GN), has urged Ghanaians to cast their votes in favour of political parties that champion the cause of investing in local enterprises to foster growth, expansion, and employment opportunities.

Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States has launched a series of lawsuits against prominent media organisations and publishers, alleging widespread bias and defamation. 

The former president’s lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, has demanded $10bn in damages from The New York Times and Penguin Random House, accusing them of publishing defamatory material. 

Canada has cancelled the automatic 10-year multiple-entry visas and has tightened rules on visa. The revision of the visa policy now shiftsaway from long-term multiple-entry tourist visas.

Immigration officers will now determine visa validity on a case-by-case basis, aligning with the government's focus on managing immigration amid housing shortages and rising living costs. The move may require visitors to apply for visas more frequently and plan their trips more carefully

This announcement about the changes to the visitor visa policies, effectively ends the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple-entry visas, according to new rules outlined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

With 15 teams already securing qualification and 24 set to participate, the battle for the remaining nine spots in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations intensifies.

The tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco next year, December 2025 to January 2026, as obtained from the CAF website, promises fierce competition as the road to the finals narrows.

The Punch in Nigeria reports on Friday that the defending champion and runner up in the last edition, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria have both secured their qualification spots in their respective groups.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has announced the repatriation of 13 trafficked Nigerian girls from Ghana.

According to a statement dated Friday, November 15, 2024 and signed by spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM said the latest rescue brings the total number of trafficked victims sent back home to Nigeria since July 2024 to 163.

“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission alongside other stakeholders have rescued another set of 13 trafficked girls from Ghana, thus bringing the total repatriated back to the country within five months to 163," it said.

That the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency has been a bastion of support for the NPP since 2012 is an understatement.

However, the largest constituency in the country currently will still be the focus of attention in the 2024 general election due to its unique dynamics.

Come December 7, a fresh candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Michael Aaron Yaw Nii Nortey Oquaye Jnr, will seek to keep to tradition by winning the seat in a similar fashion as his father, Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye, who served two terms from 2005 to 2012.

The Development Bank Ghana (DBG) has announced a net profit of GH¢80.144 million in the 2023 fiscal year. The figure represents a growth of 2.74 per cent from the previous year’s net profit of a little over GH¢77.9 million.

A statement issued by the bank said DBG had consistently reported net profits annually since its inception in 2021, ending that particular year with a net surplus of more than GH¢53.6 million.

The Supreme Court has held that a Member of Parliament (MP) does not vacate his seat if he intends to contest in a future election on the ticket of another political party other than the one that brought him to the House.

In a 5-2 majority decision, the Supreme Court upheld a suit by the Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin that Article 97(1) (g) and (h) of the Constitution, which formed the basis for the Speaker of Parliament to declare four seats in the House vacant, pertained to future Parliaments and not the current.

The government, in partnership with the World Bank, has launched the Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (TCDP) in Accra.The six-year project would be funded with a $200 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group.

It involves the production, processing and trading in six high-value tree crops such as cashew, shea, mango, coconut, rubber and oil palm.

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced a GH¢2,000 incentive package for informants on every bag of cocoa retrieved from smugglers.