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Tunisian rapper and presidential candidate sentenced to prison for alleged vote buying

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A Tunisian rapper, Karim Gharbi, popularly known as K2Rhym, has been sentenced to four years in prison in absentia on allegations of buying voter signatures to qualify for the country’s upcoming presidential elections.

A judicial spokesperson, Alaedine Aouadi, told journalists that a court sitting in Jendouba on Wednesday, also fined Gharbi 5,000 dinars or $1,600, as well as stripping him of the right to vote in the election.

“The court also sentenced the president of the commune of Jendouba to one year in jail and a fine of 1,000 dinars, and a colleague of the rapper to four years in prison and a fine of 5,000 dinars,” Aouadi said.

Gharbi who lives abroad and was the son-in-law of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, had announced in a video in July his intention to run in the presidential candidate scheduled for October.

Reacting to the sentence in a post on social media, the entertainer had said:

“What are you afraid of? The ballot boxes? Why organise elections?”

Gharbi who is seen as a controversial figure in Tunisia due for his tattoos and flashy lifestyle, had become known for his charitable endeavours with orphans, lower-income families, hospitals and schools.

The electoral law in Tunisia states that to be listed on the ballot, candidates are required to present a list of signatures from 10,000 registered voters.

Local media reports that the same court had, on August 2, sentenced four women working for the rapper to between two and four years in prison for having provided money or gifts in kind in exchange for voter signatures.

However, on August 5, the night before the deadline for submitting applications, the rapper had accused the government of refusing to provide him with a form showing he had no criminal record, preventing him from becoming a candidate.

Political experts say presidential hopefuls face significant constraints in their bid to challenge President Kais Saied, who was elected in 2019 but orchestrated a sweeping power grab in 2021 and is now seeking another term in office.

“Candidates from across the political spectrum have complained that the new, tougher endorsement requirements make it nearly impossible to get on the ballot,” a political analyst said in an interview.

Only two candidates, a former Member of Parliament Zouhair Maghzaoui and the leader of a small liberal party, Ayachi Zammel, were pre-selected to run against Saied who has been accused of authoritarianism by political opponents.

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Ghana’s Afua Asantewaa begins second GWR sing-a-thon attempt

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Ghanaian singer, Afua Asantewaa, on Saturday, began her second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual.

The sing-a-thon which began in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, at Heroes’ Park, Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, will run until December 25, and will see the determined songstress perform non-stop, focusing exclusively on Ghanaian songs.

According to Asantewaa’s manager, Madam Gladys Osei Owiredu, the audacious initiative is aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghanaian music to a global audience.

Owiredu confirmed that preparations for the event had been extensive but expressed confidence in Asantewaa’s readiness to finally break the record.

“I can confirm that she is ready for the task ahead. It’s been challenging—by way of preparations—but I can say she is ready,” Owiredu said.

Asantewaa’s second attempt follows her first effort in December 2023, which fell short of surpassing the current record of 105 hours held by India’s Sunil Waghmare.

But despite the setback, her team remains optimistic about breaking the record this time with corporate sponsors including International Maritime Hospital, Ghana Gas, Nasco Electronics, and Zoomlion Ghana Limited rallying behind her, underscoring the importance of the attempt in amplifying the global significance of Ghanaian music.

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Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

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Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.

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