In 2020, Madam Akua Donkor was my “excuse” for not voting for any of the two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

I believe in a one-tenure presidency, where presidents serve for just one term and leave the scene.

Also in 2020, I held the conviction that not voting disqualified any Ghanaian from engaging in any discussions on politics. (NOW).

The Adontenhene of Akuapem Traditional Council, Otoobour Djan Kwasi II, has urged all stakeholders to put their best foot forward to safeguard the country’s peace during and after this year’s general election.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Aburi in the Eastern Region at the 2024 Akuapem Adonten Odwira Festival last Saturday, he explained that a process to select preferred leaders to steer the affairs of the country for the next four years should inspire hope and not disrupt the tranquillity being enjoyed by Ghanaians.

In the 1980s, long before the Internet and social media were even conceived, I had two constant companions – radio and newspapers.  

Those were the days of the Rawlings revolution, so literally every news bulletin started with a story about Chairman sharing his revolutionary pearls of wisdom in impeccable, nicely perfumed English at a gathering somewhere, with the ‘masses’ cheering wildly and singing revolutionary songs, even if they had hardly grasped what he said. They loved him without question.

Starlink’s satellite internet service, owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, is currently "sold out" in Accra, along with other major African cities such as Harare, Lusaka, Nairobi, Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, due to overwhelming demand.

Barbados has once again strengthened its healthcare workforce with the arrival of 155 nurses from Ghana, landing at the Grantley Adams International Airport on November 3, 2024. 

The group, accompanied by Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Health, Adelaide Ntim, was welcomed by Barbados’ Minister of Health and Wellness, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, alongside other officials.

A High Court in Accra has thrown out an application against Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno’s appointment as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP).

This is after a private citizen had gone to court over the contention that under the laws of Ghana, there was no appointment as deputy IGP in charge of operations.

Emmanuel Felix Mantey, a private citizen and a lecturer, who commenced the action, held that the President and the Police Council were perpetuating illegality in that appointment.

The Ghana Police Service is inviting all successful applicants in its 2024 recruitment process for medical screening.

The medical examination for the candidates who have been invited through SMS messages will commence on Thursday, November 7-8, 2024.

The medical screening will take place at six designated venues in Accra. 

A nationwide survey on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) has revealed that the diseases are responsible for about 45 per cent of all deaths in the country, with cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes being the leading contributors.

Also, the survey identified unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol consumption as the primary risk factors for NCDs in the country.

Eight people have gone on trial in Paris accused of encouraging the killer of Samuel Paty, the teacher who was beheaded on the street outside his school four years ago.

Abdoullakh Anzorov, the young man of Chechen origin who wielded the knife, is dead – shot by police in the minutes after his attack.

So the trial is less about the murder itself, and more about the circumstances that led to it.

Hundreds of people from all walks of life have participated in a candlelight procession to launch the month-long activities leading up to World AIDS Day which is commemorated on December 1 every year. 

The procession which took place in Accra last Friday, was a means to spread awareness of the urgent need to combat HIV/AIDS in Ghana. 

Various religious groups, political parties and the Electoral Commission have pledged their commitment to ensure a peaceful general election in the country on December 7, this year.

At a Peace Campaign launched in Accra last Sunday, they expressed their determination to contribute towards peace before, during and after the elections.

In a show of unity and solidarity, representatives of the diverse groups, some of whom were clad in the national colours of red, gold and green, and waving miniature Ghana flags, danced to musical performances from renowned artists such as Rev. Joe Beecham and Rev. Alexander Bruce-Ghartey, aka Uncle Ato.

The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) says the next government must streamline the value added tax (VAT) regime into a more efficient tax system to support industrial growth.

The call follows an engagement with the major political parties to cause them to integrate a VAT review into their manifestos as part of measures to create a more conducive environment for businesses to thrive, boost innovation, and generate jobs and revenue for economic transformation.

The Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Sir Sam Jonah KBE, will lead a strong panel to brainstorm the impact of education on national life when the Graphic National Development Series (GNDS) takes centre stage at the Kofi Ohene-Konadu Auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), at 9 a.m today. 

It is the second time the same jewelry shop at Adabraka in Accra is experiencing an armed robbery attack this year, some residents have told Graphic Online.

On Saturday, November 2, the Adabraka Market in Accra was rocked by a daring daylight robbery that took place right in front of stunned residents.

Four armed and masked men targeted a man in a red Toyota Corolla at the bustling market.

Kakum National Park, arguably Ghana’s most visited natural attraction, is located at Kakum in the Central Region of Ghana.

It is about 33 kilometres from Cape Coast, the capital of the regional capital. 

The national park encompasses an area of 145 square miles (375 sq km). It was named after the Kakum River which begins from the inside of the protected park.

The Kakum Park was established in 1931 and received acknowledgement as a National Park in 1992.

ChatGPT Search, OpenAI’s new web-search tool, is revolutionising the way people access information online, combining AI’s conversational abilities with real-time search results. 

Here’s a simple guide to making ChatGPT Search your default search engine on Google Chrome, allowing you to get immediate, conversational responses directly from your browser.

Blanshe Musinguzi, writing for Africa Report, took top honours at the second annual African Investigative Journalist of the Year Award for his far-reaching and impactful investigation into the smuggling of precious Congolese hardwoods through East Africa.

The investigation, “How Congo Trees are smuggled through East Africa”, was developed through the support of the Pulitzer Centre and the Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN).

“It’s a story featuring great investigative research on the ground, persistence and courage in a dangerous part of our continent, as well as profound reporting. It is also an accessible and well written report, an often-overlooked component of journalism,” said convenor of judges Gwen Lister at the gala awards ceremony held in Johannesburg on October 31.

Tragedy struck a local Peruvian football match on Sunday as a lightning bolt hit the pitch, killing 39-year-old defender Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza and injuring several others. 

The incident occurred at the Coto Coto stadium in Chilca, Huancayo, during a game between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca.

The match was broadcast live but was suspended after 22 minutes due to worsening storm conditions. Moments after the players began to exit the field, a powerful lightning strike hit, fatally wounding Mr de la Cruz Meza. 

Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has announced plans to develop three major railway lines across Ghana, aiming to accelerate the nation’s transformation and bolster its economic growth.

Speaking to stakeholders in the Atwima Mponua Constituency on Monday, Dr Bawumia emphasised the critical role that railway infrastructure will play in leveraging Ghana’s rich mineral resources and enhancing connectivity.

Ghana's top five-star destination, Labadi Beach Hotel, has paid GH¢16.51 million as dividend to its sole shareholder, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). 

Presenting the check at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently, the Managing Director of Labadi Beach Hotel, David Eduaful, said the feat was a remarkable one that underscored the hotel’s unwavering commitment to excellence, and solidified its position as the flagship of Ghana’s hospitality industry.

The Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, has been arrested for allegedly recording over 400 sextapes of the wives of notable people in the country.

This became public in the course of a fraud investigation against the 54-year-old Economist which resulted in the search of his house and office on impromptu notice by ANIF officials who came across several CDs that later revealed his sexcapades with different married women.

The Presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has urged Ghanaians to relentlessly pursue a just society where every Ghanaian feels secure and valued.

He said, "True peace cannot exist without justice", adding that "we need a proactive attitude towards peace."

Mr Mahama who was explaining why he suspended his campaign last Sunday, November 3, 2024, said "Had we been proactive in addressing the tensions in our midst, perhaps we would not have faced tragedies such as those in Bawku, where lives are being lost and families are being shattered."

The Resolution Centre set up by the Ministry of Education to address challenges of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates who have issues with their senior high school (SHS) placement has so far resolved 90 per cent of complaints brought to it.

The Deputy Coordinator of the Free SHS Secretariat, Nana Afrah Sika Mensah told Graphic Online's Emmanuel Bonney that the issues solved included placing candidates who were earlier not placed in school and change of school.

She said this on Monday during an interaction with Graphic Online at the National Resolution Centre set up at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra.

A Cholera outbreak at Kasoa in the Awutu Senya East Municipality of the Central Region has resulted in the death of five persons.

About 30 others are also on admission at Kasoa Polyclinic and the Mother and Child Hospital as a result of the outbreak.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Awutu Senya East,  Anita Love Obo Amissah, who made this known, said three of the the victims died on Thursday night [Oct 31] while two of them also  died on Friday afternoon.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has come to support work in different forms, but its deployment has equally come with an array of threats, including misinformation and disinformation.

With a sophistication that mimics reality, AI has been abused by miscreants who have turned it into a vessel for fake news.

In the serious matter of national elections, such as presidential and parliamentary polls, the threat is even more significant and frightening, given that officials could be cloned and broadcast or published to be declaring results.