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Ghana's opposition leader John Mahama officially won the country's election on Monday, easily defeating the ruling party candidate after voters punished the government's economic management and high living costs. Mahama won 56 percent of the votes in Saturday's presidential ballot, compared to the ruling party candidate and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who secured 41 percent, the electoral commission said announcing official results. The landslide comeback for former president Mahama ended eight years in power for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose last term was marked by Ghana's worst economic turmoil in years, an IMF bailout and a debt default. "These eight years have witnessed some of the darkest periods of our governance," Mahama told crowds of supporters blowing horns and whistles in his party office in Accra. "This mandate also serves as a constant reminder of what fate awaits us if we fail to meet the aspirations of our people." Bawumia, a former central banker, had already quickly conceded defeat on Sunday, acknowledging Ghanaians wanted change after the government failed to shake off widespread frustration. Bawumia also said the Mahama's National Democratic Congress (NDC) party had won the parliamentary vote in Saturday's election. Official results for the parliament are still being tallied. Mahama, 66, had previously failed twice to secure the presidency, but in Saturday's election he managed to tap into expectations of change among Ghanaians. He promised to "reset" Ghana, usher in economic revival and renegotiate parts of the country's $3 billion IMF accord. In his acceptance speech, Mahama promised reforms and "severe" measures to bring Ghana back on track. More from this section "The journey is not going to be easy... because the outgoing government has plunged our dear nation into the abyss," he said. "I am certain that we shall win the battle." With a history of democratic stability, Ghana's two major parties, the NPP and NDC, have alternated in power equally since the return to multi-party politics in 1992. But Ghana's economic woes dominated the 2024 election, after the continent's top gold producer and world's second cacao exporter went through a debt crisis, the default and currency devaluation. Turnout for Saturday election was 60.9 percent, a slide in participation from 79 percent in the 2020 election, results showed. With a slogan "Break the 8" -- a reference to two, four-year terms in power -- Bawumia had sought to take the NPP to an unprecedented third mandate. But he struggled to break from criticism of Akufo-Addo's economic record. While inflation slowed from more than 50 percent to around 23 percent, and other indicators stabilised, economic concerns were still a clear election issue for most Ghanaians. That frustration opened the way for a comeback from Mahama, who first came to the presidency in 2012 when he was serving as vice president and then President John Atta Mills died in office. During campaigning, the former president also faced criticism from those who remember his government's own financial tribulations and especially the massive power blackouts that marred his time in office. bur/pma/givFirst-degree murder: Nikolas Ibey found guilty in 2022 death of Savanna Pikuyak
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Ghana's opposition leader John Mahama officially won the country's election on Monday, easily defeating the ruling party candidate after voters punished the government's economic management and high living costs. Mahama won 56 percent of the votes in Saturday's presidential ballot, compared to the ruling party candidate and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who secured 41 percent, the electoral commission said announcing official results. The landslide comeback for former president Mahama ended eight years in power for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose last term was marked by Ghana's worst economic turmoil in years, an IMF bailout and a debt default. "These eight years have witnessed some of the darkest periods of our governance," Mahama told crowds of supporters blowing horns and whistles in his party office in Accra. "This mandate also serves as a constant reminder of what fate awaits us if we fail to meet the aspirations of our people." Bawumia, a former central banker, had already quickly conceded defeat on Sunday, acknowledging Ghanaians wanted change after the government failed to shake off widespread frustration. Bawumia also said the Mahama's National Democratic Congress (NDC) party had won the parliamentary vote in Saturday's election. Official results for the parliament are still being tallied. Mahama, 66, had previously failed twice to secure the presidency, but in Saturday's election he managed to tap into expectations of change among Ghanaians. He promised to "reset" Ghana, usher in economic revival and renegotiate parts of the country's $3 billion IMF accord. In his acceptance speech, Mahama promised reforms and "severe" measures to bring Ghana back on track. "The journey is not going to be easy... because the outgoing government has plunged our dear nation into the abyss," he said. "I am certain that we shall win the battle." With a history of democratic stability, Ghana's two major parties, the NPP and NDC, have alternated in power equally since the return to multi-party politics in 1992. But Ghana's economic woes dominated the 2024 election, after the continent's top gold producer and world's second cacao exporter went through a debt crisis, the default and currency devaluation. Turnout for Saturday election was 60.9 percent, a slide in participation from 79 percent in the 2020 election, results showed. With a slogan "Break the 8" -- a reference to two, four-year terms in power -- Bawumia had sought to take the NPP to an unprecedented third mandate. But he struggled to break from criticism of Akufo-Addo's economic record. While inflation slowed from more than 50 percent to around 23 percent, and other indicators stabilised, economic concerns were still a clear election issue for most Ghanaians. That frustration opened the way for a comeback from Mahama, who first came to the presidency in 2012 when he was serving as vice president and then President John Atta Mills died in office. During campaigning, the former president also faced criticism from those who remember his government's own financial tribulations and especially the massive power blackouts that marred his time in office. bur/pma/givNone
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The Miami Hurricanes, who once appeared to be a near-lock for the College Football Playoff, are not playing for a national title. Instead, they will play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. That bowl berth against Iowa State is a let-down for fans with dreams of a sixth national title in their minds, as well as players hoping to compete for a championship. However, Miami’s trip to Orlando and the lead-up to it are still crucial periods for the Hurricanes for multiple reasons. First, it’s a chance for the program to achieve something it has not done in more than two decades: win 11 games. Although the 11th win won’t get them closer to a championship, it is a good sign of the program’s progress over Mario Cristobal’s tenure. It would also end UM’s five-game losing streak in bowls. “We’re not satisfied,” Cristobal said. “We want to win every single game. We won 10. We were close on the other two, but close isn’t good enough. We want progress. We’re hungry and driven to get better, and so that’s what our focus is on: to improving as a football program, to getting better, to moving into the postseason with an opportunity against a great football team like this and putting our best on the field.” People are also reading... There are signs the Hurricanes will show up at close to full strength for the bowl game. Running back Damien Martinez announced he was going to play, and star quarterback Cam Ward said in a video call posted on social media that he intends to play, as well. “We’re trying to win our first bowl game in 20 years,” Ward said in the video, mistaking the length of UM’s long bowl losing streak. “We’re going hard.” Playing in the bowl game also provides the opportunity for the Hurricanes to get in several practices between now and the game. That means Miami can develop its young players and prepare them for next season during both the practices and the bowl game itself. “It’s extremely valuable,” Cristobal said. “You really don’t have many opportunities throughout the course of the year — time is limited more and more each season with your student-athletes. I want to state this and be very clear: it’s very important, it’s ultra-important for the University of Miami to continue to develop and grow and progress by stressing the importance of offseason opportunities ... You learn a lot about your team and learn a lot about your people and your program when you head to the postseason.” Of course, there are potential negatives. Players can get hurt; Mark Fletcher Jr. suffered a foot injury in the Pinstripe Bowl last year that cost him all of spring practice. A poor performance can also potentially set the tone for next season, like how Florida State, fresh off a playoff snub last year, suffered a devastating loss against Georgia in the Orange Bowl and went on to a dismal 2-10 season this year. “This is the ending of ’24 and the beginning of ’25,” Cristobal said. “This is the last opportunity to be on the field and carry some momentum into the offseason. So it is, in essence, it is the most important game because it’s the next game. “There’s a lot of excitement in the form of opportunity for our guys. Our guys love to play football. The chance to play one more time with this special group — this is a special group of guys now. They’ve worked hard to really change the trajectory of the University of Miami, and they want to continue to elevate the status and the culture at the University of Miami. So certainly a ton to play for.” ____ Get local news delivered to your inbox!
RICHMOND — He boasts that he can ring up Snoop Dogg on speed dial. Samuel L. Jackson depicted him in a Hollywood blockbuster. He commands speaking fees in all corners of the country, carrying trading cards and copies of his own book that he autographs for anyone who asks (and even some who don’t). And on Thursday night, Ken Carter was one of about two dozen people inside a basketball gym, where the only signs a game was taking place were the squeaks of sneakers and four buzzers to signal the end of each quarter. The stands were empty. There was no band, no students but for a few stragglers on their cell phones. Coach Carter is back at Richmond High School . Now 65, a grandfather and 25 years removed from the 1999 season depicted in the 2005 box-office hit, he faces a distinctly different challenge this time around. Look no further than the final score in his first game back on the bench, a 55-31 loss to a seven-player team from a small private Oakland academy. “Back in the day, the stands were full. I mean, totally full,” Carter said. “But I guarantee by our sixth game, we’re going to have this place full.” It was the Oilers’ fourth game of the season and their fourth loss. Carter had other engagements that prevented him from attending the previous three, forcing them to forfeit twice, and at first glance, he didn’t appear to be there Thursday, either. In his initial run with the program, from 1997-2002, Carter gained a reputation for wearing a suit and tie on game days and requiring his players to do the same. It was one of a number of rules set forth, as well as maintaining at least a 2.3 GPA, in a contract he had all of his players sign. Things have changed, and so has Carter’s wardrobe, which featured a navy blue, school-branded sweatsuit and unlaced white sneakers. He pledged to turn boys into men when he took over the program the first time around. Now, it’s about turning boys into basketball players. Back then, he inherited a team that had 45 players to fill out varsity, JV and freshman rosters. The team he took over this fall has 10 members, most of whom were struggling to fill out their jerseys. “Our kids are undersized, some of them their first year ever playing basketball,” Carter said. “I enjoy coaching here now more than I ever did, with the kids and their attitudes. The attitude of the kids is just wonderful. ... We have no problems academically. We’re just physically not a big team. But I think that’s going to change next year. I think we’re going to be pretty good next year.” Richmond has cycled through four coaches the past four years while posting one winning season, including a 1-21 finish last year while being outscored by an average of 48.5 points per game. Senior Jayden Briscoe said he believes Carter, a star player at Richmond in the 1970s, is dedicated to rebuilding the program. While it was Carter’s first time on the sidelines for a game, he has been coaching the team through practice all summer. “He makes us work a lot harder,” Briscoe said. “The other coaches, no hate to them, but their practices were a lot different. It’s a different work ethic. Carter, he’ll have us (scheduled to) practice for two hours and we’ll end up being there for four hours. The other coaches, it would be an hour and 30 minutes.” Carter plans to put his own resources into the program and hopes that his name recognition can prevent some of the area’s most talented players from opting for private school, such as Salesian, the private power just down the road that qualified for the state Open Division tournament. “There’s not a college coach in America that I can’t call that’s not going to return my call,” he said. The setting that inspired the film, where he returned Thursday night, couldn’t feel further from the bright lights of Hollywood. No player on the court had been born when the movie was released. But Carter clearly still carried weight with the current generation. “I wanted to see him so bad,” said Irvelle Winchester, a freshman guard for the opposing Envision Academy. “It was something that was local, so I liked the movie a lot. I didn’t know who he was until I watched it, but I was like, ‘Dang.’ How he turned a trash team into a good team. I lowkey look up to him.” After one physical play, Winchester fell to the floor and Carter jumped from his seat on the bench to go check on him. Afterward, Carter stuck around to take photos, sign autographs and chat with the entire opposing team and its coaches. After the handshake line, he made a beeline for the parking lot and returned with a stack of cards that he signed and passed around, along with a few copies of his book. “I’m one of the so-called celebrities that you can touch,” he said. “People ask me, ‘Why did I return to Richmond?’ First of all, it was just the love of Richmond. I’d like to see this school be extremely successful. Now I have a Rolodex of resources, so we can get things done. ... This completes the circle.”Trump tests ethical boundaries with branded merch. (And all sales are final)Manitoba plans to stiffen U.S. border control, says Kinew
GETTING from A to B on public transport, roads, walking and cycling were the top three issues raised in consultation for a 10-year blueprint for the future of Lake Macquarie. Login or signup to continue reading With 90 suburbs wrapped around the jewel in the crown of the city, locals have limited access to regular public transport services to where they want to go. Community members have clearly told the council they want better-quality roads built to keep up with development and fix bottlenecks. They also want to be able to walk and cycle safely to the local shops. The draft 10-year Community Strategic Plan will go before the council on Monday, put together with the help of feedback from residents who took part in online surveys, forums, pop-up sessions and a community summit between June last year and August 2024. In the document, Lake Macquarie mayor Adam Shultz said the council will strive to develop lively local and strategic centres, balancing new growth with environmental preservation and the relaxed lifestyle the community loves. "We also want to prioritise attracting visitation and investment by ensuring we remain an exciting place to do business and a unique tourism destination," he said. "We will do this by partnering with a range of organisations, community groups and other levels of government. "The community has told us that employment, housing, access to open and community spaces as well as environmental protection are at the forefront in their minds." Access to open and community spaces ranked highly, and community support and safety were both in the top 15 most mentioned themes during public engagement. The plan outlines where the council is now and identifies key challenges and risks for the city over the next decade. Those challenges include a growing population , forecast to go from 220,000 in 2024 to 244,000 in 2035 and 260,000 in 2046. The council will need to plan for infrastructure to support housing, education, health and transport needs. While community members recognised the city needs to embrace development, they said they want it to be appropriate and not at the expense of the environment or lifestyle. The community is also ageing, with a median age 10 per cent higher than the NSW average, and the council expects the trend will drive demand in health services and infrastructure. The city's economy is moving away from mining and manufacturing to services and knowledge-based industries. Social and business services are projected to grow to 52 per cent of jobs by 2035. According to the council, the jobs of the future will require an increasingly skilled workforce with growing opportunities in the circular economy , adaptive reuse of former mining land and renewable energy. In the document, Lake Macquarie council chief executive Morven Cameron said the forward-thinking plan provides a clear blueprint to deliver for the community. "The plan reflects a significant amount of community engagement, and it outlines the position we are in today and key issues which we will need to address to achieve our long-term aspirations as a city," she said. "We are committed to ensuring our community finds it easy to be involved in the decision-making process and are given the chance to have their say." If the council votes in favour of the draft plan on Monday, it is expected to go on public exhibition for 62 days. Madeline Link is a born and bred Novocastrian who started her career as a journalist in the New England North West in 2016. She is an experienced council and court reporter, former deputy editor of the Northern Daily Leader and two-time Kennedy Award finalist. In unrelated incidents, she previously reported on country music in Australia's country music capital and was once flung across Lake Macquarie in a power boat at more than 100 kilometres per hour. Maddie now works at the Newcastle Herald with a focus on Newcastle council. To keep up with my stories, follow my X @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au. Madeline Link is a born and bred Novocastrian who started her career as a journalist in the New England North West in 2016. She is an experienced council and court reporter, former deputy editor of the Northern Daily Leader and two-time Kennedy Award finalist. In unrelated incidents, she previously reported on country music in Australia's country music capital and was once flung across Lake Macquarie in a power boat at more than 100 kilometres per hour. Maddie now works at the Newcastle Herald with a focus on Newcastle council. 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