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We obtained approval for purchase of Vehicles – Ghana Audit Service

By
Daniel Opare
-

The Ghana  Audit Service has discounted media reports that  it did not seek approval in the purchase  of   some 27 vehicles for its operations .

The Daily Guide newspaper in its Tuesday september 4 , 2018 edition  reported that the Audit Service acting on the authourisation from  the Auditor-General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo,  spent a whopping GH¢7.6 million to purchase 27 vehicles  without going through the right tender processes but  the  service  says it obtained approval from its  Central Tender Review Board (CTRB).

The paper  had stated that the  vehicles were purchased from the Audit Service’s 2017 budgetary allocation, as well as funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)  and the vehicles includes some  five Toyota Land Cruiser Prados, one Toyota Land Cruiser V8 and 21 Toyota IMV Hilux Deluxe pickups.

According to the  paper ,although the procurement of the vehicles went through the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), the expenditure was well above the threshold of the Auditor-General, as well as the Entity Tender Committee of the Audit Service.

The paper  alleged  that  the purchases were made at a time Mr. Domelevo is said to be at loggerheads with members of the Governing Board of the Audit Service  and had accused him of sidelining them in the running of the Service.

The paper   also  reported that Daniel Yaw Domelevo is running a one-man-show at the Audit Service and has promised to ignore all decisions of the board which he claims are contrary to the Constitution.

The Audit Service however in a in a statement issued  on Wednesday  says  it did nothing untoward  in  the purchase of the cars  as it went through all the procurement channels and aslo parried the allegations against  the Auditor General.

Below are details of the statement

Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the Daily Guide newspaper of Tuesday September 4, 2018 (Issue 207/18) with the above headline. The story seeks to paint a picture of wrong doing on the part of the Auditor-General in procuring vehicles for the operations of the Audit Service. We wish to correct some of the inaccuracies in the publication as follows:

1. The “ace journalist” alleged that the vehicles were procured “without going through the right procurement processes” but failed to tell us the processes (may be tendering procedures) that we should have used instead of the national competitive tendering -that we think is the most appropriate and which we used;

2. The publication alleges that the cost of the vehicles was above the approval limit for the Auditor General and the entity tender committee of the Audit Service. This is true but if the “ace newspaper” and its source had checked from the Central Tender Review Board (CTRB), they would have been told that Audit Service obtained concurrent approval from the CTRB as required by the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) and the Public Procurement Act, 2016 (Act 914 as amended);

3. It was also alleged that we bought 27 vehicles at the cost of GH47.6million. This again is untrue. We bought 32 vehicles at the cost of GH46,870,511.65.

4. It was alleged that the procurement was made from “Audit Service 2017 budgetary allocation. This is false -the procurement was made from the 2018 budgetary allocation.

5. It was alleged that the Board did not know about the Procurement. – The Audit Service financed the purchase of 28 of the vehicles from the 2018 budget estimates, which the ASB approved. After the ASB had approved the Audit Service’s budget or estimates for 2018, the Board Chair, Prof. Edward Dua Agyeman wrote on 31st October, 2017, to the President submitting the estimates for the year 2018 which was later laid before Parliament in accordance with Section 27 of the Audit Service Act 2000 (Act 584).

On page 50 of the document, is a request for the amount of GH441,261,688.00 to be approved for Capital Expenditure. The break down provided by the Board includes the “…purchase of cross country vehicles (pick-ups) and six 4×4 vehicles will be purchased for the Auditor-General and his Deputies all at a proposed cost of GHC6,300,000.00″(emphasis)

6. We encourage the Journalist, Daily Guide, and or their source to tell us the laws we violated or what was done contrary to the provisions of Public Procurement Act 2016 (as amended) and the Public Financial Management Act 2016 but, they should keep their opinions to themselves.

7. The paper alleged that the Auditor-General is running “one man show”. This is false. For the records, 2018 was the first time the governing board (ASB) was not only involved in interviewing staff but the panel was made of only board members (plus a representative from the public services commission) for promotion to management level as well as being present at a press representative from the public services commission) for promotion to management level as well as being present at a press conference the Service organised when we issued our audit report on the liabilities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies 2016.

We believe that facts are sacred and that is why we have provided these facts. Audit is a trekking business and we will like to assure the public that the vehicles were genuinely procured and are being used to carry out several audits across the country. The Audit Service wishes to re-assure the public that protecting the public purse is our core mandate. We will continue to honour this call and to be law abiding.
In conclusion, it is hoped that the “ace journalist” Mr. Gribril Abdul Razak and the Daily Guide will read Article 187(7)(a) of the Constitution and Sections 11, 13, 16, and 18 of the Audit Service Act 2000 in order to appreciate the fact that in the performance of “his functions under the constitution or any other law the Auditor-General shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority” (emphasis).

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Sinotruk international to establish assembly plant in Ghana

By
Daniel Opare
-

 

Sinotruk International, China’s first heavy duty truck manufacturer, has signed an agreement with the Government of Ghana to establish an assembly plant in Ghana, to serve both Ghanaian and West African markets.

This was after the Ministry of Trade and Industry, on behalf of the Government of Ghana, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sinotruk International, on Wednesday, 5th September, 2018, at the Ghana-Shangdong Business Conference, for the establishment of the plant.

Speaking to the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, after the signing ceremony, Mr. Zhang Yuzong, the General Representative of Sinotruk International, indicated that the company has a proud history of being manufacturers of a wide range of heavy duty truck, buses, special trucks, engines and their sets, parts and special chassis.

The assembly plant in Ghana, when established, Mr. Zhang Yuzong said, will, initially, have the capacity to assemble some 1,500 trucks per year for sale in Ghana and West Africa.

Having produced some three hundred thousand (300,000) trucks in 2017, and possessing an employee strength of forty thousand (40,000) people, the Sinotruk Representative was confident that the establishment of the plant in Ghana will create jobs for Ghanaians, as well as rake in significant amounts of revenue for the country.

The establishment of the assembly plant, he added, will result in the training of Ghanaians to assemble the trucks, and the transfer of technology.

On his part, President Akufo-Addo expressed his delight about Sinotruk International’s decision to establish the assembly plant in Ghana.

“We are very appreciative of your interest in our country and its development, and whatever we need to do to grow your business in Ghana, we are prepared to do it,” the President said.

He assured Sinotruk International that “Ghana is a peaceful and stable country, and we are strong believers in the rule of law”, adding that the agreements that have been reached between the Government of Ghana and Sinotruk will be respected.

With West Africa’s current population of some 350 million people set to reach some 500 million in 20 years, President Akufo-Addo described Ghana as “an ideal place to have your base for reaching the West African market.”

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

‘Sinohydro arrangement is innovative outside the box thinking’ – Bawumia

By
Daniel Opare
-

 

The decision by the Nana Akufo-Addo government to enter into a $2 billion Bauxite for Infrastructure barter arrangement with the Sinohydro Corporation of China is an example of the innovative, out-of-the-box thinking influencing the government’s approach to national development, the Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has indicated.

This arrangement seeks to leverage a fraction of Ghana’s bauxite resources to address the infrastructure challenges, and will provide a wide variety of projects including hospitals, bridges, interchanges, roads, affordable housing, rural electrification, and many others in line with government’s development agenda.

Speaking at the 2018 Ghana Economic Forum in Accra on Wednesday 5th September, 2018, Vice President Bawumia stressed that Sinohydro’s mandate is to construct infrastructure, not engage in mining, and dismissed suggestions that the Nana Akufo-Addo government had sold Ghana’s bauxite to China for $2 billion.

Rather, government has set up a holding company which will soon enter into a joint venture agreement with potential mining companies, refineries and off-takers from across the world who have the capacity, to establish the bauxite mines and refinery, and the proceeds from Ghana’s share of the refined bauxite will be used to pay for the infrastructure.

“What this arrangement does basically, is to say that we agree with Sinohydro that they provide us with our choice of infrastructure worth $2 billion. The Sinohydro Corporation which is going to provide the infrastructure is not the company that is going to mine the bauxite and they are not taking our raw bauxite.  In other words, Sinohydro is not a mining company,” Vice President Bawumia emphasised.

“Rather, government in our plans has set up a holding company backed by an Act of Parliament called the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Authority that will soon enter into a joint venture agreement with potential mining companies, aluminum refiners and off-takers to establish the bauxite mines and refinery.

“After mining and refining, Government of Ghana will then use her share of the refined bauxite to pay-off whatever cost of the infrastructure provided by the Sinohydro Corporation. This will only happen after a period of three years and on condition that Sinohydro has completed the infrastructure projects that the people of Ghana has asked them to do.”

Vice President Bawumia stressed:

“So Sinohydro will be providing the infrastructure, but Ghana will choose its own partner to set up the integrated aluminium development industry. The partners could come from America, Australia, Canada, China, wherever. Once we are confident of the capacity of the potential partners, we can enter into partnership with them.

Alluding to the misinformation campaign being waged against the entire arrangement, Vice President Bawumia assured that the necessary checks and balances have been put in place to ensure Ghana is not short-changed.

“Cynics are throwing dust in the eye of the public about the viability of the arrangement. Like all multiyear financial arrangements, there are risks. Our strong technical team has been working out the details of the entire arrangement and running sensitivity analysis to determine our degree of vulnerabilities and the terms most beneficial for Ghana.”

The Ghana Economic Forum (GEF) serves as a platform to bring captains of industry to discuss, debate key issues affecting the Ghanaian economy, and to put forward solutions to help overcome the many challenges.

Participants at the forum included Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, Chairperson of Groupe Nduom, and other captains of industry. It was organised by the Business and Financial Times.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

“Your investments are safe & protected in Ghana” –Akufo-Addo to China’s business community

By
Daniel Opare
-

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has told the business community in China that their preferred investment destination in Africa should be Ghana, because the country “is a haven of peace, security and stability, and because she protects legitimate investments.”

Speaking at the Ghana-China Investment Forum, on Wednesday, 5th September, 2018, in Shangdong Province, President Akufo-Addo urged the Chinese business community to take advantage of the growing business-friendly climate in the country to invest in Ghana.

“Our flagship agricultural programme, “Planting for Food and Jobs”, our renewable energy sector and ICT growth are all areas of considerable opportunity. These are all sectors you can profitably partner with Ghanaian companies, some of whose representatives have come all the way from Ghana to be here with me,” he said.

Having taken the decision to “walk hand-in-hand with China and her business community, because we desire to walk far”, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that China has, since 2015, been Ghana’s largest trading partner, with total trade amounting to some $6.7 billion in 2017.

However, with the majority of exports from Ghana to Shangdong, for example, being crude oil, bauxite and its concentrates, sawn timber, i.e. raw materials, the President told the Chinese business community that “we want to stop being mere producers and exporters of raw materials, and, thereby, deal with China, and, indeed, Shangdong province, on the basis of things we make.”

It is for this reason that he commended to Chinese business community his government’s flagship policy of “1-District-1-Factory”.

“Thus far, companies that have established factories in Ghana, under this policy, are importing machinery and equipment duty-free, are not paying import duty on raw materials imported for production, and are enjoying a corporate income tax holiday for five years,” the President said. 

He indicated that, additionally, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has attached two technical experts to provide free advisory services to these companies.   

Touching on the country’s infrastructural deficit, President Akufo-Addo said his government is embarking on an aggressive public private partnership programme to attract investment in the development of both the country’s road and railway infrastructure. 

“We are hopeful that, with solid private sector participation, we can develop a modern railway network with strong production centre linkages and with the potential to connect us to our Neighbours to the north, i.e. Burkina Faso, to the west, i.e. Cote d’Ivoire, and to the east, i.e. Togo,” he said.

The President continued, “We believe that this is an area where Chinese technology and expertise would be very welcome, and we are happy to note that some important Chinese companies are, in fact, making efforts to enter the rail sector of our economy. We will know the result shortly, but I am confident that there will be Chinese participation in the development of the Ghanaian rail sector.”

He told the business community that there are several projects in roads, water, housing, transport, industry, manufacturing, agriculture, petroleum and gas, the exploitation of Ghana’s mineral wealth of bauxite, iron ore and gold, amongst others, which are being structured to attract private sector financing.  

President Akufo-Addo, thus, urged them to invest in Ghana either through the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre or set up as a Free Zones enterprise. 

“Regardless of where the investment is, government has instituted a number of incentives for the investor, depending on the nature of the activity, or the location of the investment,” the President added.

These incentives, he said, include exemption from payment of import duty for plant and machinery; 25 per cent tax rebate for companies located in regional capitals; 50 per cent tax rebate for companies investing outside regional capitals in the regions; and 0% corporate tax for ten (10) years, and, thereafter, 8% for companies in the Free Zones enclave.

President Akufo-Addo, in conclusion, stressed to the Chinese business community “in future, when you are deciding to invest in any part of the world, certainly in Africa, Ghana should be your preferred investment destination.

“As I have said, we are keen on establishing a business-friendly economy to attract foreign direct investments to exploit our country’s great potential on mutually satisfactory terms. I can assure you, once again, that your investments will be protected.

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com    

Ghana Theatre festival 2018 is this September!!!

By
Daniel Opare
-

 

Imagine a week-long, soothing session of flawless drama, matchless spoken word, beautiful food, thrilling dance and side-splitting comedy. Imagine a whole week that would have National Theatre bursting at its seams with great content from revered groups such as the National Symphony Orchestra, National Dance Company, University of Ghana’s School of Performing Arts (Dance Department) among others. Call it the Ghana Theatre Festival!

Guess what. The much-talked about annual Ghana Theatre Festival is finally here. From Tuesday, 25th September to Sunday, 30th September, 2018, National Theatre is going to be the center of energetically exciting performances from varied groups from across the nation.

There will be no dull moment at this year’s festival which is a part of National Theatre’s 25th Anniversary. There will be theatre programs for schools, fashion shows, art exhibitions, dance- drama, drama, symposia, film shows, poetry nights, music and comedy.

The icing on the cake is the all-week “Made in Ghana” fair, running concurrently with the festival, which is set to give some good prominence to local content and products at the same venue. Other production houses set to give patrons a great treat at the festival include Laugh Line, Two Idiots Production, Ehalakasa, Village Minds and F.C Productions.

All activities have been well-rehearsed and branded to make National Theatre the cynosure of all eyes in the last week of September. Main productions slated for the weekend, Saturday and Sunday, September 29th and 30th, are to take place at 4pm and 8pm each day. All others are scheduled between 9am and 10pm.

Need a place to be entertained with classic theatrical performances, good food and music? The place to be is National Theatre this September!

Scribe News

The 50 best iPhone games, ever

By
Daniel Opare
-

Even if you're a dedicated console or PC gamer, chances are you've downloaded a mobile game to stay entertained while on the go.

Mobile gaming has come a long way since the days of Snake on a Nokia phone. Apple's App Store had more than 350,000 games to choose from as of Q1 2018, according to Statista. But which ones are the best?

We asked the PCMag staff for their favorite iPhone games of all time. The list includes both free and paid titles, and each one remains in the App Store, ready to download. Try a few you've never played before, and leave your suggestions in the comments.

50. Alto's Adventure

Released in 2015, Alto's Adventure is a side-scrolling endless runner snowboarding game where you tap the screen to make jumps and perform tricks. Along your journey you will complete goals, earn points, and collect coins that can be used to upgrade your equipment and abilities. What really makes Alto's Adventure stand out is the game's art style and atmosphere. A sequel called Alto's Odyssey was released in 2018.

Price: $4.99 

49. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Nintendo brought its social simulation series Animal Crossing to mobile with 2017's Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. This installment of the series allows you to build your own campsite while also making friends with other players, completing requests, and building new items.

Price: Free

48. Bastion

Bastion is an action role-playing game that sends players out into a post-apocalyptic fantasy world to collect shards of rock to power a structure known as the Bastion. The game stands out for its immersive story, voiceover narration, breathtaking graphics, and unique soundtrack.

Price: $4.99

47. The Battle of Polytopia

This real-time strategy game puts you in control of a tribe of people as you build your strength, expand your territory, fight your enemies, and ultimately build an empire. The Battle of Polytopia allows you to play on your own, against a friend, or through online multiplayer.

Price: Free

46. Blek

Praised for its simplistic gameplay and minimalistic art design, Blek is a puzzle game that allows the player to input touch-screen gestures and create patterns to complete each level. Released in 2013, the game proved to be a simple, yet popular addition to the iPhone's stable of games.

Price: $2.99

45. Carcassonne

The popular German board game Carcassonne goes digital in this turn-based strategy video game. Players place down random tiles and claim pieces of land as their own in order to accumulate points. The game makes it easier to keep track of points and allows players to tweak traditional rules. It is even new-player friendly with a built-in step-by-step tutorial.

Price: $9.99

44. Clash Royale

At first, Clash Royale resembles a fairly traditional tower rush game, but in actuality, it combines collectible cards, tower defense, and online multiplayer to create a truly unique gaming experience. Since its worldwide release in 2016, Clash Royale has been nominated for many different awards and is now a popular international eSport.

Price: Free

43. Crashlands

Crashlands debuted in 2016 as an adventure-crafting RPG adventure with a wild plot to follow. Stranded on an uncivilized planet, you must fight monsters, create resources, and fulfill quests while trying to stay alive. The game was released on both mobile and PC, but the phone version was far better received.

 

Price: $6.99

42. Crossy Road

Crossy Road presents itself as something of an endless version of Frogger, where the player controls a character as they attempt to cross a series of busy streets. The game draws upon many of the most popular games in the app store to create a fun gaming experience with a beautiful pixelated art style. The game has since incorporated many different characters and cultural references over the years.

Price: Free

41. Desert Golfing

If you like hours of endless golfing in the middle of the desert, you'll love the 2014 arthouse game Desert Golfing. Courses are randomized and the movement of the ball is not as reliable as other golf games because everything takes place on sand. The game has been praised for its simplicity, great visuals, and difficult levels.

Price: $1.99

40. Device 6

A primarily text-based adventure game, Device 6 takes players through interactive puzzles and story elements in order to help the main character escape an island. The game has been praised for its unique style of storytelling, strong prose, and sound effects.

Price: $3.99

39. Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition

Final Fantasy XV proved to be a popular enough game that it spawned its own mobile game in 2018 called Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition, which is an abridged version of the original. While the game's plot remains intact, some sidequests and the open world element were removed in order to create a tighter gameplay. The game's art style was also completely retooled.

Price: Free

38. Fire Emblem Heroes

Last year, Nintendo brought its popular Fire Emblem series to mobile with Fire Emblem Heroes. This free-to-play tactical role-playing game won over gamers with straightforward gameplay that was easy for new users to adopt. It went on to win multiple Mobile Game of the Year awards and other nominations.

Price: Free

37. Florence

In Florence, players follow the story of Florence Yeoh through 20 chapters of an interactive story filled with minigames. The 2018 game takes about only 30 minutes to get through but has earned rave reviews for its storytelling, character building, and art direction.

Price: $2.99

36. Fortnite

Fortnite took PC gamers by storm last year with its accessible gameplay, free online connectivity, and quick setup. The game has since expanded to mobile, allowing players to enjoy the same gameplay they would have if they were on a home console. Be sure to check out our tips once you download.

Price: Free

35. FRAMED

This narrative-based puzzle game asks you to rearrange the panels of a noir-style comic book in order to ensure the main characters escape their would-be captors. If you love strong visuals, subtle storytelling elements, and great music, this is the game for you.

Price: $3.99

34. Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy

This is one of the weirdest games you'll play on your iPhone. Getting Over It puts you in control of a character with his legs stuck in a cauldron and a hammer as his only means of movement. You must use the hammer to scale a mountain, but there are no save points, so you can fall backward at any time, undoing all the progress made up to that point. The game also contains voiceover commentary from designer Bennett Foddy.

Price: $4.99

33. Gorogoa

This game was in development for six years, and it shows. Gorogoa is all hand drawn by developer Jason Roberts, who produced a visual masterpiece. There is no text, leaving players to complete puzzles and explore the themes of spirituality and religion all on their own.

Price: $4.99

32. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

In 2014, the World of Warcraft franchise got a little bigger when it expanded into mobile gaming with Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft. Hearthstone is a free-to-play, turn-based, collectable card game that borrows from the existing World of Warcraft Trading Card Game. Its popularity has led to the release of numerous expansion packs and even an eSport tournament. Praise has focused on the game's strategic elements and simplicity to play.

Price: Free

31. Her Story

If you want a unique gaming experience, try Her Story. This 2015 release is billed as an interactive movie video game, where you are given pieces of a police interview via live-action performances on a simulated desktop and are asked to figure out the truth.

Price: $3.99

30. Hidden Folks

Taking a page from the popular Where's Waldo book series, Hidden Folks gives players interactive, animated scenes in which they must find specific elements within a busy scene. Players can tap on the hand-drawn art to interact with it as they search for characters, objects, and animals.

Price: $3.99

29. Hitman Go

The Hitman franchise landed on mobile in 2014 as turn-based puzzler Hitman Go. Each level of this game is set up like a board game, where the protagonist must take out his opponents in a style of play that feels a little bit like chess.

Price: $4.99

28. Lara Croft Go

Following the success of Hitman Go, Lara Croft was also given the mobile treatment in Lara Croft Go, which incorporates different elevations in order to make it feel more like a true Lara Croft game. It paid off, winning Apple’s best iPhone game of 2015.

Price: $4.99

27. Infinity Blade

The Infinity Blade franchise debuted in 2010 as the first mobile game to use the Unreal Engine, putting it visually on par with the most advanced console games at the time. The series includes three fighting role-playing titles; Infinity Blade II arrived in 2011 and Infinity Blade III launched in 2013. Players build up their character while going through a series of one-on-one battles, requiring the use of swipes and taps to attack and dodge.

Price: $6.99

26. Limbo

Back in 2010, Playdead released the black and white puzzle platformer Limbo, which saw the player take control of a boy looking for his sister through a dark and dystopic world. The game stood out for its challenging puzzles and gruesome depiction of the main character’s demise. Limbo helped elevate the conversation of video games as an art form.

Price: $3.99

25. INSIDE

The spiritual successor to Limbo, Playdead's INSIDE is billed as a puzzle-platformer adventure game set in a dark dystopic world of government experimentation and zombie-like creatures, and is noted for its monochromatic, 2.5D graphics.

Price: Free

24. Leo's Fortune

In Leo's Fortune, you control a puff ball with a mustache who speaks in a thick Eastern European accent as he attempts to collect coins. The player uses touch-screen gestures to slide, jump, and float Leo through the world. Some puzzle-solving skills are required to move through each stage of the game.

Price: $4.99

23. Lumino City

What awaits you in Lumino City may be the most innovative gameplay to reach the iPhone to date. It's a point-and-click adventure, which serves as a sequel to the game Lume, but the art is what sets it apart. All the visuals were built by hand, putting you inside an intricate world of stop motion.

Price: $4.99

22. Miracle Merchant

Miracle Merchant is a truly unique solitaire-style card game that sees the player serve as the apprentice to a master alchemist. Your job is to use decks of cards to create potions for customers, and it's all bundled together with a bright and charming drawn art style.

Price: $1.99

21. Oddmar

In this take on the classic platformer genre, you control a Viking along his quest to secure his place in Valhalla among the greatest warriors in the world. A combination of stunning graphics and a compelling storyline make Oddmar a game to truly get invested in. Will he have to do as he's told and burn down the forest or can he prove himself another way? Throughout your journey you'll collect secret items and improve your abilities.

Price: $4.99

20. Oxenfree

This supernatural horror adventure centers around a group of kids who must uncover the truth about a mysterious island. Oxenfree is presented as a 2.5D graphic adventure without cutscenes, where dialogue takes place during gameplay. The game is unique in that there is no way to obtain a game over. Instead, the outcome of the game is based on the decisions the player makes, meaning there are multiple endings to be found.

Price: $4.99

19. Pac-Man 256

Taking its name from the Pac-Man Level 256 glitch, Pac-Man 256 puts a new spin on an old classic. Pac-Man consumes pellets and power-ups while also avoiding ghosts, just like the original game. However, this time the level is endless and the bottom of the screen contains a glitch that will consume the player. The game also adds new power-ups in order to spice things up.

Price: Free

18. Papers, Please

Papers, Please is a pretty niche simulation game. You control an immigration officer in a dystopian country, and you process papers to determine which people you should allow to cross the border, and who you should turn away. The player is given an ever-increasing list of rules and requirements to check documentation against, and is also forced to make moral decisions that could go against the approved criteria. The game comes with a wide selection of alternate endings based directly on your decisions.

Price: $7.99

17. Plague Inc

In this game, the player creates and evolves a pathogen in order to spread a plague throughout the world and eliminate the population. Plague Inc is a strategy-simulation game that incorporates realistic variables in order to give the player a challenge in developing the ultimate viral weapon. You clear objectives as you evolve and adapt the plague to consume the world.

Price: $0.99

16. Pokémon Go

Nintendo took the next step with its Pokemon franchise in 2016 when Pokemon Go was launched worldwide. The mobile app combined location-based and augmented reality technology to turn the act of catching Pokemon into a social and physically active event. The game continues to receive updates, adding new Pokemon, items, Raid Battles, and other features. Check out our list of tops and tricks to help you become a Pokemon Master.

Price: Free

15. PUBG Mobile

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has been a big hit on the home console and PC gamingmarket, so it makes sense that mobile would be the next place to expand. Players can now come together in a giant battle royale mode right from their mobile device. PUBG has never been so easy to play.

Price: Free

14. Reigns

In Reigns, you are a medieval king who must make decisions on how best to rule over your land. The game is presented as a card game, and you swipe left or right to accept or reject the advice of your advisors. Your decisions have consequences, which affect your standing with the church, military, economy, and people. If these four pillars of society are not kept in balance, your reign will end. A sequel called Reigns: Her Majesty allows you to control a queen, adds more cards, and introduces items.

Price: $2.99

13. Ridiculous Fishing

In Ridiculous Fishing, the player catches as many fish as possible before pulling them into the air and shooting them by tapping the screen. Each hit earns the players money, which can be used to purchase new items and upgrades. It won Apple's iPhone Game of the Year award in 2013.

Price: $2.99

12. Rymdkapsel

Rymdkapsel uses a minimalistic art style to turn this real-time strategy game into a unique iPhone gaming experience. Players build a space station, manage resources, and defend against attacks while trying to conduct important research. There are special rooms on your base for specific functions, and the game ends if all workers meet their doom.

Price: $3.99

11. Shadowmatic

Shadowmatic is a fairly simple game; a player rotates abstract objects in a spotlight until the shadow becomes a recognizable shape. But its detailed and realistic renderings and impressive game mechanics have earned it quite the following.

Price: $3.99

10. Shadowgun Legends

One of the best first-person shooters on the iPhone has to be 2018's Shadowgun Legends, a sequel to the 2011 Shadowgun. The series focuses on futuristic, elite corporate mercenaries and has spawned several spin-offs and expansions. Shadowgun Legends gives players over 200 campaign missions and a bevy of multiplayer modes to enjoy.

Price: Free

9. Spaceteam

In the cooperative multiplayer Spaceteam, players connect via Wi-Fi and work together to prevent their spaceship from crashing. Because of the frantic style of gameplay, players often find themselves shouting instructions to each other, which in turn increases the level of stress.

Price: Free

8. Threes!

Remember this one? Players slide numbered tiles and combine them according to multiples of threes. The game keeps going until there are no more moves, and a final score is counted.

Price: $5.99

7. Transistor

Transistor is a sci-fi RPG that revolves around a singer taking possession of a mysterious and powerful sword, and received a lot of attention for its impressive storyline and soundtrack.

Price: $4.99

6. Triple Town

In Triple Town, players are given tiles on a 6×6 game board and work to match the tiles in groups of threes in order to merge them into one advanced piece. The game keeps going until there are no more moves, and the more advanced the tile, the more points the player gets.

Price: Free

5. Valiant Hearts: The Great War

This puzzle adventure game is set during the events of World War I. You control four different characters through various sections of the game, each possessing unique abilities to navigate their levels.

Price: Free

4. The Witness

This 3D puzzle game, influenced by the Myst series, puts players on a mysterious and beautiful island, where they must solve puzzles in order to advance further in their journey.

Price: $9.99

3. XCOM: Enemy Within

XCOM: Enemy Unknown returned an obscure franchise to prominence in 2012. As a turn-based tactical video game, its success led to an expansion game called XCOM: Enemy Within. XCOM 2 and XCOM 2: War of the Chosen have also been released, but it's always best to start at the beginning. Though Enemy Unknown has been removed from the app store, Enemy Within is still around.

Price: $9.99

2. Year Walk

Walk Year delivers a truly unsettling gaming experience. It's based around the Swedish Year Walk from folktale, where participants compete in a series of divinations along a journey in order to receive a glimpse of the future. The game’s initial ending and clues from a secret part of the app can be used to unlock the true ending, and even then it still leaves you wondering what truly happened.

Price: $3.99

1. Donut County

Earlier this year, a game called Hole.io was the No. 1 downloadable arcade game on the App Store, and quite a few people—including those here at PCMag—had fun with the simple game. Turns out, however, it was a clone of the upcoming Donut County, Polygon reports. In that game (and Hole.io), you control a hole in the ground to eat up structures around you. The more you suck up, the bigger the hole gets, allowing you to eat bigger and bigger objects. Use the hole to solve puzzles and navigate the game's story. The real version arrives Aug. 28 and you can pre-order it now.

Price: $4.99

Trans man jailed for tricking women with unknown object during sex

By
Daniel Opare
-

A transgender man who has not fully transitioned has been jailed for sexually assaulting two women with unknown objects. Carlos Delacruz, 35, targeted two women by pretending to have sex with them using a ‘flesh and blood’ prosthetic penis. However, they suffered ‘extreme pain’ and thrush, not knowing what Delacruz was using to penetrate them. He was reported to police and arrested but made no comment during interviews.

However, during a medical examination in custody it was found ‘he did not have a penis’.

He has now been jailed for three years and given a five-year non-harassment order against the women and will be on the sex offenders’ registers indefinitely. His solicitor Cameron Tait revealed that he had been born female in Madrid in 1983 and moved to Scotland in 2010.

He changed his name to Carlos when he turned 16 having adopted a male appearance at the age of eight. Delacruz’s gender is now officially recognised as male on his birth certificate, passport and Spanish ID card. However, he has not gone through the full transition to male.

Mr Tait said that Delacruz had used a prosthetic penis during sex and that he ‘considers it to be part of him’. Sheriff Stirling told Delacruz he had caused ‘physical and psychological harm’ to both women by repeatedly sexually assaulting them with ‘a flesh and blood penis’ over the length of their relationships.

The sheriff said the first victim was ‘made to feel like it was her fault’ she was not falling pregnant to Delacruz and that ‘she now suffers flashbacks and panic attacks’ due to the incidents. Sheriff Stirling, who read the victim impact statements, said the woman ‘now feels dirty and used’ and that she was forced to move house to get away from him.

The second victim was said to have ‘bled for days’ after having sex with Delacruz around ten times over an eight-month period and currently suffers from ‘difficulty with sleeping and eating’.

Previously the court was told Delacruz had fooled the women after entering into long-term relationships with them by using the prosthetic when he had sex with them. Both women said they believed Delacruz had a real penis and that he refused to allow them to see him naked and always performed in bed with the lights out.

Fiscal depute Kirsten Cockburn told the court Delacruz had been in a relationship with both women at separate times between May 27, 2013 and May 14 last year.

Ms Cockburn said: ‘The accused was in a relationship with one of the women between May 2013 and January 2016 and they first had sex in May 2013. ‘She believed she was being penetrated by his penis. The accused does not have a penis.

‘She knew he was self conscious about his body and always wore a t-shirt. ‘[On one occasion] the accused turned his back [while in bed together] and she heard him with a [condom] wrapper. The accused turned around and inserted his penis into her. ‘During intercourse he would hold on to the base of the penis with his hand.’

The fiscal added Delacruz and the woman would have sex around once a month despite her suffering ‘extreme pain’ and only being allowed to touch his body ‘over his clothing’. ‘During their relationship the woman continued to believe he had a penis’, the fiscal added.

Ms Cockburn added the woman suffered from thrush following sex with Delacruz. The couple split up in January 2016 and the woman informed the police in May that year after she learned Delacruz had been lying to her and did not have a penis. Delacruz then began a second relationship with another woman in August 2016 after they met at work and after two months of dating they moved in together.

The second victim also ‘believed Delacruz had a penis’ and the couple always had the lights off during when they had sex. She also suffered ‘extreme pain from penetration’ during lovemaking and on the first occasion had to tell Delacruz to stop as she was bleeding. The couple then had sex around ten times over the course of their nine-month relationship and the woman also contracted thrush afterwards.

The relationship failed in May 2017 due to ‘financial matters’ the couple were having and the court was told the woman discovered Delacruz’s sordid secret the following month and decided to call in the police. Delacruz is now in a new relationship and his current girlfriend is aware that he uses a prosthetic penis during sex.





MetroUK

“Insults do not win elections” – Kojo Yankah replies critics

By
Daniel Opare
-

 

Founder of the African University College of Communications (AUCC) and former editor of the Graphic Newspaper, Kojo Yankah, was criticized after he made an appeal to the former President, John Dramani Mahama, to rethink his decision to contest the 2020 elections.

Kojo Yankah, who made the appeal in a post on Facebook mentioned that his admiration for the former President deepened after he lost the 2016 election and accepted the results accordingly.

The AUCC founder asked the former President to reconsider his decision since no leader of any country has been able to solve all the problems of that country.

“To the best of my knowledge, you performed to the best of your ability with the team, message and strategies you brought on board”, he added.

Some supporters of former President John Dramani Mahama who did not take the advice of Kojo Yankah lightly attacked the educationist on social media.

Kojo Yankah in a recent Facebook post noted that his long experience with communication teaches him that insults have never won an argument, let alone an election.

According to him, his practice has been to ignore insulting, unproductive and discourteous remarks most of which are borne out of ignorance, disregard or disrespect of other people's opinions, and a total lack of understanding of the issues at stake.

Below is the new post:

Democracy, Freedom of Expression and the National Good.

It's a test of our ability to make progress while we debate that has been exhibited since my last post. I am familiar with critical expressions of One's opinion; that is the virtue of living in a free society. My practice has been to ignore insulting, unproductive and discourteous remarks most of which are borne out of ignorance, disregard or disrespect of other people's opinions, and a total lack of understanding of the issues at stake. My long experience with communication teaches me that insults have never won an argument, let alone an election.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Typhoon Jebi leaves trail of destruction across Japan

By
Daniel Opare
-

At least 10 people have been killed by Typhoon Jebi, the worst storm to hit Japan in 25 years.

Jebi left a trail of destruction across the west of the country, hitting major cities like Kyoto and Osaka.

Flights, trains and ferries were cancelled but thousands of passengers stranded at Osaka's international airport have since been evacuated.

As the winds slow down and move north, people are being urged to stay alert for landslides and floods.

At least 300 people have been injured as a result of the typhoon, according to government spokesman Yoshihide Suga.

As of Wednesday morning, evacuation advisories had been issued for more than 1.2 million people.

More than 30,000 people were given stronger but still not mandatory evacuation orders, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

BBC

Government to peg GDP at 5% – Senior Minister

By
Daniel Opare
-

The Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Marfo has announced that government will soon propose a policy which will peg the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 5%.

Speaking as a guest speaker at the 2018 Ghana Economic Forum in Accra, the Senior Minister said Ghana will introduce Fiscal Responsibility Act and Fiscal Responsibility Council to enable the country maintain the fiscal deficits at 5% of GDP which will be backed by law.

“Ghana has experienced inconsistence growth in its development over the years and we are to consolidate the gains. As a result of these fiscal slippages and inconsistence in growth, government is working on establishing the Fiscal Responsibility Council to implement the fiscal enacted. The objective is to ensure government pegs its deficit to a maximum of 5% of GDP. The law is also to prescribe sanctions for violating the previsions of the Act”, he added.

He noted that we need such disciplines to make sure that we are able to get benefits of our resources.

The Ghana Economic Forum was established seven years go to facilitate dialogue between the private and public sectors in order to improve the business environment in Ghana.

It is also designed to support the development of Ghanaian businesses and contribute to their international promotion.

The annual event brings together Chief Executives, investors and high-level government officials to deliberate on economic and financial issues.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Hughes Boateng

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