Ghanaian Member of Parliament, Isaac Adongo, has issued an apology to Manchester United footballer Harry Maguire for mocking him last year. Adongo had compared Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia’s economic management to Maguire’s performances on the pitch during a budget debate. However, Adongo now acknowledges Maguire as a “transformational footballer” and a key player for Manchester United. Despite this, Adongo continued to criticize Vice-President Bawumia, stating that Maguire is now at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with a cup in hand, referring to Ghana’s economic crisis and the country’s loan from the IMF.

Ghana is currently facing severe economic challenges, with soaring government debt and a record inflation rate of 54% in December 2022. Adongo’s comparison of Bawumia to Maguire was widely shared on social media and drew criticism from England manager Gareth Southgate, who called it “ridiculous treatment.” Maguire’s mother also defended her son, stating that the abuse he has faced is disgraceful and unacceptable.

Some Ghanaians have reacted to Adongo’s apology by acknowledging Maguire’s improvement as a player but questioning the performance of Ghana’s economic managers. The Ghanaian government has had to increase taxes and tariffs on services as part of its agreement with the IMF, leading to widespread anger among voters and protests over the rising cost of living and unemployment.

Despite these challenges, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has selected Bawumia as its candidate for the 2024 elections. If elected, he will be the first Muslim to contest the presidency under the NPP’s banner since 1992. Bawumia has promised to lead a united and energized NPP and transform Ghana.

In conclusion, Isaac Adongo has apologized to Harry Maguire for mocking him and acknowledged his contributions to Manchester United. However, Adongo continues to criticize Vice-President Bawumia’s economic management. The economic challenges faced by Ghana, including a loan from the IMF and protests over the rising cost of living, have sparked debate among Ghanaians. Despite this, the NPP has chosen Bawumia as its candidate for the upcoming elections, with promises of transformation and unity.

Original news source: Harry Maguire: Ghana MP Isaac Adongo sorry for mocking Manchester United star (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will read the article and collaboratively write a summary of the main points. They should focus on condensing the information and highlighting the key events and opinions mentioned in the article. Afterward, each group can share their summaries with the class and compare their findings.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups – one in favor of Isaac Adongo’s apology and the other against it. Each group will prepare arguments to support their stance and then engage in a class debate. Students should use evidence from the article to support their opinions and try to persuade their classmates to agree with their viewpoint.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Provide students with a list of vocabulary words from the article. In pairs or small groups, students will take turns drawing a word while their teammates try to guess what it is. The words can be related to the article’s content or specific terms used within it. This activity will help reinforce vocabulary comprehension and improve communication skills.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will create attention-grabbing headlines for the article. They should aim to capture the main points and generate interest in the topic. Afterward, each group can present their headlines to the class and explain why they chose them. This activity encourages creativity and critical thinking.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Students will imagine themselves as economic analysts and predict what the future holds for Ghana’s economy based on the information in the article. They should consider the current challenges and trends mentioned and make educated guesses about how they might unfold. Students can present their predictions to the class and compare their ideas. This activity promotes analytical thinking and the use of language for speculation and prediction.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did Isaac Adongo issue an apology to Harry Maguire?
2. How did Isaac Adongo compare Vice-President Bawumia to Harry Maguire?
3. How did Gareth Southgate respond to Adongo’s comparison?
4. What challenges is Ghana currently facing in terms of its economy?
5. How have Ghanaians reacted to Adongo’s apology?
6. What measures has the Ghanaian government taken as part of its agreement with the IMF?
7. Who has the governing New Patriotic Party selected as its candidate for the 2024 elections?
8. What promises has Vice-President Bawumia made if elected as president?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Ghanaian Member of Parliament, Isaac Adongo, has issued an apology to Manchester (1)______ footballer (2)______ Maguire for mocking him last year. Adongo had compared Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia’s economic (3)______ to Maguire’s (4)______ on the pitch during a budget debate. However, Adongo now acknowledges Maguire as a “transformational footballer” and a key player for Manchester United. Despite this, Adongo continued to criticize Vice-President Bawumia, stating that Maguire is now at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with a cup in hand, referring to Ghana’s economic crisis and the country’s loan from the IMF.

Ghana is currently facing severe economic challenges, with soaring (5)______ debt and a (6)______ inflation rate of 54% in December 2022. Adongo’s comparison of Bawumia to Maguire was widely shared on social media and drew criticism from England (7)______ Gareth Southgate, who called it “ridiculous treatment.” Maguire’s (8)______ also defended her son, stating that the abuse he has faced is disgraceful and unacceptable.

Some Ghanaians have reacted to Adongo’s apology by acknowledging Maguire’s improvement as a player but questioning the performance of Ghana’s economic (9)______. The Ghanaian government has had to increase taxes and tariffs on services as part of its agreement with the IMF, leading to widespread anger among (10)______ and protests over the rising cost of (11)______ and unemployment.

Despite these challenges, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has selected Bawumia as its candidate for the 2024 elections. If elected, he will be the first (12)______ to contest the presidency under the NPP’s banner since 1992. Bawumia has promised to lead a united and energized NPP and transform (13)______.

In (14)______, (15)______ Adongo has apologized to Harry Maguire for mocking him and acknowledged his contributions to Manchester United. However, Adongo continues to criticize Vice-President Bawumia’s economic management. The economic challenges faced by Ghana, including a loan from the IMF and (16)______ over the rising cost of living, have sparked debate among Ghanaians. Despite this, the NPP has chosen Bawumia as its candidate for the upcoming elections, with promises of transformation and unity.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on politicians using sports analogies to make their points?
2. How would you feel if a politician in your country made a derogatory comment about a famous athlete?
3. Do you think it is fair for politicians to criticize athletes for their performance on the field? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the role of social media in spreading and amplifying controversial statements made by politicians?
5. How do you think Harry Maguire felt when he heard about the comparison made by Isaac Adongo?
6. Do you think it is right for Gareth Southgate, the England manager, to publicly criticize a politician’s comments about a player? Why or why not?
7. How do you think Harry Maguire’s mother felt when she heard about the abuse her son faced?
8. Do you think politicians should apologize for their derogatory comments? Why or why not?
9. How do you think Ghanaians feel about the performance of their economic managers, considering the challenges the country is facing?
10. What impact do you think the loan from the IMF has had on the daily lives of Ghanaians?
11. How do you think the rising cost of living and unemployment in Ghana have affected people’s perception of the government’s economic management?
12. What do you think about the decision of the New Patriotic Party to choose Bawumia as its candidate for the upcoming elections?
13. How do you think Bawumia’s religious background as a Muslim will affect his chances of winning the presidency?
14. Do you think promises of transformation and unity are enough to win the support of voters in Ghana? Why or why not?
15. How do you think the economic challenges faced by Ghana will impact the outcome of the upcoming elections?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Adongo
2. Maguire
3. Bawumia
4. Ghana
5. IMF
6. apology
7. economic
8. Manchester United

Meanings:
(a) Manchester United footballer who was mocked
(b) Football club that Maguire plays for
(c) Country facing severe economic challenges
(d) International Monetary Fund, which Ghana borrowed from
(e) Expression of regret for mocking someone
(f) Ghanaian Member of Parliament who apologized
(g) Relating to the management of money and resources
(h) Vice-President of Ghana criticized by Adongo
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who did Isaac Adongo compare Vice-President Bawumia’s economic management to?
(a) Gareth Southgate
(b) Mahamudu Bawumia
(c) Isaac Adongo
(d) Harry Maguire

2. What did Isaac Adongo apologize to Harry Maguire for?
(a) Defending him
(b) Praising him
(c) Ignoring him
(d) Mocking him

3. Who criticized Isaac Adongo’s comparison of Bawumia to Maguire?
(a) Harry Maguire
(b) Gareth Southgate
(c) Isaac Adongo
(d) Maguire’s mother

4. What is Ghana’s current inflation rate?
(a) 20%
(b) 10%
(c) 54%
(d) 5%

5. What has the Ghanaian government had to do as part of its agreement with the IMF?
(a) Increase taxes and tariffs
(b) Decrease taxes and tariffs
(c) Increase government spending
(d) Decrease government spending

6. What has sparked protests in Ghana?
(a) Decreasing cost of living and unemployment
(b) Rising cost of living and unemployment
(c) Stable cost of living and unemployment
(d) None of the above

7. Who has the New Patriotic Party (NPP) chosen as its candidate for the 2024 elections?
(a) Mahamudu Bawumia
(b) Isaac Adongo
(c) Harry Maguire
(d) Gareth Southgate

8. What has Bawumia promised if elected?
(a) To lead a divided and demotivated NPP and transform Ghana
(b) To lead a united and energized NPP and maintain the status quo in Ghana
(c) To lead a united and energized NPP and transform Ghana
(d) To lead a divided and demotivated NPP and maintain the status quo in Ghana

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Ghana is currently facing severe economic challenges, including soaring government debt and a record inflation rate of 54% in December 2022.
2. Adongo stopped criticizing Vice-President Bawumia despite apologizing to Maguire.
3. The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has not selected Bawumia as its candidate for the 2024 elections, with promises of transformation and unity.
4. The Ghanaian government has had to increase taxes and tariffs on services as part of its agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
5. Adongo still does not acknowledge Maguire as a “transformational footballer” and a key player for Manchester United.
6. Adongo’s comparison of Bawumia to Maguire received widespread attention on social media and drew criticism from England manager Gareth Southgate.
7. Isaac Adongo, a Ghanaian Member of Parliament, issued an apology to Manchester United footballer Harry Maguire for mocking him last year.
8. Adongo did not compare Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia’s economic management to Maguire’s performances on the pitch during a budget debate.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why did Isaac Adongo apologize to Harry Maguire?
2. How did Gareth Southgate respond to Adongo’s comparison of Bawumia to Maguire?
3. How have Ghanaians reacted to Adongo’s apology?
4. What economic challenges is Ghana currently facing?
5. Why has the NPP chosen Bawumia as its candidate for the 2024 elections?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why did Isaac Adongo issue an apology to Harry Maguire?
Isaac Adongo issued an apology to Harry Maguire for mocking him during a budget debate.

2. How did Isaac Adongo compare Vice-President Bawumia to Harry Maguire?
Isaac Adongo compared Vice-President Bawumia’s economic management to Harry Maguire’s performances on the pitch.

3. How did Gareth Southgate respond to Adongo’s comparison?
Gareth Southgate called Adongo’s comparison “ridiculous treatment” and criticized it.

4. What challenges is Ghana currently facing in terms of its economy?
Ghana is currently facing severe economic challenges, including soaring government debt and a record inflation rate of 54% in December 2022.

5. How have Ghanaians reacted to Adongo’s apology?
Some Ghanaians have acknowledged Harry Maguire’s improvement as a player but questioned the performance of Ghana’s economic managers.

6. What measures has the Ghanaian government taken as part of its agreement with the IMF?
The Ghanaian government has had to increase taxes and tariffs on services as part of its agreement with the IMF.

7. Who has the governing New Patriotic Party selected as its candidate for the 2024 elections?
The governing New Patriotic Party has selected Vice-President Bawumia as its candidate for the 2024 elections.

8. What promises has Vice-President Bawumia made if elected as president?
Vice-President Bawumia has promised to lead a united and energized NPP and transform Ghana.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) United
(2) Harry
(3) management
(4) performances
(5) government
(6) record
(7) manager
(8) mother
(9) managers
(10) voters
(11) living
(12) Muslim
(13) Ghana
(14) conclusion
(15) Isaac
(16) protests
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Adongo
Answer: (f) Ghanaian Member of Parliament who apologized

2. Maguire
Answer: (a) Manchester United footballer who was mocked

3. Bawumia
Answer: (h) Vice-President of Ghana criticized by Adongo

4. Ghana
Answer: (c) Country facing severe economic challenges

5. IMF
Answer: (d) International Monetary Fund, which Ghana borrowed from

6. apology
Answer: (e) Expression of regret for mocking someone

7. economic
Answer: (g) Relating to the management of money and resources

8. Manchester United
Answer: (b) Football club that Maguire plays for
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who did Isaac Adongo compare Vice-President Bawumia’s economic management to?
Answer: (d) Harry Maguire

2. What did Isaac Adongo apologize to Harry Maguire for?
Answer: (d) Mocking him

3. Who criticized Isaac Adongo’s comparison of Bawumia to Maguire?
Answer: (b) Gareth Southgate

4. What is Ghana’s current inflation rate?
Answer: (c) 54%

5. What has the Ghanaian government had to do as part of its agreement with the IMF?
Answer: (a) Increase taxes and tariffs

6. What has sparked protests in Ghana?
Answer: (b) Rising cost of living and unemployment

7. Who has the New Patriotic Party (NPP) chosen as its candidate for the 2024 elections?
Answer: (a) Mahamudu Bawumia

8. What has Bawumia promised if elected?
Answer: (c) To lead a united and energized NPP and transform Ghana
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Ghana is currently facing severe economic challenges, including soaring government debt and a record inflation rate of 54% in December 2022. (Answer: True)
2. Adongo stopped criticizing Vice-President Bawumia despite apologizing to Maguire. (Answer: False)
3. The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has not selected Bawumia as its candidate for the 2024 elections, with promises of transformation and unity. (Answer: False)
4. The Ghanaian government has had to increase taxes and tariffs on services as part of its agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). (Answer: True)
5. Adongo still does not acknowledge Maguire as a “transformational footballer” and a key player for Manchester United. (Answer: False)
6. Adongo’s comparison of Bawumia to Maguire received widespread attention on social media and drew criticism from England manager Gareth Southgate. (Answer: True)
7. Isaac Adongo, a Ghanaian Member of Parliament, issued an apology to Manchester United footballer Harry Maguire for mocking him last year. (Answer: True)
8. Adongo did not compare Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia’s economic management to Maguire’s performances on the pitch during a budget debate. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧