Rapper Kendrick Lamar has released a surprise eight-track album, Untitled Unmastered, comprising outtakes from the Grammy-winning To Pimp A Butterfly.
Filled with jazz solos and politically-charged lyrics, it appers to be a companion piece to Butterfly, rather than a standalone record. All of the tracks are untitled, save for the date they were recorded. Strangely, its appearance seems to have been prompted by basketball star LeBron James. The sportsman tweeted Lamar’s record label boss Anthony Tiffith following the rapper’s incendiary Grammy Award performance – in which he debuted a verse that alluded to the 2012 death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin – demanding “you have to release those untitled tracks ASAP!” Tiffith replied he would think about it and, earlier this week, hinted at the release in an Instagram post: “I’ve decided to drop a project one day this week. I won’t say what day or who.” He later posted that fans should thank James for the new release.
Mrs Diana B. McBagonluri, an author, has called on the Ghana Education Service to re-design its curriculum for basic schools to include reading as a front role subject.
She said it is important to give reading the needed attention in the educational curriculum.
Mrs McBagonluri said this at the launch of 10 books she authored for pupil’s in basic schools.
The publisher of the books are the EPP publishing Group.
Mrs McBagonluri said when basic schools are equipped with reading books for children, it would help widen their knowledge and improve their performance at the junior high school level.
Mrs McBagonluri appealed to parents to encourage their children to read books to broaden their horizon and knowledge.
Mr Faisal Ibrahim Cisse, Territorial Manager of EPP, said it is good to publish books meant for the children, adding that the books would help children in many ways to improve on their knowledge.
He called on stakeholders in the educational sector, especially authors to write books that would help children improve their reading skills at the basic level as it is the foundation of their development.
Mr Imoro Awudu, Chairman of the occasion, called on parents to ensure that their children read extensively to open their minds and help them improve their pronunciation of words.
Mrs McBangonluri holds a Master of Arts in English Literature from the Rosemont University, Pennsylvania, USA; a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from the University College of Education, Winneba; and a teacher Certificate from the St. Monica’s Training College, Ashanti-Mampong.
She is also a graduate from St. Francis of Assisi Girls Secondary School, Jirapa.
Source: GNA 
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Tertiary Education, has said Government decision to print text books for the country’s educational sector was in the right direction.
This, he said, will create about 1,400 jobs in the country’s publishing industry for the unemployed youth.
Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa said this when he toured Buck Press, Type Press, Graphic Communications Press and Colour Planet Press houses.
The printing press industry which has the capacity of printing at least 20,000 to 40,000 books daily are to be considered for the printing of text books for the country’s educational sector.
He said it was clear that Ghana has no excuse in sending printing jobs outside the country when printing press houses have capacity to do the same jobs.
He said the printing press he visited has the capacity to print and are currently working below 40 per cent of their capacity and that the 60 per cent was the 1,400 jobs that will be created in the industry.
He said the President John Dramani Mahama has also granted a tax waiver for raw materials and equipment imported meant for the publishing industry to help sustained the industry.
Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, Managing Director of Graphic Communications, said his outfit installed its KBA Press in 2011 and has added a quarter fold on it specifically because of the text books works with the capacity of printing 40,000 sections of books.
He said Ghana has more than the capacity needed for the printing of books and that this will also build the human resource of the country’s publishing industry.
Mr Cobby Asmah, Managing Director of Type Press, expressed their readiness to print the text books as they have put in place the right infrastructure more than four years now awaiting the contract.
He said it was a good initiative by Government adding that a taskforce was needed to be created to monitor the printing activities.
The Deputy Minister, who was accompanied by Mr Aruna Nelson, Procurement Director of the Ministry, was taken through the printing processes at all the press houses visited.
Source: GNA 
The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) has intensified activities to revive the patronage and usage of e-zwich cards.
She pointed out the relevance in using the e-zwich card in financial transactions, which include security and convenience.
Mrs. Arthur has also appealed to Ghanaians to promote and use “what is ours” and also promote domestic payments.
She assured the public GhIPSS is committed to building confidence in the efficient management of the electronic payment system.
E-zwich was introduced in Ghana in 2008 with high patronage but the biometric smart cards have since remained mere plastics in the wallets and purses of some patrons because of difficulties in using them.
The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement System’s road show for mass e-zwich registration in the Ashanti region would be replicated in other parts of the country.
Source: Ibrahim Abubakar | tv3network.com |Ghana
The Executive Director of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Yaw Akrasi Sarpong, has called for the need to reform drug addicts specifically smokers rather than jailing them when arrested.
Three final year students of Adventist Senior High School in Kumasi have been stripped of their boarding status for stealing a goat on campus belonging to one of their housemasters, authorities say.
The school’s notice board
Investigation by TV3 Online has revealed the incident took place during the end of last term and it was upon resumption of school this academic term that authorities announced their decision in the memo
As their punishment, the memo said the three students have been withdrawn from boarding house, and that “if they are seen anywhere near the boarding house without permission, they will be given indefinite suspension”.
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|tv3network.com|Ghana
Twitter @steviekgh
