Legendary Nollywood Actress Rachael Oniga Dies At 64
Veteran Nollywood actress Rachael Oniga, a legendary presence in the Nigerian movie industry, died Friday, according to reports. She was 64 years old.
It was not immediately clear how Oniga died. Reports on social media varied, with the cause of Oniga’s death in some cases being attributed to complications from COVID-19. However, Oniga’s family reportedly has pushed back against that assertion and claims it is false.
100 cedis a month for Cathedral or 88 district hospitals? – A plus throws a challenge
Finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta presented 2021 mid-year budget to the parliament of Ghana on 29th July 2021. At the presentation, the minister made an appeal to Ghanaians to contribute Hundred Ghana Cedis (GHc100) a month towards the building of the National Cathedral.
This has sparked a debate on social media as some people see it as a misplaced priority.
Controversial musician turned politician, Kwame Asare Obeng popularly known as A plus has thrown a challenge to social media users to join in with what they would want Ghanaians to contribute 100 Ghana cedis for as he has chosen a contribution towards the president’s promise to build 88 district hospitals.
Cathedral
A plus wrote on his Facebook page
“I’m also asking for 100 Ghana cedis a month to help build the 88 district hospitals.
Where will your 100 cedis go? Cathedral or hospitals?
To join the challenge click on the hashtag to create a post.
It is unclear whether this is true or not as a visit to Sarkodie’s official Twitter handle as at the time of writing this report has not issued any statement to that effect.
A screenshot of some Tweets about the alleged leakeage and what is on Sarkodie’s official page
Born again Nollywood/Ghanaian movie director Pascal Amanfo is advising his fans not to give up. The multi-award-winning movie director and producer wrote on his Facebook page
“You would probably look at this picture and imagine that I am a Man who has got his entire life figured out without a care or worry!
Snap out of it!!! Na lie!
Nothing spectacular here! Just a Man God showed Mercy! Just a Man hanging on to the thin threads of Grace! If there is anything I can teach you…. its this! Don’t you dare give up!!!!!
Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia endorses the usage of Bitcoin in Africa
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says it is time African governments embrace digital currency (bitcoin) to facilitate trade and enhance other productive sectors of their economies.
He, therefore, lauded the Bank of Ghana’s decision to pilot digital currency later this year towards its nationwide roll-out in the near future, saying that it would give it the needed credibility and legal backing for usage.
Addressing participants at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFiC) in Accra on Tuesday, Dr. Bawumia said, Intra-African trade had created the need to establish a Single Central Payment platform on the African continent where financial system operators could carry out all cross-border payments smoothly.
To that end, the Vice-President believed that the Pan African Payment and Settlement System(PAPSS)- a central payment and collection infrastructure- would allow businesses on the continent to clear and settle transactions in their local currencies without depending on third-party currencies.
He said it would also provide an alternative to the current high-cost and long correspondent banking relationships by facilitating trade and other economic activities across the continent through a single, low-cost, and risk-controlled payment clearing and settlement system.
The event brought together Governors of the Central Banks in Africa, captains of industry, chief executives of financial institutions, and the diplomatic community to share ideas and engage in conversations that would create a conducive environment for boosting economic activities and promote growth.
It was held on the theme: “Facilitating Trade and Trade-Finance in AfCFTA; The Role of the Financial Services Sector”.
Vice-President Bawumia noted that digitisation had become one of the most consequential policies of President Akufo-Addo’s government and pivotal towards increasing economic activities, macroeconomic stability, and growth.
In that vein, a robust and resilient financial system would provide an impetus for productive investments, expand opportunities for jobs and wealth creation.
“As you may recall, in a bid to improve liquidity and strengthen the banking sector, the Bank of Ghana implemented a new prudential regulatory framework.
“The banking sector clean-up was aimed at promoting a financially stable banking sector.
“Concurrently, digitisation has also become one of the most consequential policies of the Nana Akufo-Addo government. When the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic hit and forced many economies into partial and total lockdowns, it reinforced the need to pursue digitization,” Dr Bawumia emphasised.
Bitcoin
He stated that mobile banking was proving to be a more convenient alternative to traditional banking channels as several routine banking and money transactions were now executed through mobile phones and electronic payment systems.
“Indeed, one has to recognise that for the financial services sector to play its role, there must be financial inclusion.
“The implementation of Mobile Money Interoperability in Ghana has shown that more people can be financially included, and this needs to be rolled out across Africa to ensure the growth of the AfCFTA vision,” he added.
To leverage digital technologies and digitized data, he said, the Central Bank had rolled out a couple of systems through its Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GHIPSS).
They include thee-zwich, Gh-Link, Mobile Money Interoperability, and QR Code and making sure that the underlying payment system runs smoothly is the least we should expect of the financial system if we are to realize the vision of continental free trade.
He stressed that since payments were at the heart of the day-to-day operations of a free trade system, negative spillover effects could be serious if something goes wrong.
Therefore in 2019, the Government introduced the Payment Systems and Services Act, 2019 (Act 987), under the supervision of the Bank of Ghana, to consolidate the laws relating to payment systems, payment services, and regulated institutions in the electronic money business.
The advent of this legislation, Dr. Bawumia explained that, had helped deepen financial intermediation and financial inclusion, not only in Ghana but across the continent.
” I am hopeful that the rollout of the Pan – African system will synchronize successfully with the payment systems architecture developed by Central Banks across Africa and bring about a reduction in cost, time variability, and decreased liquidity requirements of commercial banks and central banks settlements.
Bitcoin
“I encourage the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), a partner entity in this conference, to help its members build a solid and resilient productive capacity to benefit from the AfCFTA implementation.
That, he said, would complement the Government’s effort in providing both the required leadership and investments in implementing the continental trade protocols and related action plans.
He expressed the belief that the conference would deepen the conversations on the need for Africa to design its unique models, which would provide an enabling structural transformation of Africa’s economy and thereby, placing Africa on a sustainable long-term growth path.
Arat Hosseini is a 6-year-old Iranian boy whose first video caught the attention of the world a few years ago. In the video, “a little girl” was seen dribbling on a field. That little girl turned out to be the long-haired boy Arat, who was trained to be an athlete before he could even walk by his father.
Recently, photos of Arat’s six-pack abs and training videos have been spread, helping the boy’s internet star career “take off”.
Arat’s father, Mohammed Hosseini, said he started gymnastics for his son when he was just a 9-month-old baby. At the age of 2, Arat appeared in international publications. At the age of 3, Arat was able to climb the wall, swing the bar quickly – movements that require skills and physical strength that adults are unlikely to do.
Arat is most impressive in physique. The boy’s biceps, shoulder muscles, and chest are extremely solid. Many fans named Arat the strongest 6-year-old boy in the world. But that’s just the beginning.
A potential football star
Arat quickly discovered his passion for football and proved to be very “adept”, causing both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to keep an eye on them.
wonder kid
Born in Iran, Arat now lives in the UK to study at Liverpool Academy. When expressing his dream of one day playing for the Spanish football club Barcelona, Arat was praised and encouraged by Lionel Messi – his favorite player.
The boy has more than 4 million followers and regularly receives more than 1 million likes every time he posts a new photo. “After realizing my son’s talent, at the suggestion of people around me, I opened an Instagram account. It was especially welcomed not only in Iran but also abroad,” said Arat’s father.
On the contrary, Mohammad is accused of forcing his son to train too hard, depriving him of his childhood for profit. But Mohammad has always denied these allegations. He considers Arat to be an active child and enjoys sports activities.
Ebony’s Spirit has entered into a new lady – Abeiku Santana
Popular radio presenter on Okay FM, Abeiku Santana has hinted that she’s introducing a singer who possesses the spirit of the late Ebony Reigns.
The award-winning radio presenter who calls himself radio mu IGP cautions female artists who claim to replace Ebony to stand firm and that the real one is two months away.
This is what he has to say “In two months’ time am bringing a female artist and she is going to take over the voice of the female artists in Ghana. This lady am bringing is the one coming to replace the late Ebony Reigns, all those artists claiming to be Ebony should stand well.
Ebony has returned and entered into that lady. Watch out for that lady and Black Sherif for one year and see what will happen in their lives”
Industry players, stop your foolishness and stupidity -Shatta Wale
As music industry players and Entertainment pundits hail new artists making waves in the music scene, outspoken multi-award-winning dancehall artist Shatta Wale seems not happy.
The Melisa hitmaker has thrown a heavy punch to industry players describing them as not wearing better clothes.
Shatta wrote “Artists like Yaw Tog, Kweku Flick, Amerado, Kofi Jamar, and other upcoming artists shouldn’t think they are on the same pair with the likes of Sarkodie, Captain Planet, Bukbak, Medikal, and Stonebwoy etc.
The industry players should stop their stupidity and foolishness, the industry players doesn’t even wear any better clothes.
Shatta Wale
The new generation should go to Sarkodie if they are rappers, they should come to Stonebwoy and I if they are doing reggae- Dancehall”.
Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie, has stated that portraying roles of a ritualist in movies is his calling.
Sharing a snippet of a recent movie role via his verified Instagram page, the actor said, “Bros, leave am, ritual movies na my calling. The facial expression, the body language, everything. I make such characters look so real.
“Now I understand why boys dey say make I cut soap for dem. If no be say I know myself I for dey fear myself small. I used to be a lover boy in movies, what happened?” (sic)
A few weeks ago, the actor who mostly features as an occult member took to his social media page to enlighten his fans who have been asking him about doing money rituals that he is not a ritualist but a good actor. He said,
“The son of Nollywood’s living legend, Pete Edochie, said, “Some people are sending me messages begging me to show them where they can do money rituals. Come on now guys, come on. Na film I dey act.
“Just like American action films where one man will defeat a whole city of bad guys. Na storyline be that e no dey happen. Is it now a crime to be a good actor? Make I no chop??? Na wa for una oo.”(sic) Born Yul Chibuike Daniel Edochie, the actor is named after popular Russian actor, Yul Brynner.
Yul-Edochie
Edochie Joined Nollywood in 2005 when he featured in his first film titled ‘The Exquires’, alongside the Late Justus Esiri and Enebeli Elebuwa.
Actress cum poet Lydia Forson is a no-nonsense lady who will respond in an equal manner to any social media attack.
The award-winning actress responded nastily to a Twitter fan over her reaction to the passage of the LGBT+ bill.“this woman koraa wat be your problem or u no get a man to f*** u well anaa se wahyeda” the fan wrote
“you’re definitely one of those guys with a hole in their mattress.
PANAFEST is alive! Deputy minister Mark Okraku- Mantey assures
Deputy minister of tourism, arts, and culture Hon. Mark Okraku-Mantey has assured us that the annual Pan African Festival is alive and kicking.
Hon. Okraku-Mantey wrote on his Twitter handle just after leading the wreath-laying ceremony at the Dubois Centre, George Padmore Library, and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra
“ PANAFEST is alive! On behalf of Hon. Awal Mohammed, I led the 2021 Panafest/Emancipation wreath-laying ceremonies at Dubois Centre, George Padmore Library & Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. Other significant events will be held at Cape Coast, Assin Manso & Assin Praso this week”
Yvonne Nelson, A Diva To Emulate – Producer David Owusu
In the early stages of my movie-making career as an executive producer more than a decade ago, one of the very first top movie stars I was opportune to work with was and is the ever gorgeous, business-minded, and straightforward Yvonne Nelson.
Initially, my first impression of her personality was the bluntly rude and difficult to handle type but after our first encounter on the movie Deadly Obsession, which featured prominent actor Jim Ike, Nikki Samonas, the late Rev. Eddie Quophie amongst others, I then realized the sexy legged screen goddess was just fantastic and the best one can boast of in the industry.
I went on to cast her in my second movie WHO AM I which became a hit. Yvonne’s Tears, trials, and Pain continued.
Over the years, Yvonne Nelson has moved on from one success story to another.
Challenges such as facing a ban by the leadership in the movie industry in Ghana in 2010 and the tag on bleaching did not deter the actress-turned-entrepreneur from moving to greater heights.
By dint of hard work and perseverance, Yvonne Nelson, YN as I call her started producing her own movies.
Heels and sneakers, area code, fix us and many more are all top-notch movies produced by the sexy diva. Awards upon awards from different angles, appearing on BBC Africa, and having quite a number of movies on Netflix are some of the many achievements of the Venus Films discovery actress.
Most enviable among all her achievements are the establishment of @YNislands, a serene resort and a place to relax, and a first-class school by all standards located in East Legon Hills.
Yvonne Nelson
Knowing Yvonne Nelson for over a decade now, one thing I cherish most about her is the zeal to always stand for the less privileged in society.
I would not be surprised to see Yvonne Nelson working at the high office in the UN someday on humanitarian grounds and support.
Actress cum poet Lydia Forson is a no-nonsense lady who will respond in an equal manner to any social media attack.
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Weightlifter Hilidyn Diaz is the first to ever win a gold medal for her country Philippines 🇵🇭.
