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Every word from Mohammed Kudus ahead of Central African Republic game today
Midfielder Mohammed Kudus faced the media on Sunday ahead of our 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. The West Ham United man who is one of the key players in Ghana’s squad is positive about our chances against the Central Africans.
Kudus touched on being under pressure to qualify for yet another FIFA World Cup, playing in his favorite number 10 position, the strength of the squad and many more.
On playing under pressure
Obviously from our point of view we have personal goals and things we want to do so intrinsically, we have pressure every time from the expectations from ourselves. Also we are representing the whole team and the whole of Ghana and so there is pressure from every angle but our motivation and our aim to qualify for the World Cup, so that is the motivation that gets us going in every pressure we find ourselves.
On perception that top players in Europe struggle to play in Africa
Personally, in every game whether in Ghana or Europe, my motivation and my approach is the same and that is to help the team win. Yes I am one of the names they look out for in most of the games but everyone is quite important in the squad. Whether on the bench or whatsoever, like we saw against Mali, it’s the guys on the bench that came to win the game so everyone deserves the same respect and motivation just like us. We are a team, it’s the points that matters, whether I score or anyone else does, or however I perform, the most important thing is that the team wins and we keep improving as players. So personally, I try to do my best in every place I find myself. We started playing from here in Ghana and so there is no excuse as in weather, the pitch and all of that. There are things that come into play but the opponents face the same problems as well so there is no excuse for that but in every game I just try to do my best for the country and the team to get the three points.
On team having belief after comeback win against Mali
That belief has always been there even though it has not been showing in the past few games. Like I said we always want to go to the World Cup and that is the ultimate goal so whatever we do to arrive there that is what we are trying to do. Our Coach has his philosophy and ways of playing but certain games we have to win the hard way but the most important thing is the three points because every game matters here and so that is our ultimate goal.
On playing in different position and performance
I am a player with the versatility to play in different positions so definitely I see that as a positive thing for the Coach. Whichever position I find myself I will do my best for the team. But my best position is the attacking midfield, which is the position the Coach is using me here so there is no excuse not to perform. I will do my best in every game.
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
