A quick catch up on today’s top stories…
1) Many feared dead as heavy explosion rocks Bogoso
Many people are feared dead and several injured in an explosion that happened at Apiatsi, a suburb of Bogoso in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality. The entire Apiatsi community on the Bogoso-Bawdie highway has been affected by the explosion.
According to eyewitnesses, there was a head-on collision between a motorbike and a vehicle carrying a container with what is suspected to be mining explosives after which the vehicle caught fire. Few minutes after the collision, the vehicle exploded, killing an unknown number of people and injuring several others. The highway has been cut into two burying the vehicle.
2) Travellers no longer require full COVID vaccination to enter Ghana
The Ghana Health Service has relaxed its guidelines for Ghanaians entering the country, allowing for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated Ghanaians and resident foreigners to no longer provide evidence of full vaccination before entry.
This was announced by the Director General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, during a press briefing in Accra. By this, all such persons will be “exempted from the requirement of full vaccination before traveling to Ghana.”
3) Ex-Pope Benedict accused of failing to act in Munich Church sex abuse case
Former Pope Benedict XVI failed to take action against clerics in four cases of alleged sexual abuse in his archdiocese when he was Archbishop of Munich, a report found on Thursday, compounding a scandal engulfing the Catholic Church.
The report, commissioned by the archdiocese, said there were at least 497 victims of abuse, mainly young males. Many other cases had probably not been reported, said the lawyers. Benedict has previously denied wrongdoing over the cases.
4) Black Stars failed woefully despite having full support from gov’t – GFA President Kurt Okraku
President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku admitted the GFA and the Black Stars had all the necessary support to perform, yet they failed. Speaking to Moshosho of Asempa’s Ultimate Sports Show, Mr. Okraku admitted the team enjoyed all the necessary support in terms of cooperation, finance and logistics from the central government and the sector minister.
Despite the massive logistical and financial support the GFA had from government to ensure the best for the Black Stars, the team registered the Ghana’s worst performance in the history of the African Cup of Nations, a situation which has angered Ghanaians. The Black Stars and Ghana Football Association have come under eminent fire from the public for the disappointing show at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.
5) Massive sex scandal rocks international show, ‘The Voice’
The original Dutch version of global blockbuster TV talent show The Voice, which spawned local versions in over 150 countries, has been taken off the air after allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour, including by celebrities.
The scandal threatens to affect other figures in the Dutch media and entertainment world in the first big #MeToo moment in the Netherlands since the global movement to stop sexual harassment of women began some four years ago. A lawyer for one of the Netherlands’ best-known rappers, Ali B., a longtime coach on The Voice of Holland, told ANP news agency that two police reports were filed against his client.
