Norway’s men’s football team recently had a routine visit from the country’s anti-doping agency, but what made this visit unusual was the list of players selected for testing.
Among those required to give a urine sample was Manchester City star Erling Haaland.However, in an odd twist, the list also included two legendary Norwegian goal scorers, Jorgen Juve and Einar Gundersen—both of whom have long passed away.
Juve died in 1983, and Gundersen in 1962.
“We had a visit from Anti-Doping Norway [on Tuesday],” Norway manager Stale Solbakken said on Wednesday. “The following players were selected for testing: Erling Braut Haaland, Jørgen Strand Larsen, Antonio Nusa, Oscar Bobb, Einar Gundersen, and Jorgen Juve.
“Then I start to wonder. These were the names that were read out, and it was serious. So we had to call Anti-Doping Norway and ask, ‘Is there a hidden camera?’ So Einar Gundersen and Jorgen Juve were summoned. It was a bit late. Negative tests on both of them.”
Solbakken added: “They’ve probably taken the list of top scorers and added a few names.”
While Haaland and Larsen were with the squad, Bobb, 21, wasn’t with the group, as he’s out injured for three months with a broken leg.
And as for Gundersen and Juve, their place in Norwegian football history is assured. Juve scored 33 goals for Norway from 1928 to 1937, while Gundersen scored 26 goals from 1917 to 1928.
“It’s hard to say what happened, but normally we hit the target better,” Anti-Doping Norway (ADNO) communications director, Halvor Byfuglien, told the VG newspaper.
“All we can do now is admit we’re wrong. We can joke about it in the office today and then review our routines going forward.”
Family members of the lateGhanaian Paralympic coachwho passed away in Norway have gone missing after traveling to the country to handle his burial arrangements, according to reports.
Journalist Bright Kankam Boadu revealed that after the death of Coach George Gyamfi Gyasi, three of his relatives were sent to Norway to manage his funeral proceedings.
Upon their arrival, these family members disappeared and are now being pursued by Norwegian authorities.
“Following the death of the Ghanaian coach, some family members were sent to Norway to perform certain rites. The three family members who were sent have also absconded,” he said on Kumasi-based Pure FM.
The latest development adds to the bizarre story of how an 11-member Paralympic team fled upon arrival in Norway.
Providing further details on the issue, Saddick Adams of Angel Broadcasting Network said, “Gyasi, who led the team, did not collapse; rather, the head coach succumbed to a serious illness that led to his admission to Oslo University Hospital (ULEVAL).
“The scandal came to light after the head coach felt unwell. He couldn’t deal with the weather at the time, so he passed away.”
The Paralympics team has become topical after the president of the National Paralympics Committee, Samson Deen, revealed that the said 11-member team who absconded in Norway forged documents to secure visas and embark on the trip.
“They forged my signature on the letter and applied for visas for some people who have no affiliation with the Ghana Paralympic Team,” he said.
Samson Deen’s explanation followed a report from National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah, who, in a letter dated July 3, 2024, disclosed that 9 out of 11 members of the Paralympic team were missing.
Ernest Ayisi, Founder of the Ernestay Foundation, has firmly denied any involvement in the alleged forgery of a signature related to the Paralympic visa scandal involving Norway.
Ayisi’s denial comes amid accusations and an ongoing investigation into the legitimacy of the visa applications for the Fjordkraft Bergen City Marathon.
The Ministry of National Security released a letter dated July 3, 2024, detailing how nine out of an 11-member Ghanaian Paralympic team absconded upon arrival in Oslo.
The athletes had secured visas from the Norwegian Embassy in Accra to participate in the marathon on April 27, 2024. However, it emerged that the team had no intention of participating, with one member, Nana Antwi, caught attempting to travel to Sweden with a one-way train ticket.
Adding to the controversy, coach George Gyamfi Gyasi collapsed and later died at Oslo University Hospital. In the wake of these events, National Paralympic Committee (NPC) President Samson Deen has denied any involvement in the visa application process, claiming that his signature was forged.
In an interview with Joy Sports, Deen accused Theodore Mawuli Viwotor, former Secretary General of the Ghana Paralympic Football Association, and Ernest Ayisi of being behind the forgery. Ayisi responded to these allegations on Asempa FM, stating, “They [Norwegian Embassy in Accra] refused the visa application initially, demanding a more substantial letter for the visa to be granted. Atongo, a member of the team, mentioned he could secure such a letter from the NPC, but I only saw it shortly before the team’s travel.”
Ayisi vehemently denied any wrongdoing, asserting, “My name is not on the list. If I had wanted to facilitate an absconding scheme, I would have included my own family. I am not involved in any forgery. How could I forge a signature when I am illiterate? I have explained this to Deen, but he remains adamant. The letter in question came from his office. Are there not staff members working there? Why is he accusing me of forging his signature?”
The National Paralympic Committee has responded by suspending Mr. Theodore Mawuli Viwotor, Mr. Yaw Ayisi, and the Ernestay Foundation, pending further investigation into their alleged roles in the scandal.
The Minority Members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee are calling for an immediate investigation into the Norwegian Para-Athletic visa scandal, which has recently erupted following troubling reports about the Ghanaian para-athlete team.
The scandal emerged when nine out of an 11-member Ghanaian para-athlete team reportedly went missing upon their arrival in Oslo for the Bergen Marathon.
According to a statement from the Ministry of National Security, one para-athlete, Nana Antwi, has been detained by Norwegian authorities. Additionally, the team’s coach, George Gyamfi Gyasi, tragically died after collapsing at Oslo University Hospital on April 28, 2024.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has stated that it is actively collaborating with relevant authorities to investigate the incident. However, the Ministry has denied any prior knowledge of the team’s participation in the event.
In response to these developments, the National Paralympic Committee has suspended three individuals suspected of orchestrating the incident. Despite these actions, the Minority MPs are pressing for a thorough probe into the matter.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu, has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the team’s registration. He contends that the team did not officially register for the marathon, suggesting that they had no genuine intention to participate. This raises questions about how the team managed to circumvent protocols and institutions, hinting at potential misconduct.
“Diplomatic envoys or foreign service staff have questions to answer. They did not even register for the game. They had no intention to participate in the game,” Ablakwa remarked.
The scandal has also implicated the President of the National Paralympic Committee, Samson Deen, who claims that his signature was forged in the visa application process. “We engaged, we checked and we realised that the letter was written, they forged my signature, forged my letter, and applied for visas for some people who are not athletes,” Deen explained.
Ablakwa has questioned how the forgers obtained Deen’s letterhead and signature without assistance. He is advocating for a transparent investigation to restore Ghana’s image on the international stage.
“There clearly needs to be a probe, and it must be transparent. We should issue a report and carry out institutional reforms to send a strong message to international partners,” Ablakwa asserted.
The call for an investigation underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the urgent need for accountability to address the breach and prevent future occurrences.
President of the National Paralympic Committee – Ghana, Samson Deen, has firmly denied allegations that he authorized a group of Ghanaian para-athletes to travel to Norway for this year’s Bergen Marathon.
His comments come amid controversy surrounding the alleged participation of an 11-member team representing Ghana at the marathon held in Oslo, Norway.
In a recent statement, Deen addressed the confusion and allegations related to the death of an alleged member of the team.
A letter from the Ministry of National Security, dated July 3, 2024, and addressed to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, noted that a para-athlete named Nana Antwi had been apprehended by Norwegian security officials.
Deen categorically refuted the claims, asserting that he had not signed any documents related to the team’s travel or visa application.
He emphasized that his signature was forged in the visa application letter used by the purported Ghanaian representatives.
“We want to make things clear that the Ghana Paralympic Team has not applied for a visa, never has anybody, never has the NPC-Ghana, never have I signed any letter for and on behalf of the Ghana Paralympic Team, and never have we or any of our assigns or officers of the Ghana Paralympic Team or the NPC-Ghana have applied for a visa at the Norwegian Embassy. What you have seen in the media is a forged letter,” Deen stated.
Deen also appealed to the public to disregard the images and stories circulating about the situation.
“I want to appeal to the people of Ghana that the pictures, the stories that are going viral have nothing to do with any member or anyone they see in the picture. None of them are involved, or have or are associated with these people. The letters that were sent with my signature on them were forged,” he added.
The clarification from Deen aims to address the confusion and misinformation surrounding the alleged involvement of Ghanaian para-athletes in the Bergen Marathon and to reaffirm the integrity of the National Paralympic Committee – Ghana.
On Wednesday, Norway, Ireland and Spain said they will officially acknowledge Palestine as a state. This is a significant but mostly symbolic action that shows Israel is increasingly alone in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Israel criticized the decisions and brought back its ambassadors from the three countries.
Palestinian leaders were happy about the news because it confirms their goal to have their own country in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Israel took control of these areas in the 1967 Middle East war and still has power over them.
Many countries, including most of the United Nations, say there is a Palestinian state. This could lead to more support for Palestine, especially as even Israel’s friends criticize its actions in Gaza.
The move happened unexpectedly, but some European Union countries have been talking for weeks about maybe recognizing a Palestinian state. Supporters say that the war has proven that there needs to be a new effort to create two separate states for Israel and the Palestinians, which is something that was last tried 15 years ago but didn’t work out. The leader of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, does not support the idea of Palestinians having their own country.
This is the second time Israel’s reputation has been damaged this week. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court wants to arrest Netanyahu and his defense minister. The International Court of Justice is looking into claims that Israel has denied about committing genocide.
Israel called back its ambassadors from three countries and summoned their envoys. They said the Europeans were rewarding the militant Hamas group for attacking on Oct 7, which started the war. Israel Katz, who is in charge of foreign affairs for Israel, said that European ambassadors will see a very unpleasant video of the attack.
During the attack, Hamas-led fighters crossed the border, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. The person in charge of the ICC is trying to get permission to arrest three leaders of Hamas. Israel has attacked and killed over 35,000 Palestinians, and this has caused a big problem with not enough food and water. The ICC prosecutor said that Israeli leaders are using starvation as a weapon.
“Spain, Norway, and Ireland gave a gold medal to Hamas killers and rapists,” according to Katz.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, which is important to both Muslims and Jews, after hearing about changes in Europe.
“We won’t let anyone talk about a Palestinian state,” he said.
In response, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he would stop giving money to the Palestinian Authority, which could make it hard for them to pay their workers.
In the 1990s, Israel collected taxes for the Palestinians, and used the money to control and pressure them. After the Hamas attack on October 7th, Smotrich stopped the money from being transferred. But Israel decided to send the money to Norway, and then Norway sent it to the PA. Smotrich said on Wednesday that he was stopping that agreement.
Jake Sullivan, who works for the US government, said stopping the aid was a bad idea because it makes the situation in the West Bank unstable and makes it harder for the Palestinian people to be safe and successful.
Many people hold the view that creating a Palestinian nation alongside Israel is the most effective way to resolve the conflict.
Norway, Spain, and Ireland are going to officially recognize the Palestinian state on May 28. They have been friendly with both Israelis and Palestinians and have supported the idea of a Palestinian state for a long time.
They made their announcements one after the other very quickly. Norway was the first to help make the Oslo accords that started the peace process in the 1990s. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, “There cannot be peace in the Middle East without recognition. “
The country wants to make its office in the West Bank into an embassy.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said it was a very important day for Ireland and Palestine. He said that the announcements were planned together and that other countries might also join.
The leader of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, told his country’s lawmakers that he has been visiting countries in Europe and the Middle East for many months to get their support for recognizing and stopping the fighting in Gaza.
“This award is not meant to harm anyone, it’s not meant to harm the people of Israel,” said Sanchez. “It is something that supports peace, fairness, and doing the right thing. “
The president of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, is happy with some decisions and wants other countries to support the Palestinian people’s fight for freedom and independence.
Hamas is seen as a terrorist group by Western countries and Israel. They don’t think Israel should exist, but they might be willing to accept a temporary state on the 1967 borders. Israel is worried that if a Palestinian state is created, the militant group Hamas will try to take it over, which could be dangerous for Israel’s safety.
The announcements probably won’t change anything in the war in Gaza or the ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel took control of east Jerusalem and thinks of it as part of its capital. It also built many Jewish communities in the West Bank where over 500,000 Israelis now live. The people who moved to live in the West Bank have Israeli citizenship, but the 3 million Palestinians who live there are ruled by the Israeli military.
Netanyahu said that Israel will continue to keep Gaza safe even if Hamas is defeated, and the fighting is still happening. Early on Wednesday, a bomb from an Israeli plane killed 10 people in central Gaza. This included four women and four children who had nowhere to live and were staying there. The information comes from the hospital.
Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said that recognizing Palestinians as a political entity is an important step towards allowing them to determine their own future.
He said that in order to make a difference, we need to take real actions to stop Israel from taking over and building on Palestinian land, like stopping the sale of products made in settlements and financial support for them.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in an interview that it’s important to support the Palestinian state. He also said that they can only recognize it once.
“We used to think that we would get credit at the end of a process,” he said. “Now we understand that recognition should encourage and support a process. “
Manypeoplehold the view that creating a Palestinian nationalongsideIsrael is the mosteffective way to resolve the conflict.TheUS and Britain support the idea of a separate country for Palestinians next to Israel, but they think it should be agreedupon through negotiations. Netanyahu’s government says the problem can only be fixed by talkingdirectly to each other.Norway,Spain, and Ireland are going to officially recognize the Palestinian state on May 28. They have been friendly with both Israelis and Palestinians and have supported the idea of a Palestinian state for a long time.Theymadetheir announcements one after the other veryquickly. Norway was the first to helpmake the Oslo accords that started the peace process in the 1990s. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, “There cannot be peace in the Middle East without recognition. “The country wants to make its office in the West Bank into an embassy.Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said it was a very important day for Ireland and Palestine. He said that the announcements were planned together and that other countries might alsojoin.The leader of Spain, Pedro Sánchez,told his country’slawmakers that he has been visiting countries in Europe and the Middle East for many months to gettheir support for recognizing and stopping the fighting in Gaza.“Thisaward is not meant to harm anyone, it’s not meant to harm the people of Israel,” said Sanchez. “It is something that supports peace, fairness, and doing the rightthing. “Thepresident of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, is happy with some decisions and wants other countries to support the Palestinian people’sfight for freedom and independence.Hamas is seen as a terrorist group by Western countries and Israel. Theydon’t think Israel should exist, but they might be willing to accept a temporary state on the 1967 borders. Israel is worried that if a Palestinian state is created, the militantgroupHamas will try to take it over, which could be dangerous for Israel’ssafety.The announcements probablywon’tchangeanything in the war in Gaza or the ongoingfighting between Israel and the Palestinians.Israeltook control of east Jerusalem and thinks of it as part of its capital. Italso built many Jewish communities in the West Bank where over 500,000 Israelis now live. The people who moved to live in the West Bank have Israeli citizenship, but the 3 million Palestinians who live there are ruled by the Israeli military.Netanyahu said that Israel will continue to keep Gaza safe even if Hamas is defeated, and the fighting is still happening. Early on Wednesday, a bombfrom an Israeli plane killed 10 people in central Gaza. Thisincluded four women and four children who had nowhere to live and were staying there. The informationcomesfrom the hospital.Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said that recognizing Palestinians as a political entity is an important step towards allowingthem to determinetheirownfuture.He said that in order to make a difference, we need to takerealactions to stop Israel fromtaking over and building on Palestinian land,likestopping the sale of products made in settlements and financial support for them.Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in an interview that it’s important to support the Palestinian state. Healso said that they can only recognize it once.“We used to think that we would getcredit at the end of a process,” he said. “Now we understand that recognition should encourage and support a process. “
Norway’s health minister quit on Friday because of accusations that he copied other people’s work. This is the second member of the Norwegian government to resign for this reason this year.
Ingvild Kjerkol quit her job at Nord University in Bodoe, Norway, one day after an investigation found that her 2021 master’s thesis contained a lot of plagiarism.
“We have decided that Ingvild should quit her job as minister,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a press conference. He said the investigation found that the plagiarism was done on purpose.
Kjerkoll said that she and another person did not mean to copy other people’s work.
“She said it’s tough that they don’t believe us, but we have to accept that the university thinks differently,” she said at a press conference with Gahr Støre.
Kjerkol, who is 48 years old, has been in his job since October 2021. This was when Gahr Støre introduced a coalition government made up of his Labor party and the smaller Center Party.
In January, Sandra Borch quit her job as minister for research and higher education because a student found out that she had copied some parts of her master’s thesis without giving credit to the original author.
Gahr Støre’s group has had some ministers leave because they did something wrong. In September, it was found out that the husband of the former Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt had been secretly trading stocks for a long time, which could make her more wealthy.
In September, the Labor party lost in local elections to the conservative Hoeyre party, which hasn’t happened since 1924. The party that used to be the biggest in local elections in Norway for many years, came in second place in September. There will be elections for local government in Norway’s 356 towns and 11 counties.
Radek Sikorski discussed the matter in a Polish parliament meeting, and his comments were shared in English on Twitter by the Foreign Ministry. There is a big argument in Europe about how to help Ukraine because Russia is winning the war and Kyiv is low on ammunition. The United States. Congress is not giving Ukraine the help it really needs to fight the Russians, which is making Europe feel more pressure to do something about the war in Europe.
French President Emmanuel Macron said last month that it is possible that troops from Western countries may go to Ukraine. This made other leaders very upset because it is not something they usually talk about. French leaders tried to explain Macron’s words and reduce the negative reaction. They also believed it was important to show Russia that they cannot succeed in their war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin says if NATO sends soldiers to fight,there will definitely be a war between NATO and Russia. Russian leader Vladimir Putin said that doing this could lead to a big war with nuclear weapons all over the world.
Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, said that Poland will not send soldiers to Ukraine, even after Macron’s comments.
But just before two weeks, Sikorski changed his attitude.
“He said that NATO forces being in Ukraine is possible,” according to a tweet from the Foreign Ministry. He said he liked Macron’s idea because it’s about making Putin scared, not us being scared of Putin.
Sikorski’s comment is part of a bigger change to agree with Macron’s viewpoint, according to Phillips O’Brien, a professor at the University of St.
The 87-year-old king was on a private vacation in a South-East Asian country when he got sick with an infection earlier this week.
“The King is still getting better,” the palace said.
The government of Norway asked its military to help bring the king back to Norway.
A medical plane arrived in Langkawi on Friday after leaving Oslo the day before.
Prince Haakon is in charge when his father isn’t there. He is going to lead the meeting with the prime minister and the government on Friday.
King Harald has been the leader of Norway for a long time, and he is the oldest king in Europe who is still alive. He has been in the hospital a lot in the past few years because of infections, and he has also had heart surgery.
Harald is a well-liked king and he is related to Queen Victoria. He says he won’t give up being king because he promised to serve Norway forever.
The families of the men who died when an oil rig tipped over want UK authorities to start a new investigation into the accident.
The Alexander Kielland accommodation platform flipped over in 1980 near Norway, and 123 men died.
Family members, some from Cumbria, will come together in parliament in December and want to help start the inquiry process.
A government investigation in Norway found that a crack in one of the support beams caused the rig to sink before it was saved.
The Kielland boat turned over and went underwater in a storm on March 27, 1980, in the Ecofisk oil field.
A year later, an investigation found that the disaster, which 89 people survived, was caused by a crack in a support beam of the flotel. The investigation was done in private.
Two years ago, the Norwegian government agreed that there were mistakes in the report, but said there was no reason to investigate again.
Colin Lamb, who lives in Plumbland near Aspatria in west Cumbria, lost his father, also named Colin, in the accident. His father’s body has never been found.
He was one of 34 British men living on the Kielland and working hard to extract oil from the ocean floor.
“We lost my dad in 1980 and I still have dreams about him, like he’s still with us,” he said.
He said that the pain is worse because the families who lost a loved one have not gotten any answers.
“My dad’s passport was found and kept in the Norwegian archives two months ago,” he said.
We should have had the passport in 1983 when the Kielland was raised. We should have talked about this in the 1980s, not now.
Mr Lamb and his family want the Norwegian government to start a new investigation.
Around 15 lawmakers who represent people impacted by the disaster will meet with families in parliament next month.
The event was planned by Mark Jenkinson, who is a Conservative member of Parliament for Workington.
“Those families want to know what happened. ” I think people outside of Norway have noticed some problems in the process, he said.
“I will do everything I can to help the people I represent and others by working with other MPs to bring attention to the issues and find solutions. ”
Alan Hunter, who is from Distington near Workington, went to Norway in September for a conference about the disaster. His father Keith also died in the disaster.
“We haven’t been told anything for a long time and the British government had no part in it from the beginning,” he said.
“It would be great to find out some answers and finish it all. ”
“A person from the UK Foreign Office said: “The British Embassy in Oslo has talked with the Norwegian authorities about this problem. ”
“The Norwegian authorities will handle any additional investigation into the incident. ”
Dani Carvajal has disclosed the method by which Spain successfully subduedErling Haaland during their victory over Norway, securing their qualification for the Euro 2024 finals in Germany.
Spain’s path to the finals was secured with an early second-half goal by Gavi.
Throughout the match, the visitors maintained a relatively secure hold on proceedings, with Norway, led by Haaland and Martin Odegaard, finding it challenging to generate scoring opportunities.
“We came here to win; we played a complete game,” Carvajal told Teledeporte. “They hardly gave us any chances and we are going home happy and with our ticket to the Euro.”
On keeping Haaland quiet, he added, “Defensively, from Unai [Simon] to Alvaro [Morata], we have been very compact; we have not allowed him to receive any comfortable ball. Praise the work of the centre-backs because they have done a fantastic job.”
Spain can take satisfaction in their comfortable qualification from a challenging group, despite the initial setback in Glasgow. Meanwhile, Norway’s promising generation of players must patiently await other results to determine if they can escape the all-too-familiar route of qualification through the playoffs.
Upon his return to Madrid, the right-back will find little time to settle in, as a demanding schedule awaits with three away fixtures against Sevilla, Braga, and Barcelona.
Due to numerous reindeer fatalities resulting from their entry into Russia, Norway is working on mending a damaged fence on its border.
According to the agriculture agency of Norway, a part of the barrier between Hamborgvatnet and Storskog will be replaced. This barrier is 93 miles long, and the part being replaced is about four miles long.
The project will cost 3. 7 million kroner or £274,000 and will be finished by October 1st.
Rebuilding the fence will be difficult and require a lot of effort because workers will need to stay on the Norwegian side of the border all the time.
If a worker accidentally goes into Russia without the right visa, they would be considered as entering the country illegally.
According to officials, Norway wants to build a new fence to prevent reindeer from going into Russia. This is because 42 reindeer have already gone across the border this year.
Due to these, 40 have been brought back but were killed because people were afraid they might go back to Russia. The other two people are expected to come back home soon.
Every time a reindeer travels, it becomes expensive because Norway has to pay Russia for the damage caused by the reindeer eating grass from their land.
Someone has said that Oslo should give almost 50,000 kroner (£3,715) for each reindeer that went into the Pasvik Zapovednik natural reserve.
Another document requesting money asks for a large sum of nearly 47 million kroner (around £3. 5 million) to cover the time that animals stayed in the large wildlife area. The Indigenous Sami people, who have been living in Arctic Europe for about 9,000 years, take care of the reindeer and keep them together. They usually live in Lapland, which is found in the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia.
In the UK, a pelican that got out of a zoo was seen swimming with swans at a pond that was 30 miles away. However, it got away again before the zookeepers could catch it.
During an interview on Angel TV, Capasta explained that after achieving various successes in Ghana and abroad, he recognized the opportunity to pursue his coaching dream overseas.
Determined to explore new opportunities, he took a chance and traveled to Norway in search of better prospects.
“I moved out of Ghana in 2020. After several trips outside, I managed to build my CV to travel anywhere I wanted to. Just as it is every player’s dream to play outside, it was also my dream to coach outside. I knew it would be difficult because of where I was coming from as a black man but I was focused,” he told Saddick Adams in an interview on Angel TV.
According to him, it took just one call to get land him a trial with a club in Norway and is grateful.
“There was a friend who said I should come to the field with him, I went there just to train them once they were 14 players. The next day it moved to 16 then 24,” he said.
He added, “After training them for one week, I travelled back to Ghana. After just three days, they called me to come back and signed the deal and become their coach.”
Capasta began his coaching career with the Lizzy Sports Academy where he was part of their technical team.
He led the Lizzy Sports team to win many international trophies which included 2 trophies in Denmark, 3 trophies in Sweden, 3 trophies in Norway, and 1 trophy in France.
Norway’s 28-year-old striker, Ada Hegerberg, has expressed her team’s readiness for redemption at the upcoming World Cup.
After a disappointing performance at the European Championships last year, which resulted in an embarrassing early elimination in the group stage, Norway is eager to bounce back.
Despite having talented attackers like Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen from Barcelona, and Guro Reiten from Chelsea, Norway struggled to find the net in the previous tournament.
They only managed to score in a 4-1 victory over Northern Ireland, but were heavily defeated 8-0 by England and suffered a 1-0 loss to Austria, leading to their elimination.
Under the guidance of new coach Hege Riise, Hegerberg anticipates a stronger defensive performance and improved efficiency in front of goal from Norway in their Group A matches against co-hosts New Zealand, Switzerland, and the Philippines.
“I think the most important thing is to be tactically prepared, that each player knows their role very clearly … and that we use the qualities we have,” Hegerberg said in an online press conference from their training camp in Auckland on Thursday.
“We will have to be very disciplined in the way we want to play, defensively and offensively. Once again, it’s about being prepared, and clearly if we feel we’ve prepared well we will take that with us into the first game.”
Hegerberg, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2018 as the world’s best female player, said that Norway cannot be considered among the favourites, despite being one of the few nations to have won the Women’s World Cup in the past.
“We have to go into this with a strong collective feeling that we belong here, that we are in a position that we want to show a strong face to those that follow us, especially Norwegians, and really work very hard, nothing is for free,” Hegerberg explained.
With a friendly behind closed doors against Portugal to come on July 16th, the Norwegians have been using their time in camp to fine-tune things, and winger Reiten believes that things have improved since the disappointment of the Euros a year ago.
“We’ve all become one year older, we have a little more experience. Everyone has shown in their clubs that they have taken steps forward as football players,” Reiten said.
“We have our new coaching team and a slightly new way of playing, which is maybe a little more defensively focused, so over the last year we’ve shown that we’ve taken some steps and gotten good results against good nations,” she added.
Reiten may be among the big names in the squad, but she stressed that it will take the best effort of all 23 players if they are to succeed.
“Football is a team game, and what we are going to do here, we are going to do together,” she said.
Council members will discuss proposals for the Orkney Islands to change its status in the UK or perhaps turn into a self-governing state of Norway.
The local authority will consider a motion on Tuesday to look into “alternative forms of governance”.
Orkney doesn’t receive equitable financing, according to council head James Stockan, given its present relationship with the UK.
However, a notion that the islands would sever its relations with the union was rebuffed by the prime minister’s office.
Mr Stockton has urged councillors to back his idea to find new ways to get greater financial security and economic opportunities for Orcadians.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday, he said: “The mark of a good government is how it actually supports the periphery and the most disadvantaged.
“Our communities on the tiniest of our islands are the most difficult to serve and the way governments treat them is absolutely paramount to how well governments are doing.
“We do look with envy at the communities in Norway where they have a completely different approach to the remote and rural.”
Image caption, Council leader James Stockan says Orkney does not get fair funding within the UK
Orkney Islands Council previously voted in 2017 to look at whether the islands could have greater autonomy.
While they wanted to have a “stronger voice”, they did not back full independence for Orkney.
The council leader said among the issues being faced by islanders is an ageing ferry fleet.
He added the situation was “critical” because the ferries, which are older than the Western Isles fleet, were beginning to fail.
But despite Mr Stockan’s concerns, Downing Street dismissed the idea of Orkney breaking away from the UK.
‘The UK is stronger united’
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesperson said: “First and foremost there is no mechanism for the conferral of Crown Dependency or Overseas Territory status on any part of the UK.
“We have no plans to change the devolution settlement we are supporting Orkney with £50m to grow the economic prosperity of the Scottish islands, through the islands deal.
“But the Government’s position is that the UK is stronger united.”
Orkney was previously held under Norwegian and Danish control until it became part of Scotland in 1472.
The islands were used as security for the wedding dowry of Margaret of Denmark, the future wife of King James III of Scotland.
The Scottish government said in 2023-24 Orkney Islands Council would receive £89.7m to fund services, with an extra £4.6m from an increase in council tax by 10%.
A spokesperson added it was “committed to supporting island communities”.
The Norwegian government declined to comment on the proposals.
Erling Haaland has learned an important lesson about not refusing the requests of young fans, regardless of the game’s outcome, following an incident involving some Norwegian children.
Despite Haaland scoring a goal, Norway faced a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Scotland in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying series, conceding two late goals.
Although Haaland had given the hosts the lead with a penalty midway through the second half, Scotland managed to stage a comeback with two goals in just three minutes after Haaland had been substituted towards the end of the match.
The result puts Norway in a precarious position, having picked up just one point from three games and playing Cyprus next at home before ending the post-season international break.
Young Norway fans boo Haaland
The 22-year-old was the last to hop into the team bus and was met by a group of young fans who chanted his name and were expecting a meet and greet.
As spotted in a video published on Twitter by Mail Sport, he waved at the kids and went straight into the bus, which left the kids disappointed and booed him.
Theformer Borussia Dortmund forward struggled throughout the game, particularly in the first half, where Squawka noted that he had just eight touches, completed three passes and recorded zero shots.
Fans claimed he was still suffering from the hangover of City’s wild treble celebrations, which went on for days before he teamed up with the national team. In contrast, others claimed his regular creator Kevin De Bruyne is not his national teammate.
Solbakken explains Haaland’s struggle
Sports Brief reported that Norway national team boss Stale Solbakken explained Haaland’s struggles during their 2-1 loss to Scotland.
He was hauled off in the 84th minute, but the head coach admitted it should have come at least 10-12 minutes earlier as he asked to be subbed off.
He added that thePremier League golden boot winner was uncomfortable with the heat in Oslo as it was about 30°C hot and he was completely empty.
Haaland joined the national team following days of exuberant celebrations after Manchester City’s triumph in the UEFA Champions League, where they completed the treble.
His contribution to City’s successful season was significant, with 54 goals in all competitions. He even secured the golden boots in both the UCL and Premier League.
However, towards the end of the season, Haaland experienced a dip in form, failing to find the net in the last six games. This included crucial matches like the FA Cup and Champions League finals against Manchester United and Inter Milan.
Haaland struggled for Norway
The 22-year-old returned to his home country and was selected to start the qualifying game against Scotland but was below par throughout his 84 minutes on the pitch.
Squawka noted his abysmal first half, where he recorded just eight touches of the ball and made three passes. Fans think he was still battling with the hangover from the celebrations, but his head coach Stale Solbakken has revealed why.
“He asked to be changed. We kept him on the pitch 10-12 minutes longer. In the last few minutes he was on the field, we played with one less man,” he told reporters as translated by Goal.
“He was completely empty. He has only played 60 minutes several times before. We’re talking about it being 30 degrees; it is applied. He ran out of steam.”
Sports Brief reported that Haaland aimed a dig at Arsenal with a Champions League song during City’s treble celebrations.
City has been mocked with the song ‘Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that’ by Nottingham Forest fans all season, and the 22-year-old asked that the Citizens fans sing the same.
The Supreme Court (SC) of Norway have declined to grant leave to Messrs Jongsbru AS, a party to the Norway Court of Appeal decision ruled in Ghana’s favor on November 2, 2022.
This was a preliminary decision by a three-member panel of the SC to Norwegian civil procedure rules.
The case concerns the litigation over the purchase of a property previously identified by the Republic of Ghana for use as a chancery building inOslo.
Per the Norwegian law, if a Court of Appeal gives a judgement in a civil case and same is appealed at the SC, the court, would first, make a preliminary decision by taking into consideration, whether a new or major issue of law is raised in the matter.
The Norway SC does not hear an appeal on matters concerning the facts or evidence in a civil matter.
This judgement brings finality to the four year litigation in which the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Godfred Dame represented Ghana.
The Court of Appeal on November 2, 2022 awarded cost of $250,000 in favour of Ghana.
The SC ordered Jongsbru to compensate Ghana nominal legal costs of USD 1 871.
Mr Dame said he was elated by the decision of the SC.
He explained that the cost awarded to Ghana, which was still outstanding, would be used to defray his travel expenses and those of witnesses from Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who testified on behalf of Ghana.
Prior to the decision of the SC, Mr Dame explained that, under Norwegian civil procedure rules, any civil judgment of the Court of Appeal may be appealed to the SC but the hearing of that appeal is not as of right.
In the appeal at the SC, Jongsbru contended that the decision of the Court of Appeal was too short, vague, unclear and contained deficiencies, which rendered a proper appeal on the merits impossible and therefore, the judgment had to be “repealed.”
An application for a judgment to be repealed, in Norwegian law, is similar to a request to set aside the judgment.
Erling Haaland, who missed Saturday’s 4-1 Premier League victory against Liverpool, is back in training with Manchester City.
After suffering a groyne injury just before the international break, the forward was forced to leave his assignment with Norway last month.
Ahead of City’s return to action against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds last week, Pep Guardiola was non-committal on whether Haaland would feature.
Now, in a boost as they look to keep pace withArsenal at the summit, the striker is back on the training pitch ahead of this weekend’s trip to Southampton.
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they are aware of the images and are looking into them afterErling Haaland, a Manchester City striker, was spotted using his phone while driving.
Erling Haaland appears to be using a mobile phone in pictures posted online, and Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they are aware of the images and are looking into the alleged incident.
On Wednesday, the Sun newspaper published pictures of the Manchester City striker.
The incident involving City’s striker, who has scored 42 goals in 37 games this season, has not been addressed by the team.
The 22-year-old withdrew from his country’s squad after being picked up by the national team of Norway last week picking up a groin injury.
Haaland is now “touch and go” for Manchester City’s game against Liverpool after the international break, according to his father Alf-Inge.
City have offered no update on Haaland’s fitness but the striker’s father said last week he is receiving treatment in Spain.
“Manchester City has a partnership with a hospital in Barcelona so he has been there for further checks and treatment,” Alfie Haaland told Norway’s TV 2 Sport on Saturday.
“Now he has been in [Marbella] for a couple of days with the physio from the club.
Firstly, I’m not a doctor and secondly, I think it’s ‘touch and go’, yes. You can’t just go two weeks without training and then jump right into a fight. There must be a progression there.
“They can gamble on it, but if he doesn’t get proper training with the team, then he won’t play. It is about how he responds to treatment in the next few days. He needs a lot of care.”
A rights organisation has warned that Andrey Medvedev, who is requesting asylum in the Nordic country,be sent back to Russia.
A former Wagner Group fighter who recently fled to Norway in search of asylum has been detained.
Andrey Medvedev might be deported to Russia, according to Gulagu.net, a Russian rights organisation that assisted in his escape.
The 26-year-old was detained on suspicion of entering the country without proper documentation, according to Jon Andreas Johansen, a police official in charge of immigration matters, who spoke to the Associated Press on Monday.
“It is being assessed whether he should be produced for detention,” Johansen said.
Medvedev crossed into Norway from neighbouring Russia on January 13, looking for shelter in the Nordic nation.
He claims to have climbed through barbed-wire fences at the 198 kilometre-long (123-mile) frontier, and evaded border patrol officials with dogs.
After witnessing the killing and mistreatment of Russian prisoners brought to the front lines in Ukraine to fight for the Wagner Group, Medvedev feared for his life.
The shadowy paramilitary organisation is closely aligned with the Kremlin and has been heavily involved in Russia’s invasion.
‘He has seen the light’
Gulagu.net, which campaigns for prisoners’ rights and has been in contact with Medvedev since he fled, said he had been detained and handcuffed on Sunday evening and told he was being taken to a detention centre for subsequent deportation.
There was no confirmation from Norwegian authorities of any plan to deport him.
Gulagu.net said Medvedev would face “brutal murder and death” for speaking out against Wagner if he was returned to Russia.
“We do not whitewash Medvedev. He has done many bad things in his life,” the rights group said.
“But he has seen the light, he has realised this, he is ready and willing to cooperate with the world, with the international investigation and with the authorities of Norway, he wants to live and testify” against Wagner and its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, it added.
Medvedev is an orphan who joined the Russian army and served time in prison before joining the Wagner Group last July on a four-month contract.
He has reportedly told Gulagu.net that he is ready to expose everything he knows about the force of mercenary fighters, which Washington has said will be considered a criminal entity.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has been cleared of charges pressed against him by the sellers of a property identified by the Republic of Ghana for use as a chancery building in Oslo, Norway.
By a unanimous decision, the Oslo Court of Appeal, Norway composed of three Justices of Appeal (Pal Morten Andreassen, Irene Sogn and Rolf Ytrehus), has in a judgment dated Tuesday, November 22, 2022, dismissed an appeal filed by Messrs. Jongsbru AS, the sellers of a property identified by the Republic of Ghana for use as a chancery building in Oslo, Norway.
The Norway Court of Appeal considered an appeal by the appellant against the judgment of the Oslo District Court (High Court) in December 2021, dismissing its case and awarding damages and procedural costs in favour of Ghana.
After a retrial, the Oslo Appeal Court held Ghana to be “fully acquitted of all liability” and concluded that “a purchase agreement to which Ghana was a party could not be said to have been completed between the parties”. The Court awarded the sum of 1.5 million Norwegian Kroner (approximately 150 000 USD) payable by the appellant to Ghana as procedural costs incurred before the Court of Appeal. It further ordered the appellant to pay to Ghana 1 million Norwegian Kroner (approximately, 100 000 USD) as compensation for procedural costs at the High Court.
Facts of case
In 2018, Ghana decided to establish an embassy in Norway. The acquisition of a chancery building, either by purchase or by a lease, was deemed to be critical to the establishment of the embassy.
A delegation from Ghana identified a number of properties, including Sigyns Gate 3 at Frogner in Oslo, the property the subject matter of the litigation. On 22nd November 2018, Ghana received an offer from Jongsbru to buy the property for 100 million Norwegian Kronner. The offer had a deadline of seven days, i.e. by 29th November, 2018. On 29th November 2018, Ghana’s Charge d’Affaires, Regina Appiah-Sam, responded to Jongsrbu’s offer in these terms:
“On behalf of the Government of Ghana, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have the pleasure to accept the Offer with the following conditions:
1. … It is a condition for the acceptance of the Offer and the final contract, that the building is without significant defects and that the renovation work is completed and performed in a satisfactory manner.
2. Before take-over there is a final approval without conditions from relevant authorities for the use of the property as an Embassy.
3. Agreement on a final contract of sale. We accept that the contract shall be based on the Sem & Johnsen standard contract.”
Subsequent to due certification by Ghana’s appointed valuers that the building was without significant defects and that the renovation works on same had been completed and performed in a satisfactory manner, Ghana pulled out of the transaction on various grounds, including a failure on the part of the sellers to satisfy the condition of a final approval from the relevant Municipal authorities in Oslo for the use of the property as an Embassy.
The sellers of the property, Jongsbru AS, sued the Government of Ghana in the Oslo District Court claiming sums totalling about seventy-eight million Norwegian Kroner for breach of contract, loss of profits, interest and costs of litigation.
Original judgment of the District Court (High Court)
On 16th December 2021, the Oslo High Court upheld Ghana’s contention that on the issue of choice of law, the competence or legal capacity of Ghanaian officials to bind the Republic of Ghana must be decided according to Ghana law. Whereas the Government of Ghana had led evidence by the Director of the Legal Directorate of the Ministry of Finance to prove the content of Ghana’s financial and procurement laws, no attempt was made by the plaintiff to rebut same.
The Court found that Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, in accordance with section 20 of the State Property and Contracts Act of 1960, had the competence to bind Ghana in agreements involving her ministry.
This authority had not been exercised in the transaction in question. Neither the Charge d’Affaires of Ghana at the time, Mrs. Appiah-Sam nor Ghana’s lawyer, Mikkel Visllie had authority to enter into the agreement on behalf of Ghana. There was thus no valid or binding agreement between the sellers of the property and Ghana.
The Court further held that under Ghana law, the Public Procurement Authority must agree on the purchase of the property and the application of funds must also be approved by the Minister for Finance, before the Minister for Foreign Affairs must either personally execute the agreement for the purchase of the property or authorise another competent person by a power of attorney to execute the agreement. On the evidence provided by Ghana’s witnesses, this had not been done.
Regarding the claim against Ghana’s lawyer at the time of the purported sale, the Court found that the lawyer was fully responsible for the positive contractual interest in accordance with the Contracts Act of Norway. The Court was of the view that there is a particular reason for trusting lawyers who act on behalf of clients.
The Court found that the lawyer did not have any reasonable excuse for not ensuring that there was a power of attorney signed by Ghana before purporting to convey acceptance of the offer by Jongsbru. The Court thus ordered lawyer Mikkel Vislie who acted for Ghana and his insurance company, Tryg Forsikring to pay to Jongsbru the sum of thirty-seven million, seven hundred and twelve thousand, nine hundred and four Norwegian Kronner as compensation.
Appeal hearing
The Oslo Court of Appeal heard the appeal over four days – from 25th to 28th October, 2022, taking evidence from the witnesses of all the parties in the matter afresh. The hearing was observed by students of the Oslo Law School as part of their practical advocacy training.
Ghana’s Attorney-General, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, led a team from Ghana for the hearing. Mrs. Jennifer Lartey, Ghana’s ambassador to Norway, Mrs Regina Appiah-Sam, Charge d’Affairs at the time the embassy was opened, Charles Osei-Marfo of the Oslo mission, Ms. Doris Brese, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mrs. Mangowa Ghanney, former Director, Legal at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, testified as witnesses for Ghana.
Judgment of the Oslo Court of Appeal
The Oslo Court of Appeal dismissed the appellant’s case in its entirety as unfounded and ordered to pay to Ghana 1.5 Million Norwegian Kroner (approximately 150 000 USD) as compensation for procedural costs incurred before the Court of Appeal. It further ordered Jongsbru to pay to Ghana 1 Million Norwegian Kroner (approximately 100 000 USD) for procedural costs incurred before the Oslo District Court.
The Court of Appeal observed that a prerequisite for the appellant’s claim was that the company had incurred economic loss as a result of Ghana’s decision not to finalize the sale. The appellant did not incur any such economic loss. On a proper application of the principles of offer and acceptance, Ghana could have withdrawn from the agreement (even if it was binding), as all conditions necessary for the performance of the contract had not been satisfied.
Regarding Ghana’s defence about a lack of approval by the Oslo Municipal authorities for the building to be used for an embassy, the Appeal Court found that based on the evidence presented by Ghana concerning the appellant’s belated attempts to apply for the said permission and the municipality’s responses, it was clearly established that no such permission would have been received by the relevant date for the contract to take effect, and therefore Ghana could have withdrawn from the agreement. The purchase would in no case have materialised, and the appellant would not have received the purchase price from Ghana, for a claim of economic loss to be validly asserted.
The Oslo Appeal Court noted further, that, the condition regarding authorization by the municipal permission to use the property as chancery, was vital to the purchase, and that, only Jongsbru, not Ghana, had any control over whether the condition would be met or not. Further, the consequences of the condition not being met, was set out specifically in the agreement.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the appeal and hoped that it would mark the end of the dispute. Mr. Dame explained that, under Norwegian civil procedure rules, any civil judgment of the Court of Appeal may be appealed to the Supreme Court but the hearing of the appeal is not as of right.
A panel of three Supreme Court judges must first determine whether to allow the appeal to be heard by the Norway Supreme Court and explicitly allow same to be heard, before the court will be required to consider or hear it and then proceed to give a judgment on it.
“If the panel does not allow the appeal to be heard, the appeal terminates without any further processes at the Supreme Court. The ground on which the Norwegian Supreme Court will hear an appeal is where a new and major issue of law is raised in the matter and the court feels obligated to give legal clarity on the position. The Norway Supreme Court does not hear an appeal on matters concerning the facts or evidence in a civil matter,” Dame concluded.
By a unanimous decision, the Oslo Court of Appeal, Norway composed of three Justices of Appeal (Pal Morten Andreassen, Irene Sogn and Rolf Ytrehus), has in a judgment dated Tuesday, November 22, 2022, dismissed an appeal filed by Messrs. Jongsbru AS, the sellers of a property identified by the Republic of Ghana for use as a chancery building in Oslo, Norway.
The Norway Court of Appeal considered an appeal by the appellant against the judgment of the Oslo District Court (High Court) in December 2021, dismissing its case and awarding damages and procedural costs in favour of Ghana.
After a retrial, the Oslo Appeal Court held Ghana to be “fully acquitted of all liability” and concluded that “a purchase agreement to which Ghana was a party could not be said to have been completed between the parties”. The Court awarded the sum of 1.5 million Norwegian Kroner (approximately 150 000 USD) payable by the appellant to Ghana as procedural costs incurred before the Court of Appeal. It further ordered the appellant to pay to Ghana 1 million Norwegian Kroner (approximately, 100 000 USD) as compensation for procedural costs at the High Court.
Facts of case
In 2018, Ghana decided to establish an embassy in Norway. The acquisition of a chancery building, either by purchase or by a lease, was deemed to be critical to the establishment of the embassy.
A delegation from Ghana identified a number of properties, including Sigyns Gate 3 at Frogner in Oslo, the property the subject matter of the litigation. On 22nd November 2018, Ghana received an offer from Jongsbru to buy the property for 100 million Norwegian Kronner. The offer had a deadline of seven days, i.e. by 29th November, 2018. On 29th November 2018, Ghana’s Charge d’Affaires, Regina Appiah-Sam, responded to Jongsrbu’s offer in these terms:
“On behalf of the Government of Ghana, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have the pleasure to accept the Offer with the following conditions:
1. … It is a condition for the acceptance of the Offer and the final contract, that the building is without significant defects and that the renovation work is completed and performed in a satisfactory manner.
2. Before take-over there is a final approval without conditions from relevant authorities for the use of the property as an Embassy.
3. Agreement on a final contract of sale. We accept that the contract shall be based on the Sem & Johnsen standard contract.”
Subsequent to due certification by Ghana’s appointed valuers that the building was without significant defects and that the renovation works on same had been completed and performed in a satisfactory manner, Ghana pulled out of the transaction on various grounds, including a failure on the part of the sellers to satisfy the condition of a final approval from the relevant Municipal authorities in Oslo for the use of the property as an Embassy.
The sellers of the property, Jongsbru AS, sued the Government of Ghana in the Oslo District Court claiming sums totalling about seventy-eight million Norwegian Kroner for breach of contract, loss of profits, interest and costs of litigation.
Original judgment of the District Court (High Court)
On 16th December 2021, the Oslo High Court upheld Ghana’s contention that on the issue of choice of law, the competence or legal capacity of Ghanaian officials to bind the Republic of Ghana must be decided according to Ghana law. Whereas the Government of Ghana had led evidence by the Director of the Legal Directorate of the Ministry of Finance to prove the content of Ghana’s financial and procurement laws, no attempt was made by the plaintiff to rebut same.
The Court found that Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, in accordance with section 20 of the State Property and Contracts Act of 1960, had the competence to bind Ghana in agreements involving her ministry.
This authority had not been exercised in the transaction in question. Neither the Charge d’Affaires of Ghana at the time, Mrs. Appiah-Sam nor Ghana’s lawyer, Mikkel Visllie had authority to enter into the agreement on behalf of Ghana. There was thus no valid or binding agreement between the sellers of the property and Ghana.
The Court further held that under Ghana law, the Public Procurement Authority must agree on the purchase of the property and the application of funds must also be approved by the Minister for Finance, before the Minister for Foreign Affairs must either personally execute the agreement for the purchase of the property or authorise another competent person by a power of attorney to execute the agreement. On the evidence provided by Ghana’s witnesses, this had not been done.
Regarding the claim against Ghana’s lawyer at the time of the purported sale, the Court found that the lawyer was fully responsible for the positive contractual interest in accordance with the Contracts Act of Norway. The Court was of the view that there is a particular reason for trusting lawyers who act on behalf of clients.
The Court found that the lawyer did not have any reasonable excuse for not ensuring that there was a power of attorney signed by Ghana before purporting to convey acceptance of the offer by Jongsbru. The Court thus ordered lawyer Mikkel Vislie who acted for Ghana and his insurance company, Tryg Forsikring to pay to Jongsbru the sum of thirty-seven million, seven hundred and twelve thousand, nine hundred and four Norwegian Kronner as compensation.
Appeal hearing
The Oslo Court of Appeal heard the appeal over four days – from 25th to 28th October, 2022, taking evidence from the witnesses of all the parties in the matter afresh. The hearing was observed by students of the Oslo Law School as part of their practical advocacy training.
Ghana’s Attorney-General, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, led a team from Ghana for the hearing. Mrs. Jennifer Lartey, Ghana’s ambassador to Norway, Mrs Regina Appiah-Sam, Charge d’Affairs at the time the embassy was opened, Charles Osei-Marfo of the Oslo mission, Ms. Doris Brese, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mrs. Mangowa Ghanney, former Director, Legal at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, testified as witnesses for Ghana.
Judgment of the Oslo Court of Appeal
The Oslo Court of Appeal dismissed the appellant’s case in its entirety as unfounded and ordered to pay to Ghana 1.5 Million Norwegian Kroner (approximately 150 000 USD) as compensation for procedural costs incurred before the Court of Appeal. It further ordered Jongsbru to pay to Ghana 1 Million Norwegian Kroner (approximately 100 000 USD) for procedural costs incurred before the Oslo District Court.
The Court of Appeal observed that a prerequisite for the appellant’s claim was that the company had incurred economic loss as a result of Ghana’s decision not to finalize the sale. The appellant did not incur any such economic loss. On a proper application of the principles of offer and acceptance, Ghana could have withdrawn from the agreement (even if it was binding), as all conditions necessary for the performance of the contract had not been satisfied.
Regarding Ghana’s defence about a lack of approval by the Oslo Municipal authorities for the building to be used for an embassy, the Appeal Court found that based on the evidence presented by Ghana concerning the appellant’s belated attempts to apply for the said permission and the municipality’s responses, it was clearly established that no such permission would have been received by the relevant date for the contract to take effect, and therefore Ghana could have withdrawn from the agreement. The purchase would in no case have materialised, and the appellant would not have received the purchase price from Ghana, for a claim of economic loss to be validly asserted.
The Oslo Appeal Court noted further, that, the condition regarding authorization by the municipal permission to use the property as chancery, was vital to the purchase, and that, only Jongsbru, not Ghana, had any control over whether the condition would be met or not. Further, the consequences of the condition not being met, was set out specifically in the agreement.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the appeal and hoped that it would mark the end of the dispute. Mr. Dame explained that, under Norwegian civil procedure rules, any civil judgment of the Court of Appeal may be appealed to the Supreme Court but the hearing of the appeal is not as of right.
A panel of three Supreme Court judges must first determine whether to allow the appeal to be heard by the Norway Supreme Court and explicitly allow same to be heard, before the court will be required to consider or hear it and then proceed to give a judgment on it.
“If the panel does not allow the appeal to be heard, the appeal terminates without any further processes at the Supreme Court. The ground on which the Norwegian Supreme Court will hear an appeal is where a new and major issue of law is raised in the matter and the court feels obligated to give legal clarity on the position. The Norway Supreme Court does not hear an appeal on matters concerning the facts or evidence in a civil matter,” Dame concluded.
Norway’s security services say they have arrested a university lecturer accused of spying for Russia.
The man was arrested on his way to work by Oslo’s internal security agency, the PST after he was identified as a “threat to fundamental national interests.”
The suspect, said to be in his 30s, had posed as a Brazilian academic, but officials say he is actually Russian.
Moscow’s embassy in Oslo told local media it was unaware of the man’s identity.
Norwegian officials said the man had worked as a researcher at the University of Tromso in the north of the country since 2021. His lawyer told local media that he denies the allegations.
But the PST’s deputy chief, Hedvig Moe, told reporters that investigators had become concerned that the man “may have acquired a network and information about Norway’s policy” in the north of the country.
“Even if this … is not a threat to the security of the kingdom, we are worried it could be misused by Russia,” she added. She declined to say what had prompted the arrest, simply saying “that it was was the right point to stop the activity he was involved in”.
Officials believe the suspect was working in Norway as part of Russia’s so-called “illegals” programme.
First operated by the KGB during the Cold War, and revived in recent years by President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s intelligence agencies craft fake identities, or “legends”, for spies before deploying them to foreign countries.
“Typically illegal agents are talent scouts recruiting agents for later, and preparing the ground for other spies to do traditional intelligence work,” Ms Moe said. “It is a long-term project to have an illegal agent. It costs a lot of money. Major state actors only use them and it is known Russia has used them in the past.”
The man has not been officially identified, but local media reported that his social media accounts showed he had won a masters from the University of Calgary’s Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies in 2018.
The suspect arrived in Norway in December last year to work on a research group that worked with Norwegian government agencies on “hybrid threats” linked to “Arctic Norway”.
The group’s head said the man was working as an unpaid researcher, which was unusual but not unprecedented.
“He first contacted me in autumn last year… We assessed him like we would other researchers. One of his references was a professor I knew very well,” said Gunhild Hoogensen Gjoerv, a professor of security studies at the University of Tromso.
“He was a really lovely guy, very good at his job,” she said. “We had no reason to suspect him of being anything else than what he said he was.”
She told the Guardian that while the man did not have access to classified information, he did “get an understanding and insights into the sort of discussions and debates that we are having about security”.
In recent weeks, Norway’s security services have arrested several Russian citizens accused of working for Russia as spies. Eight people have been arrested for flying drones near, or taking pictures of, critical infrastructure.
The country – a key Nato member that has replaced Russia as the biggest gas supplier to Europe – has been concerned by sightings of drones near critical oil and gas infrastructure.
A woman who was branded as a witch and had to live in the infamous Gambaga Witch Camp in the Northern Region of Ghana for 15 years has made a first-time trip to Norway.
Suuk Laari was in Tromso, Norway, to attend the Coast Contemporary 2022 Conference as a guest of honour.
The conference aims to help raise awareness on modern-day witch-hunts.
Suuk’s story was made public in a Facebook post shared by a user, Larry Ibrahim Fataka Imf, a PhD Research Fellow at UiT The Arctic University of Norway.
The conference’s theme was influenced by the master’s thesis of Larry Ibrahim Mohammed, who wrote on the Gambaga Witch Camp.
“Suuk Laari has lived for 15 years in the Gambaga witch camp until this month. Last week, she joined us at the Coast Contemporary 2022 conference in Tromso, Norway to help raise awareness on modern day witch-hunt.
“I am extremely proud yet humbled to have worked with Tanja Eli Sæter, Founder and Executive Director of Coast Contemporary, to make Suuks participation a possibility and also for co-curating the Ghana part of the Program with me,” he wrote.
According to additional information shared by Larry Ibrahim, he described Suuk as a witch-hunt survivor.
“Suuk Laari lived in the Gambaga Witchcamp for 15 years. Like everyone from the Camp, her story unites with other women there who run away for their dear lives after being accused of witchcraft.
“The month of September 2022 will stand out as one of the best in her life. Suuk and Samson Laar, coordinator of the Gambaga witchcamp and the Presbytery, go home project, were invited to attend the Coast Contemporary conference 2022 in Tromso, Norway. Suuk was among the Guest of Honor,” he wrote.
He also spoke about the address Suuk Laari delivered at the conference, which focused on her personal story.
“Suuk Laari delivered a keynote, narrating the detail of her story on how she ended up at the Gambaga Witch Camp and her experiences while living there. She asked for a global effort to fight and criminalized the accusation of witchcraft and for more education on eradicating bad cultural practices. When asked about her thoughts on closing the witch camps, she emphasized that it is akin to scratching the surface of the problem. According to her, without the witch camp, she would probably have been dead and forgotten.”
Samson Laar, on the other hand, called for more support to help feed the women in the Gambaga Witch Camp. As a coordinator of the Go Home Project, the main task has been re-uniting the women with their families and resolving any conflict that might have led to them relocating to Gambaga.
Larry’s thesis also won the Ase Hiorth Lervik prize for best Master thesis with a gender theoretical perspective in 2021 with a ceremony in Tromso, Norway.
About the Gambaga Witch Camp:
The Gambaga Witch Camp Ghana’s most popular camp for women regarded witches, mostly in the northern parts of the country.
The Camp is also a segregated community within the Gambaga township established in the 18th century to accommodate alleged witches and wizards who are banished from their communities.
The camp has about 25 round huts and holds about 100 women. No health services or indoor plumbing are available.
Throughout her leadership campaign, Ms. Truss had refrained from stating whether the French President was a “friend or foe.”
The French President said he hoped for a “new phase” in post-Brexit relations.
The pair agreed to step up cooperation on “ending” small boat crossings in the Channel and announced a summit in 2023.
Leaders from the EU, the UK, Turkey, Norway, and the Balkans met at the first European Political Community in Prague on Thursday.
They discussed energy, migration, and security, with a particular focus on the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke via video link.
The summit billed as a European Political Community beyond the EU has been championed by Mr Macron, who told reporters on Thursday it sent a “message of unity”.
IMAGE SOURCE, SEAN GALLUP/GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Among the European leaders taking part were Liz Truss (top left) and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan (bottom row, 7th from the right)
The prime minister and Mr Macron released a joint statement promising an “ambitious” package of measures aimed at “ending” small boat crossings on the Channel.
Mr Macron said: “We have values and history so I’m happy that we meet again.
“This is an island, but this island didn’t move from the rest of the continent so we do have so many things in common.”
Ukraine’s president told the summit: “You and I are now in a strong position to direct all the possible might of Europe to end the war and guarantee long-term peace for Ukraine, for Europe, for the world.”
Following the meetings, Ms Truss said: “Leaders leave this summit with a greater collective resolve to stand up to Russian aggression.
“What we have seen in Prague is a forceful show of solidarity with Ukraine, and for the principles of freedom and democracy.”
As well as the UK, non-EU members Switzerland, Turkey, Norway, Iceland, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and western Balkan countries took part in the first gathering of the EPC.
Britain is now expected to host the fourth EPC meeting in 2024, with Moldova and Spain to hold the second and third respectively.
When he proposed the plan this year, Mr Macron said it would “offer a platform for political co-ordination” for countries, both those in the EU and those not.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine gave new impetus for cooperation among nations beyond the EU’s 27 member states.
But the EPC has no institutions or dedicated staff. That has led to questions about how any decisions would be implemented.
If it proves to be a success, it may continue to take place up to twice a year. If it’s a failure, it could fizzle out.
Centre for European Reform Director, Charles Grant said one of the measures of success will be “does it persuade Serbia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey to lean a bit more to the West and less towards Russia”.
Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses will collide with Japanand Norway in November as they bid to bring the curtain down on a historic year in style.
The Euro 2022 winners are set to spend the final international camp of 2022 at the Pinatar Arena football centre in Murcia.
And England’s time in Spain will see them lock horns with the Japanese on November 11 before tackling the Norwegians four days later.
Wiegman, 52, said: “I am really pleased we can continue to test ourselves against strong opposition, especially as we are fully focused on our preparation for the World Cup [next summer].
“Japan are one of the best teams in Asia and offer a different style of play to what we are used to.
“Norway had a difficult summer. However, they qualified directly for the World Cup and I am confident they will bounce back. They have always proven to be strong opponents.
“With both teams wanting to make a good impression as they build towards a major tournament, it will be a great opportunity to see where we stand.
“Furthermore, I hope a change of scenery and good climate for that time of year can contribute to keeping the players fresh after what has been an exciting and at the same time intense year for all.”
We’re off to Spain in November! ☀️
The #Lionesses@FIFAWWC preparation will continue with fixtures against 🇯🇵 and 🇳🇴 at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia.
England hammered Norway 8-0 on the road to Euros glory earlier this year and won their last match against Japan 1-0 in the 2020 edition of the SheBelieves Cup in the United States.
Before the November double-header, the Lionesses face the US at a sold-out Wembley on October 7 and the Czech Republic in Brighton on October 11.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup, hosted in Australia and New Zealand, kicks off on July 20.
A rights advocate fromChad, Nodjigoto Charbonnel, has received the 2022 Rafto Prize in recognition of his efforts on behalf of torture victims.
His Youth for Peace organization (AJPNV), which works to prevent torture in Chad and care for its victims, received a commendation from the Norwegian fund for its efforts.
Last year his organization treated 575 survivors of torture.
Mr Charbonnel, who’s been imprisoned three times by the Chadian authorities, began his work in 2000 after his father was tortured.
The Rafto Foundation lamented the high rates of such abuse in Chadand urged the self-proclaimed head of state, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, the son of the previous leader, Idriss Déby to prosecute those responsibly.
Four previous winners of the Rafto Prize have subsequently been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; its 2022 winner will be announced next month.
Norway and Rwanda would be on the honor roll if nations were graded on their commitment to reducing plastic waste.
A “high-ambition” coalition of 20 nations was established this week by the two to seek to eradicate plastic pollution by the year 2040.
The organization intends to advocate for reducing plastic manufacturing, enhancing recycling, and creating mechanisms to keep nations responsible for their commitments.
The effort follows a major agreement earlier this year among more than 150 nations at the UN Environmental Assembly. Countries aim to hash out a treaty by 2024 to reduce plastic waste, which is piling up in landfills and waterways, harming marine life, and contributing to the climate crisis.
“This is an unacceptable burden to place on future generations,” Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Rwanda’s minister of environment, said in a statement. The largest source of that burden the US hasn’t yet signed on to the coalition, though that could change.
The US produces more than twice as much plastic waste as China, according to a report by the National Academies of Sciences. Plastic production has exploded since the 1970s and boosted the bottom lines of oil and petrochemical companies. The industry is investing in new plastic plants around the world to offset dropping demand for fossil fuels as countries try to combat the climate crisis.
Without radical action to curb demand, global plastic waste could triple in the coming decades, with less than one-fifth of it getting recycled. A State Department spokesperson said there is no one-size-fits-all solution to combating plastic pollution. The spokesperson also said a treaty should be flexible so individual countries can decide the best strategies to keep plastic out of the environment.
They added that US officials played an active role at the UN Environment Assembly and will also participate in the first meeting on a global treaty in Uruguay in November. Erica Nuez who worked on international marine litter and microplastics issues at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before joining
The Ocean Foundation told Insider that the US absence from the “high-ambition” coalition doesn’t mean much right now, because the government often takes a while to finalize its positions.Either way, Nuez was glad to see the coalition explicitly state a goal to “restrain” plastic production and eliminate “problematic” plastics, because recycling alone won’t solve the waste problem.
The coalition won’t push for limits on plastic production. Instead, the focus will be on reducing demand for new material through policies like banning plastics that are most likely to be littered or contain harmful chemicals. Creating markets for recycled plastic is also a priority, said Martin Lerberg Fossum, a spokesman for the coalition.
Researchers have identified some 10,000 chemicals associated with plastic manufacturing, with more than 2,400 of potential concern to human health and the environment.
“We don’t know how much plastic is being produced, where it’s going, what additives or fillers are used or their toxicity,” Neil Tangri, the science and policy director at the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, said. “We need harmonized standards and data to track and verify progress.”
Norway has donated further defence weapons to Ukraine: almost 100 Mistral air defence missiles from military stocks, the Defence Ministry says.
The air defence system was effective and needed by Ukraine’s navy, Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram explained.
It was a system that the Norwegian armed forces wanted to replace, which meant that the delivery of weapons to Ukraine would not have a major impact on its own operational capabilities, his ministry wrote. The weapons have already been taken out of the country.
In the past few weeks, the Scandinavian country had already decided to send Ukraine 4,000 anti-tank missiles and protective equipment, among other things.
Former foreign minister Ine Eriksen Søreide of the opposition Conservative Party told Norwegian Radio that the government had her party’s support if it also wanted to deliver heavier defensive weapons to Ukraine as it fights off Russia’s attack.
Over 150 people were evacuated and at least five were injured after a large mud- and landslide early on Wednesday hit Ask in southern Norway, impacting several buildings, police and local media said.
“There are many houses in the affected area,” Roger Pettersen, head of the police operation, told reporters.
Pettersen said it was not immediately known if there were any people missing and could not offer details of those injured.
“Conditions are challenging. It is dark and the weather is bad,” he said, but with more light, it would be easier.
Pettersen said that all available resources were deployed, including helicopters. Personnel were sent into the affected area to assist people in getting out.
The evacuees have been sent to a nearby hotel, where they would be registered and offered assistance, Pettersen said.
Police were alerted about the landslide around 4 am (0300 GMT), triggering a large emergency operation with units from police, emergency services, the Red Cross and others.
Ask is the administrative centre of Gjerdrum municipality, about 40 kilometres north-west of Oslo.
Geologists were also at the scene.
Monica Maeland, minister of justice and public security, said she was monitoring the situation.
Ghanaian forward Gilbert Koomson has become a father as his girlfriend, Kamilla Isabell, delivered a beautiful baby girl.
Koomson, who plies his trade in Norway with SK Brann, was said to be contemplating on participating in the side’s Eliteserien clash against Mjøndalen on Sunday after his girlfriend safely delivered a beautiful baby girl on Friday.
The 25-year-old however played full throttle for the Red and Whites but could not crown his day with a goal as Mjøndalen pipped them 1-0 at the Brann Stadion.
“It’s a great feeling. I have great respect for Kamilla and all the other mothers in the world. I saw with my own eyes how tough it is to carry and give birth to a child. The baby’s name is Emilia Koomson, writes a proud father in an SMS to BA.
Koomson posted the good news on Instagram Sunday morning.
“God bless you for all the pain you have been through. I have extra respect for all the moms in the world. For what I saw today … I can not even explain it. You’re the toughest and bravest girl I’ve ever met
He has scored eight goals in 13 games for Brann this year, and is the top scorer for the club.
A Norwegian man who admitted to killing his step-sister before opening fire in a mosque near Oslo last year pleaded not guilty as his trial started on Thursday.
Wearing a dark suit, 22-year-old Philip Manshaus appeared before the court outside Oslo, making the “OK” sign with his hand, used by some to signify white supremacy, as he entered.
Manshaus stands accused of murder and committing an act of terror.
He was arrested on August 10, 2019 after opening fire in the Al-Noor mosque in the affluent Oslo suburb of Baerum while wearing a bullet-proof vest and a helmet with a camera strapped to it.
Just three worshippers were in the mosque at the time, and there were no serious injuries as a 65-year-old man overpowered Manshaus.
According to the charge sheet, Manshaus’ aim was to “kill as many Muslims as possible”.
The body of his 17-year-old step-sister was later found in their home.
Adopted from China by his father’s girlfriend, Johanne Zhangjia Ihle-Hansen was killed by four bullets, police said.
Manshaus has admitted to the facts of the case but pleaded not guilty, claiming his actions came out of “necessity”.
Norwegian media reported that Manshaus showed no remorse in the courtroom but rather expressed regret that he had “not been able to inflict more damage”.
According to the prosecution, Manshaus had a racist motive and was inspired by the attacks in Christchurch in New Zealand in March 2019, when Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people in shootings at two mosques.
Tarrant in turn has said he was inspired by Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik, who in July 2011 killed 77 people in a truck bomb blast near government offices in Oslo and a shooting spree at a Labour Party youth camp on the island of Utoya.
The Manshaus trial is due to last until May 26.
He faces 21 years in prison if convicted, but the prosecutor’s office has said they have not ruled asking for a custodial sentence, which would keep Manshaus behind bars until he is no longer deemed a danger to society.
Norwegian police said Tuesday they had arrested a wealthy businessman over the disappearance of his wife 18 months ago, the latest twist in a case that has kept the Nordic countries on tenterhooks.
Tom Hagen, 70, was arrested as he was leaving his home for work on Tuesday, on suspicion of “murder or accessory to murder,” commissioner Ida Melbo Oystese told a press conference.
Hagen’s wife Anne-Elisabeth Hagen disappeared without a trace from their home in Lorenskog, east of Oslo, on October 31, 2018.
A poorly written ransom note, containing threats and a demand for nine million euros in crypto currency, was found at the scene.
Sporadic contact with the alleged kidnappers on digital platforms initially supported the theory that she had been the victim of a rogue abduction.
However, by June 2019, police were re-evaluating their leads and started examining whether it was a murder that had been disguised as a kidnapping.
Tom Hagen is the 164th richest man in Norway with an estimated net worth of 1.9 billion Norwegian kroner ($183 million, 168 million euros) in 2019, according to business magazine Kapital.
His lawyer said he denied the allegations.
“He forcefully maintains that he has nothing to do with it,” Svein Holden told public broadcaster NRK.
Police did not present any concrete evidence to support their suspicions or speculate on a potential motive, but said the case “had traces of a clear, premeditated misdirection.”
Question marks remain as to what police believe Tom Hagen’s exact role in the disappearance to be, whether he had accomplices and the whereabouts of Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, now presumed dead.
Police said they had yet to interrogate the suspect.
