Twitter ban: Facebook, IG unveil free products for content creators
American media magnate and Chief Executive Officer of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, seems to be on a swift mission to attract more social media users in Nigeria when he announced free products for content creators on all Facebook-owned services including WhatsApp and Instagram. According to Zuckerberg, the free products will enable creators to make more money, adding that the offer will be available till 2023. “To help more creators make a living on our platforms, we’re going to keep paid online events, fan subscriptions, badges, and our upcoming independent news products free for creators until 2023. And when we do introduce a revenue share, it will be less than the 30% that Apple and others take,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Monday. Unlike microblogging site Twitter; Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp cannot be said to have ruffled the feathers of the Nigerian government. In fact, in August 2016, Zuckerberg visited Lagos, Nigeria. The trip was his first to sub-Saharan Africa. “This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa,” he had said in a Facebook post. He had met with the Nigerian President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo during his visit. Zuckerberg also met with tech developers and entrepreneurs mostly in the Yaba area of Lagos which has been described as the tech hub of Lagos. “The energy here is amazing and I’m excited to learn as much as I can,” the Facebook chief had said during the trip. But the Chief Executive Officer of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, has not been in the good books of the Nigerian government since last October over an allegation that he was complicit in the promotion of the #EndSARS protests that ended in the destruction of lives and billions of property in Nigeria. Last week, the Buhari regime suspended Twitter, citing the “persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”. The Federal Government’s action followed a deletion of a controversial civil war post by the President. The Buhari regime has since come under fire for what many termed as a restriction of the right of expression. The international community including the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, amongst others have since knocked the Buhari regime for the action but the Federal Government has been unyielding in its stance insisting that the sovereignty of the West African nation must be respected by the San Francisco tech giant. Millions of content creators in Nigeria, who earn their living from the microblogging site, have been affected as they are forbidden from using Twitter. Some of them have since embarked on a journey of diversification while exploring other social media platforms. Nigeria, with over 200 million people, had about 33 million active social media users as of January 2021. WhatsApp is the most popular platform used in the country, with over 90 million users according to Statista. Also according to Statista, about 61.4 per cent of Nigerian social media users use Twitter, 86.2 per cent use Facebook, 81.6 per cent use YouTube, 73.1 per cent use Instagram, and 67.2 per cent use Facebook Messenger. Punch Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
VIDEO: Shatta Wale’s industry address unimpressive – Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo
• Shatta Wale‘s industry address delivered on June 2 has received several criticisms • The musician indicated that Ghana has no music identity • He also suggested to government to invest 10% of the sports budget in music Entertainment analyst Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has expressed dissatisfaction with Shatta Wale’s ‘state of the industry address’ on the grounds that the dancehall musician’s speech was not comprehensive. Although he commended Shatta Wale and his team for the initiative, Arnold maintained on GhanaWeb TV’s entertainment review show Bloggers’ Forum that his expectations were not met. Shatta Wale who had been off the scene for close to a month returned with an encounter dubbed ‘State of the Industry Address’ on June 2. Aside from updating his followers on his journey to the United States, the musician claimed that during one of his meetings, he was asked “what kind of music do Ghanaians do?” but was unable to provide an answer to the question as a result of the many genres being championed by artistes in the Ghanaian music sphere. “I want to propose that, we as music makers and stakeholders come together to identify one genre that can be attributed to all music works coming from our part of the world. Let’s do this for our industry to give it the global attention we have all desired,” he said while advocating for a national agenda to prioritize Ghanaian music on the airwaves. “I want to propose the institution and enforcement of a national agenda to prioritize Ghanaian music on our airwaves. Let’s give Ghana music 90% of the airwaves and spread 10% for the other countries. For this proposition to work, we need all hands-on deck; media house owners, DJs, event organizers, MUSIGA, and every single stakeholder including the government of Ghana. This must be a national agenda. Let’s all get involved now to make it happen.” But Arnold mentioned in his submission that Shatta Wale could have done better with his speech. “I was not too impressed with the address because if you’re telling me you’re going to address industry-related matters, it should be detailed, it should be thorough. All he did was to give us problems and not proffer solutions,” he told host Abrantepa. “You want us to decentralized major event; which events are you talking about? You want us to set an agenda to play 90% Ghanaian music; how do we do it? You want 10% of what is invested in sports to be invested in music; how do we go about it? Has he done any research to figure out if there’s some benefit coming from sports to government? “He said we need an identity with respect to the music genre that we do; what genre? If you’re coming to give state of the industry address, it should be well-researched. You should give us a detailed analysis, empirical evidence and move ahead to proffer solutions,” Arnold added. Watch the show below. –ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
HOT AUDIO: Akua Donkor ‘lashes’ Mahama for not attending Sir John’s funeral
Former President John Mahama is still not in the good books of failed presidential aspirant, Akua Donkor. His crime this time is not going to the funeral of former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John. His final funeral rites were held at the Sakora Wonoo Junior High School, in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region. Family, friends and residents of the community filed past the mortal remains of the former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission to pay their last respects. High-ranking politicians, including the President, Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, were at the funeral to bid their colleague farewell. A delegation from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, also known as General Mosquito, was also there to mourn with the family. John Mahama However, former President Mahama was not seen at the venue of the funeral. Some are still hopeful he might go on the third day to also pay his last respects. But Akua Donkor, in an interview with Adom News’ Nana Osei Ampofo Agyei, said Mr Mahama has no excuse. “I’m very disappointed in Mahama; how can he miss such an important funeral?” Madam Donkor, who is also founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party, said the former President should reschedule all his programmes to attend to honour late Sir John. She, however, commended President Akufo-Addo for giving Sir John a befitting burial. –Adwoa Gyasiwaa Agyeman Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Retired teacher shoots himself dead at Ekumfi Aburam
A Retired teacher, Emmanuel Abrokwa has shot himself dead at Ekumfi Aburam in the Ekumfi District of the Central Region Monday morning after returning from the farm. It is unknown what pushed the deceased to take his life. An eyewitness Samuel Acquah told Kasapa News Yaw Boagyan that not long after he saw the deceased returning home, gunshots were heard coming from the direction of the deceased room. Alarmed by that, he together with others rushed to the room only to find the retired teacher lying in a pool of blood with his life lying beside him. The deceased in his 70s who lives with his wife and children in the same residence shot himself in the stomach when his family members had left home. The body has been deposited at Saltpond Mortuary while Police have commenced investigation into the incident. —GhanaWeb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Rainstorm destroy church, houses at Matamanu
Roofs of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and some houses were ripped off by a rainstorm that hit Matamanu, a farming community in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region. Torgbui Tsaku Asidigbe VI, Chief of Matamanu in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the torrential rainfall accompanied with windstorm caused havoc to some buildings and pulled down high tension electric wires in the town causing total blackout. He said the situation has forced the Evangelical Presbyterian Church to hold services in the open. Mr Jacob Desiavor, the Municipal National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), told the GNA that an assessment has been completed and the victims would soon receive some relief items. He said some 25 houses and 50 people are displaced and are temporarily staying with friends and families. Some residents who spoke with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) have attributed the rainstorm to the destructive nature of forest cover in the Municipality. They alleged illegal chain saw operators had invaded the Municipality and are cutting down trees indiscriminately, and appealed to the authorities to clampdown on their nation-wrecking activities. —GNA Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
PHOTOS: Man found dead at Walewale
A man, believed to be in his 30s, has been found dead at Kambongnaayili, a village in the Walewale Municipality of the North East Region. The man, according to reports, was found lying by a bridge on the road leading to Walewale on Saturday morning. While details of the incident remain sketchy, the Assembly Member, Issah Abdul Gafaru, confirmed the incident. Though the body is yet-to-identified, a voter identity card and NHIS card found on him had the name Kwabena Daniel. Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission Officer in the area has identified the voters identity card to be from Kpandai in the Northern Region. The body has since been deposited at the Walewale Mortuary awaiting autopsy and identification. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
CLOGSAG gives Finance Ministry 14-day ultimatum to refund pension
The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) has given the Ministry of Finance 14 working days within which to refund over GH¢50 million pension funds said to belong to its members at the Lands Commission. Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG Isaac Bampoe-Addo accuses the Ministry of setting up a “fake” scheme, which he says monies are being siphoned into. He made this known at a news conference in Accra on Monday, June 7. Mr Bampoe-Addo said the government through the Ministry of Finance has set up the Public Sector Worker Employment Scheme (PSWES) to achieve its ulterior motive. “It is important to note that pension funds cannot be used to defray any cost or expenditure and for PSWES to receive such transfers and sit on it portrays another violation of the pension law.” He said the Scheme has even outlived its function since it was set up when there was only four public sector schemes in existence. He demanded the immediate cessation of the running of the Scheme for peace to prevail. “CLOGSAG is by this communique cautioning all to keep their hands off and allow the funds to grow for the benefit of the contributions.” 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
‘Respect parliamentary rules and stop the noise over Akufo-Addo’s jet trips’ – Afenyo Markin tells Ablakwa
Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, has asked North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to desist from making a fuss about the alleged use of a luxurious chartered flight by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. According to him, Mr. Ablakwa should wait until his urgent question is admitted by the Speaker of Parliament. Mr. Afenyo-Markin insists the practice of dealing with such matters in public while seeking audience in Parliament is harmful to the growth of democracy. The North Tongu MP last week indicated that he had filed an urgent question on the said matter, but it has not been programmed yet. The MP alleged that the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has spent an amount of GHS 2.8 million on his recent travels to only South Africa and France using the services of a private jet. “The Airbus ACJ320neo owned by Acropolis Aviation based in Farnborough, UK and registered as G-KELT, is the most luxurious and the most expensive in the Acropolis fleet. The manufacturers describe it as “the most outstanding ambassador for Airbus Corporate Jets.” It costs the Ghanaian taxpayer approximately £15,000 an hour when President Akufo-Addo rents it”, the legislator alleged in a post on Facebook. He also accused the President of blowing the money “to satisfy his insatiable appetite and comfort at the expense of the suffering masses”. But speaking to Citi News, the Effutu MP called on Okudzeto Ablakwa to respect the procedures of Parliament. According to him, Mr. Ablakwa’s actions are not healthy for the progress of the house. “Admission of questions is the sole mandate of the Speaker, and in fact, that is the basis upon which the jurisprudence of Parliament is mounted. You file a question, you are not sure whether it has been admitted or not, then you go out there in the media litigating the matter. So at the end of the day, if the question is not admissible, who do you blame? The Speaker or you will say you are being gagged?” “I am saying that it is important that as MPs we will respect our own rules of engagement and create an atmosphere where the debate will be enriched, but this one-way approach and leaking things to the press and somebody has written a letter of resignation which hasn’t even gotten to the recipient, but it is already in the media, what are you seeking to achieve?” he quizzes. citinewsroom Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
UER: Police secure 40-year jail term for two robbers, three remanded, one declared wanted
Upper East Regional Police Command has arrested and put before court five accused armed robbers and are pursuing one other alleged suspect to be involved in some robbery cases in the Upper East Region. The operation forms part of a new security strategy to deal with violent crimes especially robbery in the region. In Bawku, Awinaba Ayembil Joel, 30, a farmer who was wanted in a robbery case at Zebilla was arrested at Wassa Akropong where he had gone into hiding after the suspected robbery. He was subsequently arraigned before the Bawku Circuit Court on Friday, 4 June 2021. He was charged for conspiracy and robbery and sentenced to 25 years in hard labour. One Mathias Asagba, 20, who was also arrested and accused of murder appeared before the Bolgatanga Circuit Court on 26 May 2021. He was convicted to 15 years in hard labour. Meanwhile, at Sandema, a suspect Salifu Gola was identified by one of his robbery victims was arrested on 18 May 2021. This led to the arrest of his accomplices; Amadou Sambou and Adam Yaro. Their arrests follow police investigation into a complaint lodged with the Sandema Police that on 16 May 2021 at about 9:15 am, a victim of robbery was travelling on the Fumbinsi-Kanjaga road to visit his wife when he was attacked on a section of the road. He was beaten and his motorbike was robbed at gunpoint. All three accused persons have been remanded in police custody. They are expected to reappear on 28 June 2021. The Police however noted that another suspect, identified as Iddrisu Mahadu is on the run, in connection with the same robbery case. In a related development, the Navarongo District Police Command arrested a suspect, Ayandoor Azupere, 28. A locally manufactured pistol and two live cartridges were retrieved when the suspect eas stopped and searched at Nagtunia. He was charged with possession of firearm without authority. The suspect has been remanded in police custody to reappear on 8 June 2021. The Upper East Regional Command, in a statement issued on 7 June 2021, assured the general public of “a robust security posture to ensure provision of maximum security to protect lives and properties”. The police, therefore, urged the residents to be willing to volunteer information to assist Police to investigate and clamp down on criminals. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
UER (VIDEO): Truck Pushers cries out loud, say the hardship is affecting their daily income.
Truck Pushers in the Bolgatanga Municipal Ayia Market of the Upper East Region have said life in recent times, is becoming too hard on them. The truck pushers made the confession during an engagement with Apexnewsgh-Tv a newly growing online platform in the Upper East Region. One of the veteran truck pushers in the Bolgatanga market who introduced himself as Sampson Abane said, he must be sincere and frank to say that the system is becoming so terrible on them. “The market is not good at all because no money in the system. So, the market women will not get money to go and buy the goods and come and sell, to enable we the truck pushers get something for ourselves. The system is affecting many people”. He said Meanwhile, another truck pusher who expressed his dissatisfaction with the current situation said because of the hardship in the system, after carrying the heavy load for the market women they will not receive an immediate payment will only be told ‘go and come later’ “Some of the women, we will work for them and they will be saying today, tomorrow or tomorrow next before they will pay and some of them too, say go and come and we don’t like it like that. Because if you worked finish, you have to collect your money”. He lamented Indeed, the contribution of truck pushers in our various markets are hugely overlooked, even though they played a very wonderful and important role to our mothers and fathers in the market. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093