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Miss Golden Stool Week Three: Animuonyam adjudged Star Performer
Representing the people of Kumawu in the Ashanti Region, Animuonyam was last Sunday, November 19, 2023, adjudged Star performer in week three of the Miss Golden Stool Beauty Pageant.
Week three was dedicated to the history of the various Akan communities the contestants represented.
As a result, contestants took their time to narrate these historic feats creatively by blending culture and tradition.
On the night, Animuonyam told the audience the history of the people of Kumawu, how the town started as Apemso, their festival, difficult moments and triumphs.
She was able to tell the historical relationship between the people of Kumawu and Kumasi, as well as how Kum seed was used to determine the traditional capital of the Asante Kingdom.
Animuonyam said, Okomfo Anokye planted two kum trees in the forest and predicted that one tree would live and become the capital of Ashanti. Hence the name Kumasi (the tree lived); the place in which the other tree was planted became Kumawu (the tree died).
“The kum tree planted at Apemso withered, thus died, Apemso was subsequently referred to as Kumawu (“Kum awu” – Kum has died). That of Kwamang flourished hence Kwamang became known as Kumasi (“Kum asi – under the Kum),” she narrated.
Nana Adwoa Awindor the chief judge on the night announced the Star Performer by saying, “According to the judges and our technical team the best performer is Animuonyam.”
She advised Animuonyam to consider acting because she was able to aptly tell the stories through her amazing display on stage.
The judges on the night were enthused with her articulation and audience engagement to the extent that they clapped for her.
For her reward, Animuonyam received souvenirs from sponsors of the programme.
At the end of week three, two contestants, Araba and Oseikrom were evicted for lack of votes.
The judges for Week Three were Nana Adwoa Awindor, Agya Brefa and Mary Nyamekye.
Patrons would be thrilled with another exciting display this Sunday on Adom TV at 8:30 PM.
Season 5 of Miss Golden Stool was launched at a spectacular event on October 15, 2023 on Adom TV.
The pageant is aimed at celebrating Ghana’s cultural diversity, beauty, talent, and intelligence of the contestants.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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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
