The second week of September was nothing short of the first as prominent figures in Ghana once again dominated news headlines and social media commentary with controversial and unfiltered remarks which sparked widespread condemnations by a section of the public.
These figures made headlines with their bold and unfiltered statements, keeping them firmly in the spotlight as some of Ghana’s most talked-about figures of the week.
GhanaWeb once again takes a look at the top five 'loose talkers' of the week, emphasising on what they said and how the public reacted to their comments on issues regarding national development.
Efia Odo - Eat at your own risk
Contrary to her earlier claims on United Showbiz that she solely owns the restaurant she frequently flaunts online, Efia Odo has now stated that she actually owns about 40% of it.
To substantiate her claim, she has shared documents online proving her stake in the business.
Efia Odo’s post comes in response to rumours that she has been sacked from her ‘managerial’ position by the restaurant's real owner.
There have been widespread speculations that Kobby Sarpong, the owner of Ridge Condos in Kumasi, is the true owner of the restaurant.
Reports suggest that there is currently a dispute between the restaurant’s owner and Efia Odo, leading Sarpong to take over the business operations, including social media marketing.
Sarpong has created new social media accounts for the restaurant and instructed followers to disengage from the old accounts created by Efia Odo.
These developments have heightened the speculations that Efia Odo might have been sacked from her role.
However, in response, the socialite has taken to social media to clarify her position, posting some documents with the caption: “My 40% ownership of Eats Avenue Restaurant is very factual and backed by law. I don’t necessarily need to be at the helm of affairs as a proud legal owner. If in doubt, kindly refer to Reg. No. CS033890324 & TIN: C0063837021 on the Ghana Register of Companies records. Thank you.”
Shortly afterwards, she took to social media once again to announce that she is no longer affiliated with the restaurant.
She also tweeted these words, "I’m no longer affiliated with Eats Avenue, Eat at your own risk ☺️. Thank you."
Read the post and comments below:
My 40% ownership of Eats Avenue Restaurant is very factual & backed by law. I don’t necessarily need to be at the helm of affairs as a proud legal Owner. If in doubt, kindly refer; Reg. No. CS033890324 & TIN: C0063837021 on the Ghana Register of Companies records. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/MRi5Dct6Ft
— EFIAODO (@Efiaodo1) September 9, 2024
So Efia Odo lied on camera hmm pic.twitter.com/N0WlTshyDn
— Twilight (@the_marcoli_boy) September 9, 2024
Owner create new account say make Efia Odo take the old one do promote en 40 minutes hustle, you still dey doubt ? pic.twitter.com/mkQ1FKMsNM
— Twilight (@the_marcoli_boy) September 9, 2024
Information i am gathering is Ridge Condos owner Kwabena Sarpong might own Eats Avenue and not Efia Odo hmmm pic.twitter.com/Xquplxlnrc
— Twilight (@the_marcoli_boy) September 8, 2024
Efia odo on Snapchat 💔 pic.twitter.com/OIrwfvVlHX
— KING OF KUMASI (@Kingofkumasi_) September 9, 2024
I’m no longer affiliated with Eats Avenue, Eat at your own risk ☺️. Thank you 🙏🏾
— EFIAODO (@Efiaodo1) September 9, 2024
The real owner of Eats Avenue was like Efia Odo hw3 so mame aaa , wo de adane school feeding program pic.twitter.com/lbChuFXmMs
— Twilight (@the_marcoli_boy) September 8, 2024
Efia Odo too someone say spy Chop Bar give am , you dey walk around say ebe your own lmao
— Twilight (@the_marcoli_boy) September 8, 2024
Pius Enam Hadzide - World Cup Visa:
The New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for the Asuogyaman constituency, Pius Enam Hadzide, promised to facilitate travel opportunities for his constituents, including taking them to the 2026 World Cup scheduled to be held in the United States of America.
Addressing constituents during his campaign in the constituency, in a video posted by Citi FM on X, Pius Hadzide highlighted how he had helped some individuals travel abroad to explore greater opportunities in the past.
“Nananom, did you know that it takes 18 hours to travel from Ghana to Australia? Yet, I was able to assist some individuals in making this journey. The 2026 World Cup will be held in America, which is just a 7-hour flight from Ghana.
“If you, nananom, desire for your children to travel to America to work and send money back home, or if you are a young person eager to explore opportunities abroad, I promise to support you when I become MP," he is heard saying in Twi in the video.
Throwing shades at his opponent, Hadzide accused him of failing to improve the fortunes of the youth in the constituency during his time in office.
He urged the constituents to vote for him as their Member of Parliament, promising to reward them with opportunities to travel abroad to Europe.
“Unlike my opponent who has had the chance but failed to assist the youth, I will facilitate travel opportunities for all interested young people to destinations like Germany, America, the UK, France, and Canada.
“So, I kindly ask for your support in the election, and I will ensure that I help you achieve your dreams of travelling abroad,” he assured.
His comments were met with applause and cheers from the crowd he was addressing them.
TWI NEWS
Background:
This is not the first time Pius Hadzide has been linked to travelling or visa-related issues.
A Deputy Minister of Information at the time, Pius Enam Hadzide was accused of marring Ghana’s participation in the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Hadzide was accused of being involved in visa fraud and racketeering which led to the deportation of about 60 people from Australia.
The allegations resulted in his suspension by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from the sports portfolio, together with the acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Robert Sarfo Mensah; and the NSA board chairman, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang.
The matter was referred to CID for investigations, following which Mr Hadzide was cleared of any wrongdoing. He was later appointed Deputy Information Minister. Mr Baah Agyemang was also reinstated.
In and among Ghana’s delegation to Australia was a group of people who had been designated as journalists even though that was not true.
“The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Honourable Pius Enam Hadzide, was also mentioned as someone who influenced the inclusion of some people in the accreditation machine … Again the Deputy Minister’s name was mentioned as employing the services of one Patrick Ampadu to collect twelve thousand US dollars ($12,000) on his behalf from one Maxwell [Koffie Lugudor].
“The supposed Maxwell [Lugudor] was called and in his statement also denied having paid any such money to the said Patrick Ampadu,” a CID report said.
It was also alleged that there was a meeting between the sector minister and Pius Hadzide, together with the acting NSA director general, during which the director-general “admitted that he added four (4) names and the Board Chairman of the NSA also added five (5) names to the accreditation list”.
According to the CID report, “Even though a greater number of journalists and others applied through the link opened by the Gold Coast Organising Committee, all of them had their applications approved.”
It added that out of the 12 people who were handed over for investigation, three were indeed journalists from accredited media houses whilst one was a staff of the National Sports Authority.
“The remaining eight (8) were those found to have posed as journalists. They will all be arraigned before the court for making false declarations to obtain visas after we have obtained the necessary supporting evidence.
“The allegation that the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Honourable Pius Enam Hadzide, facilitated the inclusion of several names into the Commonwealth Games accreditation system could not be proven.
“Also allegation that one Patrick collected twelve thousand United States dollars ($12,000) from one Maxwell on behalf of Honourable Hadzide could not be established,” the CID report says.
The report added: “The alleged meeting between the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, his Deputy and the Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority where the Acting Director-General was alleged to have stated that he caused four names to be included in the accreditation list whilst the Board Chairman of the NSA also caused five names to be added have all been denied. There no evidence to support the alleged meeting and the confession.”
Watch video of Pius Hadzide below:
‘Vote for me if you want your children to travel to US for 2026 World Cup’ – Pius Hadzide. #GhanaPolls2024 #CitiVerify #ElectionBureau pic.twitter.com/ELb5hpRPlf
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) September 11, 2024
Kennedy Agyapong fumes at Kintampo North residents:
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, could not hold back his frustrations at residents of the Kintampo North Constituency in the Bono East Region during a campaign event at the constituency.
Speaking in a video clip of the campaign event which has gone viral, Ken Agyapong accused the people of Kintampo North of being ungrateful to his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to him, despite all the things NPP governments do for Kintampo North, they keep voting for the opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He indicated that he has the power, as Board Chairman of Ghana National Gas Company, to grant the request for the construction of an AstroTurf in Kintampo North but he is not going to do it.
“If you don’t vote for us and you ask us for development... I’m the chairman of Ghana Gas and I can give the approval for you to get the AstroTurf but I will not do it because you always vote against us.
“You take all the things in the world, but you don’t vote for us. So, I’m not bringing it (the AstroTurf) to you... we gave you a Controller-General but you were not pleased, we gave you the Director General of Immigration, and you were not pleased. What again should we give you for you to be grateful?" he asked in Twi.
He added, “We have to tell you the truth, we must not fear human beings. You also ask us for things and we do them for you but after that, you say you are members of the NDC. You vote for the NDC and no development comes here."
The Assin Central legislator challenged the chiefs and people of Kintampo to vote for the NPP in the December 7, 2024, general elections, for them to get the needed development.
Watch a video of his remarks below:
Kennedy Agyapong has threatened to withdraw his support from government's intention to build an Astro Turf for residents of the Kintampo North constituency accusing the people of treating his party unfairly.#TV3NewDay pic.twitter.com/X38qHS9zOu
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) September 13, 2024
NAPO promises to return seized excavators
Speaking to the chiefs and residents of Preatea Huni Valley and Mpohor in the Western Region, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) vice-presidential candidate, pledged that a future NPP government would return all seized excavators confiscated during the crackdown on illegal mining.
He also emphasized that the NPP flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has no intention of banning small-scale mining.
This assurance came in response to mounting calls for the government to impose a ban on small-scale mining to curb the environmental damage caused by illegal mining activities, particularly to water bodies.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh reassured the mining communities that the NPP is committed to allowing small-scale miners to operate freely, provided their activities do not harm the environment or pollute water bodies.
He underscored the party’s belief in regulating the sector rather than imposing outright bans.
“When the small-scale miners mine, they are able to get money to fend for their families. Small-scale miners vote for the NDC to win about 6 seats in Wassa, but now they [the NDC] say they will shoot and kill small-scale miners. Tell them the lies are enough. We will not shoot and kill anyone.
“We will give all seized excavators to you so you can do your work peacefully. This will help everyone to get money to fend for themselves and also for the community to develop. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will not collapse small-scale mining.
What we do not like is that you put a changfan on water bodies, but anyone interested in the government’s community mining scheme will be able to mine,” he said.
Man threatens to shoot and harm public officials in viral video
In a widely circulated video, a man identified as Ibrahim Mohammed, was heard issuing violent threats against several public officials.
The suspect, who is currently in police custody, who identified himself as "Commander Kanawu Revolution Leader," is seen in the video threatening to shoot and harm key figures, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare; and the Minister of the Interior, Henry Quartey.
In the video, he accused the IGP and the Interior Minister of orchestrating false recruitment into the Ghana Police Service.
The police placed later placed a GH₵50,000 bounty on him.
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