Friday, October 25, 2013

President Mahama: My critics should be quiet, I’m just in 1st gear; will soon change to 4th

President Mahama: I’m just in 1st gear; will soon change to 4th

President John Mahama


President John Mahama says his critics should be patient with his Government because the bus of his administration is currently travelling in its “first gear”.


Mahama told a gathering at Awutu Senya in the Central region on Friday that he will soon change to 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear to accelerate developments in the country.


He has been harshly criticised for the wobbly economic outlook of the country.


Political critics like the Convention People’s Party (CPP) say the country is broke.


Some Economists from the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana, including Dr. Robert Osei, have warned that Ghana risks going into a highly indebted poor country state if the economy of the country is not steered back onto the road.


Ghana’s donor partners recently suspended aid budget support aid to West African nation over concerns with the country’s expenditure of 70 percent of tax revenue on the wages of about 700,000 workers.


They also raised issues with the high budget deficit of 12.1 percent for 2012.


The President’s critics are also angry with him over his handling of major corruption scandals, particularly, the rot at the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA).


The Government also uncovered recently that about 280 private and state organisations, including some Ministries and the Electricity Company of Ghana, connived with some customs officers at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to defraud the state of over Ghc144 million in tax revenue between 2005 and 2012.


President Mahama has however assured his critics that they will soon start seeing some transformation.


Source XYZ Ghana News



President Mahama: My critics should be quiet, I’m just in 1st gear; will soon change to 4th

Asikuma Odoben Brakwa assembly retains PM

Asikuma Odoben Brakwa assembly retains PMThe Presiding Member of the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District Assembly, Mr Anthony Kobina Amoakoh, has been retained after two rounds of voting.


The contest was between the incumbent and Daniel Asuakoh Tikofred, and was supervised by officials of the electoral commission led by the district returning officer, Mr Charles Arkoh.


At the end of the first voting, Daniel A. Tikofred had 18 votes while the incumbent secured 27 votes which pushed the elections into a second round.


However, before the second voting began, Daniel Asuakoh Tikofred stepped down and threw his weight behind the incumbent to go unopposed.


In his victory speech, Mr Amoakoh thanked the assembly members for their overwhelming endorsement and to the confidence reposed in him.


He promised to work hard to improve the welfare of the assembly members as well as collaborate effectively with the MP for the area as well as the District Chief Executive towards the development of the district.


The Member of Parliament for the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa , Mrs Georgina Nkrumah Aboah, commended the assembly members for building a consensus to endorse the presiding member.


She called the assembly members to support the PM and the DCE in the discharge of their duties towards the progress of the district.


He assured them that she would use her position to lobby for more development projects to complement the efforts of the assembly.


In his maiden address after his confirmation as the District Chief Executive of the area, Mr Samuel Adom Botchway said 16 communities had benefited from the government’s national electrification project under the poverty oriented grid extension.


The beneficiary communities are Adumanu, Asebiem, Breman Anwiam, Camp C, Nyame Nto Nkom, Sowotuom, Asorefie and Amanbete No. 1. The rest are Breman Besease, Essumagwira, Odum Kweku, Ankase, Bepo Kokoo, Bream Worakese, Nkubem and Ohiansheda.


He noted that to help curb the acute water shortages in the district, 18 communities had been provided with boreholes by IDA-World Bank.


He added that under the District Development Fund(DDF) some projects had been awarded on contract including the upgrading of the Breman Brakwa market(phase II), construction of a market at Bream Baako and Anhwiam, rehabilitation of Odoben market as well as the completion of three-unit classroom blocks at Jamra, Yenkwa and Adumanu, among others.


Source Daily Graphic Ghana News



Asikuma Odoben Brakwa assembly retains PM

DCE Aidoo-Mensah expresses concern about poor revenue generation

DCE Aidoo-Mensah expresses concern about poor revenue generation

Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah


The Gomoa West District Chief Executive, Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, has expressed concern about the poor revenue generated in the assembly, and appealed to members to get actively involved.


Addressing the second ordinary meeting of the assembly at Apam on Tuesday, Mr Aidoo-Mensah said the assembly had, as at September 30, 2013, collected only GH¢130,982.74 out of the estimated revenue of GH¢266,863.60, representing 49.08 per cent, a shortage of GH¢69,164.96.


He attributed the poor performance of the assembly in revenue collection to lack of qualified revenue collectors, inadequate public education on the need for people to pay taxes and levies, non-functioning of some of the area/town councils and lack of data on buildings for owners to pay property rates.


He said the insincerity of some revenue collectors who pocketed some monies collected, as well as food items and drinks from traders also contributed to the poor performance.


The DCE said in order to increase revenue from the assembly’s traditional sources, it had adopted measures including sending revenue collectors from Apam and Mumford to Dawurampong on market days to assist in the collection, in addition to the employment of five guards to assist the collectors.


Mr Aidoo-Mensah said the assembly had also adopted strategies to plug some of the loopholes in revenue generation.


He said the strategies would include strict supervision of collectors, public education, prosecution of rate defaulters, formation of revenue task forces and the operationalisation of town/area councils.


The DCE appealed to assembly members, chiefs and opinion leaders to join the crusade to educate the people on the need to meet their tax obligations promptly.


Mr Aidoo-Mensah reminded the assembly members of the important role internally generated funds (IGFs) played in the allocation of the District Assembly’s Common Fund, saying; “the higher the IGF you collect, the higher common fund you get.”


He said under the International Development Agency (IDA) Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project, 10 boreholes with hand-pumps were being constructed in 10 communities in the district at an estimated cost of GH¢121,874.80.


Source Graphic Ghana News



DCE Aidoo-Mensah expresses concern about poor revenue generation

Alfred Ogbamey: Only liars won"t see anything good in Nunoo-Mensah’s statement

Alfred Ogbamey: Only liars won

Alfred Ogbamey


The Managing Editor of the Gye Nyame Concord, Mr Alfred Ogbamey, has described some aspects of Brigadier-General Nunoo-Mensah’s (retd) controversial statement, delivered at O’Reilly Senior High School on Saturday, as “cogent” and “coherent”.


Mr Ogbamey was making reference to the former’s comment to the effect that workers who go on strike should not be paid.


Brig-Gen Nunoo-Mensah, who is the National Security Advisor, had stated that the government should no longer tolerate the phenomenon of workers laying down their tools every now and then, instead of using dialogue to resolve their grievances.


“If anybody goes on strike, he should not be paid. If you cannot sacrifice for the country the way some of us have done, then get out,” he said.


His comments prompted widespread criticism and condemnation, with at least one opposition party calling for his dismissal.


But speaking on Accra-based Peace FM Thursday, Mr Ogbamey said not every aspect of Bri-Gen Nunoo-Mensah’s speech was bad.


He said while Brig-Gen Nunoo-Mensah’s call on disgruntled workers to “get out of the country” was “unreasonable” and “inapplicable”, he raised certain key points that should not be discounted.


He said the “get out” comments, which might have been informed by Brig-Gen Nunoo-Mensah’s military background, marred what would have been a brilliant submission.


According to Mr Ogbamey, the National security Adviser should have, in making his points, realised that he was no longer in the military, where personnel have to obey instructions before complaining.


“The way he ended his speech shows his inept communication skills,” he added.


Mr Ogbamey emphasised, however, that only a liar would say every aspect of Brig-Gen Nunoo-Mensah’s statement was “senseless”.


Explaining his point, Mr Ogbamey said the spate of strikes, which the National Security Advisor complained about, was something the country needed to be worried about.


He said many of the strikes that had been embarked upon, including some by essential services workers, were illegal.


Strikes, in his view, have unnecessarily become tools of coercion, which workers adopt when they are disgruntled.


Mr Ogbamey added that Ghana’s labour law, which was supposed to regulate how workers embark on strikes, had been “turned upside down”.


Source Graphic Ghana News



Alfred Ogbamey: Only liars won"t see anything good in Nunoo-Mensah’s statement

Ursula Owusu Ekuful blasts Nunoo-Mensah over "get out of the country" comments

Ursula Owusu Ekuful blasts Nunoo-Mensah over

Ursula Owusu


A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful, has condemned statements made by the National Security Adviser, Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah (rtd), to the effect that workers who are not willing to sacrifice should take their passports and get out of the country.


Mrs Ekufu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, said the statements were unbecoming of a national security adviser.


She said it was unacceptable that at a time that the President was calling on Ghanaians abroad to come home and contribute their quota to the country’s development, his security adviser was encouraging “brain drain”.


She was speaking Thursday on Accra-based Peace FM.


Mrs Ekuful said Brigadier-General Nunoo-Mensah (rtd) could have put forward his views in a more refined manner, saying it was unfortunate that he had refused to apologise, despite calls for him to do so.


She, however, echoed calls for the retired Brigadier-General to apologise.


She said: “I don’t want to speak too much – he didn’t speak well at all. It is as if he has no respect for Ghanaians. If he withdraws the comments, it will be in his own interest. A lot of people look up to him.”


Brigadier-General Nunoo-Mensah (rtd ) has been in the news for calling on public workers who are not ready to sacrifice and work to take their passports and “get out of the country”.


Speaking at the inauguration of a nine-unit classroom block at the O’Reilly Senior High School Saturday, he had stated that the government should no longer tolerate the phenomenon of workers laying down their tools every now and then, instead of using dialogue to resolve their grievances.


“If anybody goes on strike, he should not be paid. If you cannot sacrifice for the country the way some of us have done, then get out,” he said.


His comments have triggered criticism and condemnation from a cross-section of the public, with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Monday calling for his dismissal.


Source Graphic Ghana News



Ursula Owusu Ekuful blasts Nunoo-Mensah over "get out of the country" comments

Geshon Gbediame: Parliament could have done better

Geshon Gbediame: Parliament could have done betterThe Member of Parliament for Nkwanta South in the Volta Region, Mr Geshon Gbediame, has stated that Parliament could have done better in its deliberation so far.


He explained that most of the things Parliament dealt with had to emanate from the ministries and conceded that the ministries were not functioning properly at the beginning of the year due to the 2012 Presidential election petition.


“Parliament’s work was hampered even though the House tried as much as possible to raise and discuss some pertinent issues concerning the welfare of the people,” he said.


Mr Gbediame, who was the Majority Chief Whip in the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, said the expectation of MPs in connection with their office accommodation had not been met since the beginning of the year.


“We were expecting that as of now we should have had our offices with the full complement of officials to facilitate our work,” he stated, and called for action to be expedited on the renovation of the Job 600 edifice to facilitate the work of the MP.


“MPs are now tired of using car boots as offices. Throughout the years we have been promised the facility to no avail,” he said.


Mr Gbediame also stated that the delay in the release of MPs share of the common fund and other statutory funds had made it difficult for them to make some little development interventions to improve the lives of their constituents since the beginning of the year.


He was, however, happy that the constituency offices promised by President Mills were beginning to become a reality.


“In my constituency for instance, the contractor has started the foundation work and if that is completed, it is going to facilitate my work by ensuring that I am linked with my constituents while I go about my parliamentary duties in Accra.”


“Now that things are being put in place, I am sure that next year by this time we will have had a good story to tell,” he stated.


Concerning roads in his constituency, Mr Gbediame said he could say with great relief that work on the Nkwanta- Dodi-Pepesu portion of the eastern corridor road was progressing.


Previously, trucks carting yams from the northern parts of the country got stuck for days on that portion of the road during the rainy season but now that work on the road is progressing, that phenomenon is becoming a thing of the past.


Mr Gbediame said he had contacted the Ghana Investment Promotion Council and a number of investors had expressed their interest in going to the area to cultivate cassava on a large scale. The products, according to him, would be used for production of ethanol, cassava powder and also cassava chips for export.


He said it was expected that apart from the involvement of companies in the cultivation of cassava on a large scale , smallholder farmers would be empowered to increase their yields through outgrower schemes to improve the economy of the area.


The MP added that already the economy of the area was picking up because of the road construction which had caused a number of trucks from the north to divert to ply the route.


Source Ghana Soccer News



Geshon Gbediame: Parliament could have done better

Asamoah-Boateng: NPP must sustain pro-poor, rural stature

Asamoah-Boateng: NPP must sustain pro-poor, rural stature

Stephen Asamoah-Boateng


A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, has called on the leadership of the party to do everything possible to sustain its pro-poor and pro-rural stature to garner mass participation at the grassroot level.

In so doing, he has strongly suggested to the leadership of the party to scrap the idea of selling forms for the polling station elections.


He contends that since political party work and activism were largely done in an enthusiastic spirit of sacrifice and volunteerism, any form of commercialising party activities, particularly at the polling station level must be discouraged.


Sharing his views on aspects of internal election guidelines yet to be formally released by the party to govern polling station, constituency, regional and national elections of the party, Mr Asamoah-Boateng told the Daily Graphic that the NPP must be mindful of its pro-poor and pro-rural stature to garner mass participation at the grassroot level.


“Asking members at the polling station level to pay for nomination forms and filing fees, plus membership card, all at a cost of GHc15 within this short period, would create a lot of hardship and will hinder people from joining the party at the grassroot level,” he stated.


According to Mr Asamoah-Boateng, “as the current guidelines stand, especially at the constituency level, it will defeat the objective of opening up the party for mass participation.”


The party, he said, must be opened up to quality and credible people who want to work for the party, saying; “the poor party member who has toiled for our party all these years should not be shoved aside at this stage because of money. It can be costly to the party in the general elections. Should you insist, we are likely to get the “wrong people selected” because someone with higher leadership ambitions paid for them in return for their support.”


NPP tradition


According to Mr Asamaoh-Boateng, the NPP tradition has come into government twice, and throughout, it has shown that the party was pro-poor and pro-rural.


“From Dr K.A Busia’s Progress Party era, who is well noted for his rural development and mass literacy programmes, to that of J.A Kufuor who is noted to have introduced many social interventions, including NHIS, Mass Metro Transit, School Feeding, Free Maternity Care among others, we can be sure of the need for the party to continue with their pro-poor programmes,” he stated.


In his view, the money talk, especially at the polling station level at this time would not help the party during the general elections.


Rather, he said, focus must be on organisation and relationship building; arguing that what the NPP needed at this level were executives whose conduct, utterances, organisation, hard work, humility and connections in the communities would draw voters to the party.


“We should aim at building a human-centred mass political party participation.


Independent election committee


On the party’s internal elections, Mr Asamoah-Boateng advised the leadership of the party to set up an independent election committee at the polling station levels to supervise the elections.


That, he said, would be in line with the party’s principles of openness and fairness to all contestants and officials.


According to Mr Asamoah-Boateng, it is not enough to set up such committees only at the national levels and leave the issue hanging when it comes to other elections, particularly at the polling station levels.


“The guidelines as released by the General Secretary of the NPP does not capture what the National Executive Committee decided on,” he stated.


It is a variation of what the NEC decided on, Mr Boateng opined, recalling that “NEC decided at their last meeting that the guidelines governing the elections should direct all constituencies to paste the list of polling station members visibly at meeting grounds, but as one goes round, this has not been done.”


The whole idea is opennesss, and that is what the NEC is calling for, he stated.


In so doing, he advocated for all contestants and officers to have access to delegates’ album at the polling station, whilst delegates were given the opportunity to validate the displayed voters list.


He appealed to the NEC to consider his suggestions, proposing that the National Council of Elders must be immediately convened to discuss the matter.


Trips


He said his recent trips to Wa, Tumu, Gomoa Tarkwa, Sunyani, Dadieso, Enchi, Asankragwa, Konongo and Dunkwa-on-Offin where he interacted with party members from the surrounding communities revealed a very chaotic situation at the grassroot. Some constituencies and regions claim to have already completed their albums when we are still waiting for the correspondence from the General Secretary, he queried.


He cautioned that there was a huge suspicion within the party that some of the current executives were bent on retaining their positions at all cost.


The feeling at the grassroots is very depressing for our party members, most of whom were very scared to express contrary viewpoints in order not to be perceived as “against.”


There are people going round spreading falsehood and it is dividing the party and pitching members against each other. We should be able to work with each other rather than against ourselves to achieve the 2016 objective.


Source Graphic Ghana News



Asamoah-Boateng: NPP must sustain pro-poor, rural stature

Vice-President Amissah- Arthur in Senegal for ECOWAS summit

Vice-President Amissah- Arthur in Senegal for ECOWAS summit

Vice-President Amissah-Arthur interacts with members of the Ghanaian community in SenegalVice-President Amissah-Arthur interacts with members of the Ghanaian community in Senegal


Vice-President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah- Arthur has arrived in Dakar, Senegal to attend an Extraordinary Summit of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.


The summit is expected to provide a platform for deepening reflection and discussion on all the issues that are critical to the consolidation of the regional market.


Discussions will focus on the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, the Integration Community Levy and the Economic Partnership Agreement.


The Vice-President, who is accompanied by Trade Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, and Deputy Foreign Minister Thomas Kwesi Quartey, is expected back home on Saturday.


Source Graphic Ghana New



Vice-President Amissah- Arthur in Senegal for ECOWAS summit

Ghanaian Immigrant Francis Atta leads efforts against bullying in Canada

Ghanaian Immigrant Francis Atta leads efforts against bullying in Canada

Francis Atta


As Canada celebrates Pink Shirt Day, an anti-bullying campaign started by two students in support of a fellow student bullied for wearing a pink T-shirt to class, one of our own works tirelessly to tackle this issue.


Last year’s Top 25 winner, Ghanaian-born activist Francis Atta who founded K.E.Y.S. — Knowledge and Effort Yield Success— an organization that conducts motivational speech workshops to counter issues like bullying, gang violence and conflict resolution, says that youngsters need a motivating mentor in their lives to keep them on the right path. “I was the lowest of the lows and I’m doing great now. If I could do it, they could do it, too!” says Atta, with passion in his tone. He has seen much tragedy in the last several years, losing many friends to gang violence.


Pink Shirt Day is now celebrated across Canada on the last Wednesday in February.


“When I was in schooling age … I wish I had someone there to show me the right path,” says Atta, who has volunteered his time with most of the youth organizations in the neighbourhood as a mentor, supervisor, basketball coach and, best of all, as a peer.


At a young age, he has taken it upon himself to mentor youth from his neighbourhood — Jane and Finch, one of the most troubled spots in the Greater Toronto Area — so they choose the right path in life. Now with K.E.Y.S, nspire people of all ages to never give up, however arduous the situation may be.


Atta has also started No Colour One Blood (NCOB), through which he organizes multicultural programs. “Since I’m an immigrant, it’s a multicultural program that teaches kids diversity, equality and fairness,” he explains. “It teaches how to appreciate different cultures and interact with each other, looking beyond cultural differences.” The program hosts field trips for students in grades 8 to 12 to ethnic neighbourhoods, for example.


- Culled from Canadian Immigrant



Ghanaian Immigrant Francis Atta leads efforts against bullying in Canada

From there to here: Persistence pays off for Ghanaian immigrant Edward Bansah

From there to here: Persistence pays off for Ghanaian immigrant Edward Bansah

Edward Bansah, who came to Canada in 1998 from Ghana, has faced discrimination here, but believes that if newcomers work hard, they can make it.


Edward Bansah has faced many challenges since he came to Canada in 1998. But he has built a successful life in Brampton as an immigration consultant.


More than 240,000 immigrants are expected to arrive in Canada this year. Many will settle in the GTA. For some, their dreams may take years to build. For others, those dreams may never materialize.


To explore that experience, the Star is publishing an occasional series in the words of newcomers, both recent and more established. If you would like to tell your story, email dzblack@thestar.ca

Edward Bansah, an immigration consultant, came to Canada in November 1998 as a skilled worker. Bansah, who had a degree in statistics from the University of Ghana, had been working in the United States for nearly two years with the Council on International Educational Exchange.


Prior to his arrival in the U.S., he worked at the University of Ghana as an administrator. But then, with the encouragement of his brother who already lived here, he applied to come to Canada. At first, finding work was difficult. He took jobs at Canadian Tire and a logistics company. He also worked as an interpreter for the Immigration and Refugee Board.

But he wanted more and went to York University and got a masters of economics as well as a diploma in Migration and Refugee Studies. He became an immigration consultant in 2006. He and his family settled in Brampton where there is a sizeable Ghanaian community.


Q: Why did you come to Canada?


A: Let me be clear about this there are two kinds of immigrants. Some come in as political refugees; some come in as investors; some come in as economic migrants, skilled workers. That was the category I came in under. Ghana was peaceful. I didn’t have any problem. I just wanted to have a better life for myself and my family. I was married with one child at the time.


Q: Did you have trouble finding work?


A: When I arrived, as a new immigrant, it’s not that easy. . . I started as an accredited interpreter with the Immigration and Refugee Board. I got that job a month after my arrival.

It was interesting. That was part time. . . The income wasn’t enough. I therefore had to take a night job at Canadian Tire at the main distribution centre in Brampton. I did this for one year. After one year, I decided to develop myself academically and go back to school. After that, while I was taking the course at York, I was still doing the interpreting at the IRB.

Then, when I finished the program, I continued doing the translation working at the IRB and again the income wasn’t enough. So I took another night job with a company called Shankar, a logistics, distribution company.


Q: Did you feel humiliated having to take these jobs or did you view it as a necessary step?


A: A little bit of both feelings — somehow feeling a bit humiliated by the kind of work and the shifts I was doing. At the same time, I considered the fact that I was new in the country and that with determination and hard work things would change.


Q: What did you think of Toronto when you first arrived?


A: Toronto is a beautiful city. One significant aspect of it is it’s a multicultural city. I always say the whole world is in Toronto. You more or less get everybody from every part of the world here . . . and it’s a very neat and clean city. And it’s peaceful.


Q: Have you faced any discrimination and disappointments?


A: Discrimination — you definitely meet it. When I was working at Shankar, and this was when I had already obtained my masters of economics, there was a young guy who I was paired with to go get some products and send to shipping. . . . (He) said some racist comments. “I don’t see why I should be paired with this n-guy.” I said: “If you have a problem, you better tell the supervisor. I’m a black guy. I’m in Canada. I’m a citizen. Just like you’re a citizen. One thing I know about Canada. Canada is a peaceful country that embraces immigrants, people of colour, so it’s about time you conditioned your mind to this.” He later apologized.


Q: What advice would you give to newcomers when they come to Canada to prepare them?


A: Don’t expect that you will definitely get whatever you want in terms of profession and everything the moment you arrive. You may get frustrated at a point in time, but focus, develop yourself and know where you can function and you’ll get in there.”


Source Thestar.com



From there to here: Persistence pays off for Ghanaian immigrant Edward Bansah

Ghanaian immigrant Jacob Amgbey finally set to return Home, with help from some friends

Ghanaian immigrant Jacob Amgbey finally set to return Home, with help from some friends

Jacob Amgbey Headed Home


Jacob Amgbey finally will return home to Ghana Saturday after more than 25 years, the last several of which have been spent in assisted-living homes.


Workers at the Bronzeville Park assisted living home where Amgbey has lived for the last 1½ years, have been planning to send him home since June and finally have worked out the details.


“We couldn’t find a companion to go with him,” Bronzeville Park staff member Joyce Molino said. “This is the first time we could find someone who is willing to take [it] on. They’re taking on the responsibility of someone getting home 8,000 miles. It’s a pretty heavy responsibility, and you don’t want to just turn him over to just anybody.


“Then I had to get his travel documents extended because they were only good through Sept. 15,” she said. “I had to go back to the embassy and do that whole process.”


Molino eventually found “a friend of a friend” that the family and staff deemed trustworthy to bring Amgbey back to Ghana for the first time in 25 years. Molino worked with Amgbey’s nephew to find the man who will accompany him on the trip. Amgbey has two sons in Ghana he plans to live with when he returns.


Molino said Amgbey has suffered from a mild form of dementia since he was robbed and had a heart attack in 2006. She said preparing for the trip has made him “a little spun-out.”


“He’s been fine. He’s a little confused about all this, this is big for him. I think he’ll do fine once he’s on the plane and all that is taken care of,” Molino said. “It’s hard for him to understand the concept of this, but I think as they go through the steps of getting to the airport and getting on the plane, then he’ll relax.”


The staff has planned a small get-together Saturday for family and friends to say goodbye. They also will have a stretch limo pick him up from the home at 11 a.m. and take him to O’Hare Airport to catch his 3:30 p.m. flight on Air Italia. At the gathering, friends and family will give Amgbey suitcases, sandals, clothes and other gifts for his trip.


“We miss everyone when they leave, but they don’t leave very often. Everyone should be home if it’s an option,” Molino said. “We’re a nice place to visit, but it’s better to be home.”


Molino helped raise $700 that Amgbey will be able to use as pocket change once he’s home, and an anonymous donor paid the airfare for the trip.


Source DNAINFO.COM



Ghanaian immigrant Jacob Amgbey finally set to return Home, with help from some friends

Farmer jailed for supplying narcotic drugs

Farmer jailed for supplying narcotic drugsAn Accra circuit court has sentenced Mawulorm Dornee, a farmer, to one year imprisonment for supplying narcotic drugs without lawful authority.


Mawulorm, 28, pleaded not guilty.


The court, presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, also fined Mawulorm GHc 120.00 and ordered that the exhibits be destroyed by the investigator under the supervision of the court’s registrar.


Prosecuting, Detective Inspector Isaac Agbemehia told the court that the complainants were police personnel from the Highway Patrol Unit, while the convict was a resident of Dzemeni in the Volta Region.


He said on February 23, 2013, at about 2:35pm, the team was conducting a snap check along the Accra-Aseseeso Adukrom road when it stopped a Toyota Hiace with registration number GC 2411Z, driven by Mensah Globor with passengers, including the convict, on board.


He said in the course of searching the vehicle, they found the convict carrying a black handbag on his laps, and a search conducted therein revealed three compressed slabs of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis.


Prosecution said on February 22, the exhibits were brought together with the convict for investigation.


The convict, in his caution statement, admitted carrying the exhibits on the orders of one Kofi Asante of Dzemeni to be delivered to one Mohammed at Medie.


Source: Ghana News Agency



Farmer jailed for supplying narcotic drugs

Court jails two robbers 10 years

Court jails two robbers 10 yearsTakoradi Circuit Court “B” on Wednesday sentenced Francis Attoh, a security man and Evans Mensah, an aluminium fabricator, to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour each for conspiracy to commit crime and robbery.


The convicts pleaded guilty to the charges.


Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Felix Danku, told the court presided over Mr Charles Banford Nimako said the complainant, Mawunam Huadoga, is a sales agent at the MTN Service Centre at Mpohor.


He said at about 0930 hours on August 17 Mensah and Attoh Mpohor visited the complainant on the pretext of transferring money.


He said in the process, Mensah pulled out a locally manufactured pistol and ordered the complainant to surrender her sales for the day.


Chief Inspector Danku said when the complainant told them she had no money to surrender, the convicts gagged and blindfolded her and ransacked the centre and took away GH¢ 5,241.


Ms Huadoga raised the alarm leading to the arrest of Attoh by a mob, who handed him over to the Police together with a ladies bag, some scratch cards and a live cartridge.


Chief Inspector Danku said on August 21 Mensah was also arrested at his hideout at the Dansoman Estate in Accra.


Source: Ghana News Agency



Court jails two robbers 10 years

Nigerian arrested for murder of compatriot

Nigerian arrested for murder of compatriot

Seidu Tahiru, the suspect


A 26-year-old unemployed Nigerian, Seidu Tahiru, has been arrested by the police at Sogakope in the Volta Region for the murder of one Abdulai Zakaria, also a Nigerian.


The body of Zakaria Zakaria, 26, a salesman was found in a decomposing state at Noklokpo, a suburb of Sogakope a day after he went missing. He had been stabbed in the neck and stomach with a sharp object.


The Sogakope District Police Commander, Superintendent Ayamga Akolgo who confirmed the arrest of Tahiru, told the Daily Graphic that the suspect has since his arrest, confessed to the crime and was helping the police in their investigations.


According to Supt. Ayamga, the victim closed from work on Friday, September 18 together with his elder brother from the mobile phone and clothes shop they operated at Sogakope.


Abdulai Zakaria who usually slept in the shop, was however, nowhere to be found on Saturday when his elder brother returned to open the shop, with the mobile phones, Jeans and Lacoste also looted.


Suspecting that his brother might have looted and bolted with the goods estimated at GH₵20,000, he reported the matter to the police.


The next day however, the assemblyman for the Noklokpo area reported the discovery of a body at an unfrequented area which was later identified to be Zakaria. The murder weapon, a knife, was also found nearby.


It was after the discovery that the wife of Zakaria’s elder brother (the shop owner), recalled seeing the suspect and the victim together in the evening of that Friday.


Superintendent Akolgo said Seidu Tahiru was traced to his residence at Nungua, near Accra, where he was found with about 200 pieces of the missing mobile phones as well as assorted Jeans and Lacoste from the looted shop.


Police also found a blood stained jeans in his room which he claimed ownership, and readily confessed to killing his compatriot to enable him take away the goods.


Another Nigerian trader, a woman, also reported that Seidu Tahiru had on that fateful Friday, deposited some phones and clothes with her and claimed he had been attacked by armed robbers who had wanted to dispossess him of his goods but he managed to overcome them. She recalled seeing him with blood stains in his clothes.


The suspect is in the custody of the police at Sogakope.


Source Graphic Ghana News



Nigerian arrested for murder of compatriot

Lydia Forson: Proud of my looks at 29

Lydia Forson: Proud of my looks at 29

Lydia Forson showing her curves


Actress Lydia Forson on Thursday celebrated her birthday in a unique fashion. The bubbly actress who featured in hit movies, ‘Perfect Picture’, ‘A Sting In A Stale’, ‘Masquerades’, ‘Scorned’, ‘In The Cupboard’, ‘Phone Swap’ and a host of others, turned 29 and she received massive congratulatory messages.


Amidst efforts to get closer to her fan base she also posted photos by Sefa Nkansa that depicted the natural Lydia Forson at 29. She wasn’t wearing makeup; just the real her.


“I just want people to be proud of their age and what they look like that’s why I took the pictures with no makeup. Embrace your age and how you look. It’s all about, how you feel at the end of the day,” the beautiful actress explained to NEWS-ONE.


The DStv Social Media Ambassador had, weeks ago, announced to give her most loyal fan a DStv, Walka TV on her birthday.


It is yet to be announced who picked the product and if perhaps the fan had a special birthday dinner with the actress.


Source News One Ghana



Lydia Forson: Proud of my looks at 29

Wizkid loses fan base due to pride

Wizkid loses fan base due to pride

Wizkid


Wizkid’s poorly patronised concert in Abuja tagged ‘Wizkid Live Abuja Invasion’ clearly demonstrated the saying that pride goes before a fall.


Surprisingly, what was expected to be a blast did not turn out so because, less than half of the estimated crowd showed up at the event.


People around were of the opinion that Wizkid’s arrogance was part of the reasons why the people did not show up.

Although the show was meant to kick off at 5:00pm, at about 9:30pm the auditorium was half empty.


People who were present at the event were shocked with the number of people present at the highly publicized concert which Wizkid headlined with guest appearances from label mates Skales, Niyola, Shaydee.


Source: Nigeria Films



Wizkid loses fan base due to pride

Aboagye of taxi driver pops up

 Aboagye of taxi driver pops up

George Nii Armah Quaye aka Aboagye


A decade and a half ago when he made an appearance in the hit TV comedy series, Taxi Driver which also featured Mikki Osei Berko as his Uncle, Master Richard, little did many know that the man widely known as ‘Aboagye’ had made his debut television appearance four years earlier in 1995, when he played Ghana’s former president, Jerry John Rawlings in George Laing’s classic kids TV show, Kyekyekule. His real name is George Nii Armah Quaye, born October 7 with a dream of becoming a rapper, a lawyer, a marketer, even a DJ, but never an actor.


In 2001/2002, George played the lead role in his first international movie alongside top UK stars Maynard Eziashie (The Contract, Ace Ventura), Jimmy Akingbola (Holby City,Habibti), Naomie Harris (Skyfall , Pirates of the Caribbean,) and a host of others in ‘Anansi’- a dramatic Odyssey of three young men and a lady surviving a perilous stowaway expedition from Ghana to Europe. It was produced by Germany’s Avista Film and Brainpool with support from the media program for the European Union and shot on locations in Ghana, Morocco, Germany and Spain.


“Kyekyekule was what got me acting back in Mfantsipim school, but Taxi Driver made me drop the music and lawyer dreams…who knows, I just might pick up the law bit again…as for acting, ermmm I’m waiting for a script as good as Anansi” George Quaye said.


In February 2006, the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) degree holder from the University of Ghana, Legon would have left his high flying and enviable technical director position at Village Communications for much lower copy writer role with the Multiple Concepts Group/Charter House Ghana; a group he never regrets as it set his life in the right direction.


Having hosted and produced a few corporate events, wedding receptions, parties and other small events here and there, George stood up to his biggest show yet, when he hosted Charter House’s night of 1004 Laughs and Music at the National Theatre.


“I was so scared I had to call my big sister to come pray with me before the show started…I laugh at myself every time I look at that video and see what I was wearing. OMG! We have come far…” he said with a quirky smile on his face.

Between 2006 and 2012 George went on to host and produce all editions of the comedy show alongside the team at Charter House, discovering Ghana’s funniest man today, Funny face along the way.


He also produced award-winning shows like It Takes Two, Agoro, Stars of the Future, The Goodlife Game Show and a host of other events including the ever prestigious Ghana Music Awards.

With such rich experience it came as no surprise when Charter House in collaboration with the British Council and Tigo, in 2009 placed its biggest, first and only educational reality TV show, The Challenge, in his hands to produce.


Working diligently and perceptively with teams from the British Council, Tigo and within, George has managed to keep the standards of The Challenge high from day one, pushing it a notch higher every season.

“He is attentive, smart, always ready to learn and not afraid to try new things.

Yes, we have a lot of producers in the house, but George is one of the most reliable when it comes to programmes like The Challenge,” said Nii Ayite Hammond, Director of Productions at GHOne Entertainment TV.


The Challenge, when it first premiered in 2009 had Joy FM’s Kojo Oppong Nkrumah as host.

In 2010, Kojo returned to host the show for a second season running, but lost the slot when he got signed on to MTN by the time season 3 was ready to roll.

Eric Don Arthur from TV3 got the job but was replaced with Louis Sakyiamah, aka Lexis Bill in the fourth Season.


By this time the show’s producers and sponsors were inundated with the public outcry to inject some fun into it.

The planning for a total overhaul before the launch of the fifth season started with a crunch three-day brainstorming meeting at the Movenpick Hotel.


Several reforms were made to the show’s structure and the search for a host begun in earnest with this simple benchmark for would be presenters: intelligent, must hold at least a first degree from a reputable tertiary institution, bold, articulate, TV experience would be a plus, knowledge of the show would even be better and most importantly, a great sense of humour.


After weeks of auditions at the studious of GhOne, the Master’s Degree in Communication holder from the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana Legon, producer of the show from the very beginning, intelligent, bold, articulate, great knowledge of the show, great sense of humour with a lot of stage and television experience, George Quaye was given the nod to produce and host the show.

“It’s a new arena for me; scripting, hosting and producing.

But I have a great team from GHOne, Tigo and the British Council to count on. I think it’s gonna be fun…” he said shyly, but proudly.


So George Nii Armah Quaye is host of the Challenge Season 5 and if what we saw on the premier episode is anything to go by, we can boldly conclude that this is going to be the most exciting season yet.

The Challenge Season 5 is produced by GhOne with support from IPMC, Beige Capital, Vita Milk, the University of Salford, Northampton and the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland.

It is a British Council Ghana Initiative and proudly sponsored by Tigo.

The show airs this and every Sunday at 5:30pm on TV3 and at 8:00pm on GhOne Entertainment TV.


Source News One Ghana



Aboagye of taxi driver pops up

Egypt assistant coach Diaa El-Sayed calls on players to restore pride against Ghana

Egypt assistant coach El-Sayed gives up on World Cup dreams, focuses on restoring Pharaohs

Egypt assistant coach Diaa El-Sayed wants players to beat Ghana to restore pride


Egypt assistant coach Diaa El-Sayed has urged the players to restore some pride when the play Ghana in the return fixture of the 2014 World Cup play-off against next month.


The Black Stars will take a healthy lead to the Military stadium in Cairo after thrashing the North African giants 6-1 in the first leg in Kumasi.


The Pharaohs faces a daunting task of overturning the scoreline but their assistant trainer Diaa El-Sayed has urged the players to beat the West Africans to restore some pride.


“We are looking to restore pride in the second leg,” El-Sayed, said


“We cannot ask the players to score five goals in the second leg. We asked them to play football and restore pride after the humiliating defeat.”


The Black Stars are the overwhelming favourite to qualify to Brazil 2014 after outclassing the record African champions.


The return leg will take place on Tuesday November 19 at the military owned Air Defense stadium which will attract 30,000 fans.


Source Ghana Soccer News



Egypt assistant coach Diaa El-Sayed calls on players to restore pride against Ghana

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah: I am good to lead Black Stars at World Cup

 Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah: I am good to lead Black Stars at World Cup

Kwesi Appiah says he is ready to lead Black Stars at World Cup


Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah says he is own man and does not need the help of a technical director to carry out his duties as Black Stars coach.


Early this week, there was publication by a local football portal claiming Klaus Topmoller has held talks with the Ghana Football Association as technical director should the Black Stars seal a 2014 World Cup berth.


The Ghana FA has squashed that rumour and expressed their support for Appiah to handle the team.


Appiah, who masterminded Ghana’s 6-1 World Cup playoff first leg win, does not to be distracted by the ”false report”.


“My concentration is on the Egypt game and nobody has told me anything about any technical director,” the ex-Ghana captain told AllSport.com.gh.


“I signed a contract which ends after the World Cup so nothing has been discussed.


“As for working with others, it depends on how you put it. For instance I can need some guys with good technical ability to scout or monitor some teams for me.


“That is something that can be done and I have always been doing that so that is not a big deal. As for a technical director I don’t know what role he will play.


“Ghana has a technical director already so I don’t know where that is coming from.”


Ghana will play Egypt in the return leg on 19 November.


Source Ghana Soccer News



Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah: I am good to lead Black Stars at World Cup

Ghana"s ambassador to Egypt Alhaji Sinare says Cairo is unsafe to host Black Stars

Ghana

Alhaji Said Sinare


Ghana’s ambassador to Egypt H.E Alhaji Said Sinare insists Cairo is not safe enough to host the return leg of the World Cup playoffs.


The Egyptian FA are pushing to hold the game in the capital despite growing security concerns in the recent political and social unrest.


FIFA will on Monday rule whether Cairo is safe enough to hold the game which many believe is already in the bag for the Black Stars following a thumping 6-1 win in the first leg earlier this month.


But Ghana’s leading envoy in Egypt, Alhaji Sinare says the ‘improved’ security situation in Egypt is still not enough guarantee for the November 19 clash to go on.


“If it was left to me, I will advise that the game be taken to a neutral ground,” he said.


“Even though conditions in terms of security have improved, I don’t think it is safe here to play the game.


“The protection of life for me reigns supreme and therefore anything which could post a security threat to life should be guarded against.”


Egypt have earmarked the 30,000 capacity Air Defence Stadium in Cairo to host the second leg match against Ghana.


Source Ghana Soccer News



Ghana"s ambassador to Egypt Alhaji Sinare says Cairo is unsafe to host Black Stars

Ex-MP Hon. Abena Dapaah supports Nana Addo’s free SHS programme

Ex-MP Hon. Abena Dapaah supports Nana Addo’s free SHS programme

Cecilia Abena Dapaah


The Former Member of Parliament for the Bantama Constituency, Mad. Cecilia Abena Dapaah has launched a programme to collect data on all basic school leavers who qualified for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) but could not further their education due to financial constraints.


The former MP says her major aim is to collect a comprehensive statistics on the number of young girls and boys who have been denied the opportunity to further their education because their parents cannot afford their fees and other expenses.


Hon. Abena Dapaah is undertaking the project in collaboration with the Free SHS Group, a pro-NPP group with strong commitment towards Nana Addo’s Free Senior High School Policy.


The former Legislature has, therefore, donated two sets of brand new multi-purpose computers, valued at GH¢4,000.00 to the executives of the group to begin the process of capturing the data of all prospective students in the Ashanti Region.


Apart from capturing the data, the setting up of the Computer Laboratory would also enable the students the opportunity to study Information Communication Technology (ICT) in order to enhance their future careers.


Hon. Abena Dapaah said she was very passionate about education, particularly amongst the youth and saw the partnership as an opportunity to collect a scientific data for immediate and future programme.


According to her, the data would also capture the socio-economic and demographic details of all students for future action. She noted that the data, amongst other things, would inform her and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of records of young boys and girls who need support to further their education and improve their means of livelihood.


“I am also hoping to solicit funds and encourage sitting MPs to contribute towards supporting these students who through no fault of theirs cannot pursue their academic dreams because the NPP could not win power to implement the free SHS policy,” she pointed out.


She indicated that development without data is nothing, stressing that comprehensive and relevant statistics are required to inform policy decisions.

Receiving the items, the Coordinator of the Free SHS Prayer Group, Andy Owusu, stated that the former MP has consistently supported them in their programmes and was the brain behind the name and idea of the group.


He indicated that currently the number of membership stands at 2,000 in Ashanti Region alone and was looking forward to registering more.


Source: The Chronicle Ghana News



Ex-MP Hon. Abena Dapaah supports Nana Addo’s free SHS programme

Sekou Nkrumah: Nunoo-Mensah’s outburst; a reflection of how “frustrated” Mahama’s government is

Sekou Nkrumah: Nunoo-Mensah’s outburst; a reflection of how “frustrated” Mahama’s government is

Dr Sekou Nkrumah


Sekou Nkrumah, son of Ghana’s first President, Sekou Nkrumah has taken a swipe at the President John Dramani Mahama-led NDC administration, saying the government appears ‘frustrated’ by the current economic situation.


According to him, due to the frustration in government, its officials seem to overreact and this explains why the President’s National Security Advisor, Brigadier-General Nunoo-Mensah lambasted striking Labour Unions in the country.


Brigadier-General Nunoo-Mensah, in an attempt to caution dissatisfied workers in the nation, stated emphatically that they should leave the country to seemingly seek refuge elsewhere if they cannot sacrifice for the nation.


“…Ghana is not a police state. Take your passports and get out of this country and don’t destroy the country for us; if you can’t sacrifice like what some of us have done, then get out. If the Kitchen is too hot for you, get out,’ he said during the commissioning of a nine-unit classroom block for students of O’reilly Senior High School.


But speaking in an exclusive interview with Peacefmonline.com, Sekou Nkrumah called on government and its officials to show humility when addressing national issues.


He implored President Mahama and his government to dialogue with public sector workers to find lasting solution to their challenges.


Though he kicked against calls by critics of the government that General Nunoo-Mensah should resign, he however expressed disgust over his (Gen. Nunoo-Mensah) comments.


“It’s a reflection of the frustration the government is going through, as it seems that many workers are going on strike…I think once they are voted for, they should show humility. And they should be concerned about the welfare of the people and find a way of dealing with it through dialogue…It’s unfortunate that the people in government will make such remarks that the National Security Advisor made. But I think it must have come out of frustration and the government’s inability to deal with workers’ strike….


“Unfortunate as it was, I mean the statement, I think people sometimes overreact. That’s it but I think the government and therefore the Presidency, the cabinet; I think they should try and sit down and address the concerns of the workers properly,” he stated.


Source Peace Ghana News



Sekou Nkrumah: Nunoo-Mensah’s outburst; a reflection of how “frustrated” Mahama’s government is

NPP elections: I’m the only Champion – Sir John

NPP elections: I’m the only Champion – Sir John

Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John


The General Secretary of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as ‘Sir John’, says he cannot be beaten in the party’s forthcoming elections.


He will be battling former Deputy Interior Minister, Nkrabeah Effah Darteh; former Ahafo Ano South Member of Parliament, Stephen Balado Manu, the Party’s Deputy Communications Director Yaw Buaben Asamoah and possible former presidential Secretary Kwabena Agyapong.


Sir John told XYZ News that although he wouldn’t be complacent about the stakes, he is highly confident that he is the man to beat.


“It there’s anybody to be beaten, it’s me Sir John but I can assure you that there’s only one champion and that is Sir John”, Sir John said.


According to him, “…Ghanaians from all walks of life [and] party people believe in my leadership and they believe that I have worked very hard and that they will renew the mandate. I have no doubt at all about that”.


Effah Darteh, Yaw Buaben Asamboah and Balado Manu have all publicly expressed their interest to contest.


A pressure group has also declared support for Kwabena Agyapong but he has not yet made his intentions public.


Source XYZ Ghana News



NPP elections: I’m the only Champion – Sir John

ECG: Expect more tariff increments if government doesn’t intervene

ECG: Expect more tariff increments if government doesn’t intervene

ECG


Power distributor, ECG has cautioned domestic consumers they may be experiencing more than 79 percent increment in tariffs because the government has kept subsidies at the same rate.


The Company’s explanation follows complaints by consumers that some of them are being charged as much as 100 percent increment in electricity bills instead of the recent 79 percent increment announced by the utilities regulator.


Public Relations Officer, Gyei Larbi told XYZ News the government has the greatest say in the matter of tariff adjustment.


“PURC don’t give subsidies, it is government that gives subsidies, so until the Government decides to upwardly adjust the subsidies for the various bands and categories of consumers, those people will have to contend with the current situation”.


Meanwhile The Ashanti regional branch of the Trades Union Congress says it expects the national leadership of organized labor to meet on a report by a technical committee set up by the Presidency to review the new tariffs.


The committee recommended in its report that any increment beyond 60 percent could hurt Ghanaians and industry. It nonetheless said reducing the recently increased tariffs was untenable.


The Ashanti branch told its members to start hoisting red flags ahead of a possible industrial action after the TUC’s extended ultimatum to the government to slash by a third, the recently increased tariffs, has expired.


Source XYZ Ghana News



ECG: Expect more tariff increments if government doesn’t intervene

MPs urged to attend assembly meetings

MPs urged to attend assembly meetings

Parliament


Members of the Gomoa West District Assembly have appealed to members of parliament (MPs) to attend meetings of their various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.


Expressing their concern about the failure of MPs to attend assembly meetings at the second ordinary meeting of the assembly at Apam on Tuesday, the members urged the MPs not to wait till election year before they identify themselves with the assemblies.


“We expect you to come and report to us what happens in Parliament,” the assembly members said and asked; “how do we hear what goes on in Parliament if you as the representatives of the people disregard us and feel the assemblies are too small for you to participate in their deliberations?”


Commenting on the feelings of the members, Mr Anthony Eyiah Quansah, Presiding Member of the assembly, said failure to attend assembly meetings by an MP did not pertain in Gomoa West alone but was becoming a canker in the assemblies nationwide.


He appealed to the Speaker of Parliament and the leadership of Parliament to take up the matter before it got out of hand.


Mr Quansah said the district assembly concept was structured along that of Parliament, therefore, it was incumbent on parliamentarians to attend assembly meetings to see whether the right thing was being done in the assemblies.


Source Ghana News Agency



MPs urged to attend assembly meetings

Two more Ghanaian pilgrims die in Mecca

Two more Ghanaian pilgrims die in Mecca

Hajj pilgrims


Two more Ghanaian pilgrims have been confirmed dead in Mecca.


This brings to four, the number of Ghanaians who have died in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.


Public Relations Officer of the Hajj Committee, Amin Lamptey, in an interview with XYZ Breakfast Show host Moro Awudu stated that families of the deceased have been duly informed.


Most of the deceased are seniors.


He however attributed their death to health consequences.


Source XYZ Ghana News



Two more Ghanaian pilgrims die in Mecca

Kpesah Whyte: Nunoo Mensah was "too kind" with words

Kpesah Whyte: Nunoo Mensah was

Nunoo Mensah


Presidential Staffer Dr. Michael Kpesah Whyte has justified the national security advisor’s recent harangue against labour and says Nunoo Mensah should have used even harsher words in his outburst against labour.


“I think the General was actually too kind even in his choice of words as far as this particular issue is concerned”, Dr. Kpesah Whyte said on Friday.


The retired Brigadier General accused public sector workers of haunting the government with strikes and asked them to pack out of the country if the “kitchen is too hot” for them.


He has taken a deluge of flak for his comments but has also enjoyed some support from people like Statesman K B Asante and security analyst Dr. Kwesi Annin.


The latest to join the support wagon is Kpesah Whyte, who says Nunoo Mensah couldn’t have been more right.


“If we don’t learn to call a spade a spade in this country, and stop calling [a] spade a smaller spoon or a bigger spoon or whatever it is, we will continue to find ourselves in the kind of situation we find ourselves in”, Kpesah Whyte fumed.


He said: “I don’t see why anybody should attack the General for the kind of comments [he made]. It is indeed frustrating”.


According to him, “…Before single spine, people were earning all manner of income that really was heart rendering. After single spine, it has changed and so why would you want to continue this every now and then; it’s scattered all over the place”.


“Things like market premium is not to apply to everybody [but] every union is now demanding it meanwhile this is well known before the implementation of single spine begun, so I don’t think the General deserves the kind of attacks that were launched at him and I think that many people need to do a lot of quiet introspection and asked themselves ‘was the General saying anything bad?’”


Dr. Kpesah Whyte, who spoke on Radio Gold, also described the leadership of organised labour as a strike-happy bunch who don’t explore proactive means of resolving their grievances.


Source XYZ Ghana News



Kpesah Whyte: Nunoo Mensah was "too kind" with words

President Mahama: Africans must tell their own stories

 


President Mahama: Africans must tell their own stories

President Mahama


President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to the Institute of African Studies and other African organizations to tell positive stories about the continent in order to help erase negative impressions.


He said if Africans allowed others to tell their stories, the media landscape will be inundated with stories of political strife, hunger, civil wars, oppression and dictatorship, disease and deprivation on the continent.


President Mahama said this when he opened the 50th Anniversary celebration of the International Conference on African Studies on the theme:”Re-visiting the First International Congress of Africanists in a Globalized World”


The programme attracted people from the academia, Africans in the diaspora, members of the Diplomatic Corps and Professor Ngugi Wa Th’ongo, a prolific Kenyan writer and academician.


The celebration, which also coincides with the 65th Anniversary of the University of Ghana, will among other activities, hold lectures on African Culture and its relevance in the socio-economic development of Ghana and the African continent as a whole.


An exhibition on African fashion will be held, a session for students of Senior High Schools on African Heritage and Renaissance and the formation of an Association of African Studies.


President Mahama stated that it was gratifying that Africa was now playing positive roles in the areas of democracy, sports, economic development, literature and literary works and therefore tasked Africans to take advantage of these performances and advertise the good side of the continent.


He said it was regrettable that Africans had, over the years, left the destiny of the continent into the hands of others for them to expose only the negatives side.


According to him, it was imperative therefore for Africanists to step up their activities to rebrand the socio-cultural activities of the continent to create indelible marks on the minds of other continents.


The President also appealed to the continent to continue to highlight the good and interesting traditions that have held the continent together for others to emulate.


“Africa believes in utility, Africa believes in continuity, and that is why we need to let others know much about our culture, our upbringings and the values that have placed us in a good position on the international world,” the President said.


Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Director of the Institute of the African Studies, insisted that the late President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s mission for establishing the Institute was still relevant and should therefore be adhered to in order to achieve the objectives and goals of the African Renaissance.


She said the institute was engaged in two projects, namely; the biographical research on the lives of important contributors to Ghana’s social and political life and though and a survey of Ghanaian Tales and storytelling traditions.’


“The educated man should be so sensitive to the conditions around him and he makes it his ‘chief’ endeavour to improve those conditions for the good of all”


She pledged to re-invigorate the academic activities on African Studies to make it more relevant for both Africans and non-Africans beyond the confines of the continent.


Source Ghana News Agency



President Mahama: Africans must tell their own stories

Thursday, October 24, 2013

DSP Gifty Mawuenyega Tehoda case adjourned

DSP Gifty Mawuenyega Tehoda case adjourned

DSP Gifty Mawuenyega Tehoda


Counsel for the embattled former Deputy Head of the Police Commercial Crimes Unit, DSP Gifty Mawuenyega Tehoda, who has filed a contempt application against two top police officials, yesterday informed an Accra Fast Track High Court Human Rights Division that they would serve notice on the police to provide certain documents that are crucial to their case.


Lawyer Oliver Dzeble told the court, presided over by Justice Kofi Essel Mensah that they would serve notice on the Ghana Police Service to make available proceedings of the service enquiry that led to her dismissal.


The respondents are Nantogmah Yakubu Aggrey, Chief Superintendent of Police in charge of the Rapid Deployment Unit, who was the trial officer during the service enquiry and Commissioner of Police Rose Bio Atinga, the Chairman of the Central Disciplinary Board, who the applicant claims disobeyed a court order.


The trial judge accordingly gave the green light for Mr Dzeble to do so.


The matter has been adjourned to October 7 2013.


The applicant was in court with her husband.


CSP Nantogmah and Commissioner Bio Atinga are alleged to have undermined the authority of the high court by proceeding to conduct service enquiry when the applicant had served them with copies of suit challenging her interdiction by the Ghana Police Service.


In addition to the contempt, DSP Tehoda has filed a suit to enforce her human rights.


Counsel for the applicant filed the contempt at the time when the substantive case was pending and sought an order of prohibition against the IGP, the trial officer from proceeding with the Internal Service enquiry until the matter was determined by the court.


However, the applicant alleged that the respondents went ahead with service enquiry, which resulted in her dismissal.


According to the applicant, the respondents undermined the authority of the court and must be cited for contempt.


In the new writ, the applicant is seeking 11 to 12 reliefs, including a declaration that her detention in cells beyond 48 hours by the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) was unlawful.


The applicant is seeking compensation by way of damages due to her unlawful detention by the state.


The applicant is also seeking a declaration that her prosecution by the state over the alleged swapping of cocaine was malicious because the facts put before the court could not establish any criminal charges against her.


Mr. Dzeble said the state occasioned damages because it hurriedly went to court to prosecute DSP Tehoda for six months and incarcerated her for 45 days incarceration.


They are also praying the court for compensation for her unlawful dismissal, as well as an order against the Inspector General of Police to re-instate her with all the benefits.


DSP Tehoda was alleged to have assisted Nana Ama Martins, a suspected cocaine dealer, to escape prosecution after a cocaine exhibit turned into baking soda.


She was arrested by the BNI after the security agency conducted investigations into how the 1,020 grammes of cocaine turned into baking soda as directed by the then Vice President Mahama.


The investigations, according to the prosecution, revealed that DSP Tehoda knew about the swapping of the substance and Nana Ama Martins, the lady who allegedly owned the cocaine.


She was put before an Accra Circuit court presided over by Francis Obiri on a charge of abetment of crime. However, the case was dismissed after the prosecution, led by Rexford Wiredu asked the court to do so and she was discharged unconditionally.


Source Daily Guide Ghana News



DSP Gifty Mawuenyega Tehoda case adjourned

Police Commander’s imposter jailed 3 years

Police Commander’s imposter jailed 3 years

Bismarck Yeboah


A brave man in Kumasi who posed as the Asokwa Divisional Police Commander to dupe an urvan bus driver of GH¢20 is in the grips of the law.


Bismarck Yeboah, 32, who was wearing mufti, passed himself off as the police officer and collected GH¢20 from the driver of an urvan bus he had boarded, for overloading.


After collecting the money, Yeboah was brave enough to haul the driver to the Asokwa Police Station.


At the police station, Yeboah pointed at the office of the district police commander as his office, telling the driver that he was in charge of the station.


The driver of the urvan bus, after critically observing the demeanor of Yeboah, became suspicious, and reported the matter to other policemen around.


The fake policeman was quickly arrested, Superintendent Rev. S. Nyamekye Adane Yeboah, the Asokwa District Police Commander told DAILY GUIDE.


The suspect, after interrogation, was hauled to the KMA Court Presided over by Justice William Boampong on Tuesday.


He admitted to the charge of defrauding by false pretences and he was eventually sentenced to three years with hard labour by the court.


Explaining further, the Asokwa Commander said Yeboah boarded the urvan bus at Asokwa on October 18, and told the driver he would alight at Central Police Station.


Immediately after boarding the car, Yeboah, who was wearing mufti, told the driver that he was a policeman so he had arrested him for overloading.


The police imposter then demanded an amount of GH¢20 from the visibly-shaken driver who quickly paid to escape arrest.


Yeboah then hauled the driver to the Asokwa Police Station where he pointed at the police commander’s office, claiming that was his office.


At that juncture, the driver became suspicious so he reported the matter to the police and Yeboah was arrested.


The police found a fake police complimentary card bearing the name of Bismarck Yeboah on the suspect after searching him.


They also found a missing policeman’s passport-sized photograph on Yeboah after the arrest.


It was suspected that Yeboah was using the missing policeman’s passport-sized picture in his possession to dupe unsuspecting members of the public.


Superintendent Rev. Adane Ameyaw said the passport-sized picture would be handed over to its rightful owner soon.


Source Daily Guide Ghana News



Police Commander’s imposter jailed 3 years

Suspected robbers with soldiers’ uniform jailed

Suspected Robbers With Soldiers’ Uniform JailedTwo suspected armed robbers were sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court after police found military uniforms and kit bags in their possession.


The convicts, Iddrisu Issifu alias Capito and Kweku Sammy alias Tugu who allegedly robbed a taxi from a cabbie at knifepoint, last Monday, pleaded guilty to the offence of possession of military accoutrements but denied the offence of conspiracy to commit crime and robbery. The trial judge then suspended the sentence till yesterday.


The suspects have been remanded on the orders of the trial judge, Francis Obiri while the case has been adjourned to November 8, 2013.


Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Morkeh, who presented the facts of the case, told the court that on October 9, 2013 the Odorkor patrol team was on duty at Odorkor and surrounding areas.


According to him, members of the patrol team, who are the complainants in the case, had information that the accused persons had robbed a taxi driver at knifepoint at Race Course around Sowutuom and immediately proceeded to the area.


He said when they arrived at the scene of the robbery, the accused persons had boarded a Daewoo taxi with registration number GS 2103-13, which they had robbed to enable them to get away with their reprehensible act.


The prosecuting officer noted that the patrol team consequently mounted a road block at Sowutuom in search for the accused persons.


“During the road block they arrested the accused persons on board the Daewoo taxi and when a search was conducted on them one jack knife, a hammer and cash in the sum of GH¢44.00 were retrieved,” he added.


DSP Morkeh noted that the complainants observed that Iddrisu was wearing four t-shirts whilst Sammy was wearing six t-shirts.


Furthermore, he said during interrogation, the accused persons admitted having robbed a taxi driver at the Race Course area the same day and had an amount of GH¢44.00.


Explaining further, he said that as part of their modus operandi, they removed the t-shirts after robbery operations to avoid being identified by their victims. He revealed that a search at the accused person’s place of abode revealed military uniforms and kit bags, adding that investigations were ongoing.


Source Daily Guide Ghana News



Suspected robbers with soldiers’ uniform jailed

Goat thieves on rampage

Goat thieves on rampage

The stolen goats and the taxi


The Abura Dunkwa District Police Command is seriously hunting for three young men who went and stole eight goats at Kwamankese in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) area on October 20, 2013 around 1:30pm.


The goats and the taxi cab, with registration number AW50X, which was used in executing their operations, are being kept by the police for further investigation.


Briefing DAILY GUIDE on Tuesday, the AAK District Police Commander, DSP Bernard Twum Berimah said his outfit received information that some goat thieves were carrying goats from Ayeldu to Kwamankese.


DSP Twum Berimah stated that he then dispatched his men to chase the thieves and caught up with them at Ampeseduadze where the thiefs were heading towards Saltpond.


He added that the thieves, upon seeing the police vehicle, abandoned their vehicle and the goats and ran to the bush.


The police boss hinted that effort by the police to trace their whereabouts proved futile.


DSP Twum Berimah noted that a search conducted in the vehicle revealed a mobile phone, driving licence and some cone.


He pointed out that, a man by name Benjamin Marcathy, who came to the station claiming to be the owner of the taxi cab, had been arrested assisting in an investigation.


The police boss told DAILY GUIDE that, upon further interrogation, the car owner hinted that the driver came for the car early in the morning with an explanation that he was going to wash it, but he waited till the afternoon when he had information that the car had been impounded by the police.


DSP Twum Berimah stressed the need for those involved in rearing animals to take good care of the animals and not to expose them to danger.


Source Daily Guide Ghana News



Goat thieves on rampage

Asamoah Gyan: Ghana players scared to play in Cairo

Asamoah Gyan: Ghana players scared to play in Cairo

Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan


Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan claims many of his Black Stars teammates are against the idea of playing Egypt in Cairo for the World Cup playoff return leg next month.


The Al Ain striker says they feel intimidated by the deteriorating security concerns in the North African country.


FIFA has set a 28 October deadline to confirm whether the match will be played in Cairo or at a neutral venue.


This was after the Ghana FA wrote to the world football governing body over recent violent clashes between protesters of the Muslim Brotherhood and the military.


The Egyptian Football Association insists the country is safe and Ghana should harbour no fear ahead of the 19 November decider.


“Most of the guys talk to me about playing the second leg in Cairo in front of the fans and are scared about the happenings in that country,” Gyan told Kumasi-based Angel FM


“Don’t forget that most of the players follow all what is going on in Egypt and are abreast with every incident that has been going on because life is very precious.


“We are in talks with the authorities in charge to see what decision is finally taken with respect to the venue of the match so hopefully by next week will all know where the game will be played.


“We need to protect our lives as footballers so if Cairo is picked as the venue then they would have to provide a very tight security for us because we all know the what the situation is in Egypt now.


“Not to say that we can’t play, we are ready to play at any venue against any opposition but as I said our lives are more important.”


Source Ghana Soccer News



Asamoah Gyan: Ghana players scared to play in Cairo