NPP Storms Sekondi

Boakye Agyarko

The Essipong Sports Stadium at Sekondi in the Western Region will be the centre of attraction this weekend when it hosts high-ranking members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) including the party’s Presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

The two would join several other Ghanaians including the party’s national executive at an interdenominational prayer service on Sunday, 29th January 2012 to commit the party’s 2012 campaign and the nation into the hands of God.

The service, which will start at 2:00pm, is themed ‘Setting Forth through the Hand of God’. It would also feature the party’s parliamentary candidates from across the country.

At a press conference in Accra on Thursday, campaign manager of the NPP, Boakye Agyarko said, “It will be a series of praises and worship, songs and prayers.”

Party chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey is expected to read the first scripture, followed by minority leader Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, with the third reading by Nana Akufo-Addo.

The high-point of the service is expected to be two reflections on peace, with the first to be delivered by former President Kufuor and the second, titled ‘Our Yearning For Peace’, by the NPP presidential candidate.

The sermon is scheduled to be delivered by Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante Antwi, former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, whilst Rev. Emmanuel Botchway will say special prayers for the presidential candidate and parliamentary candidates.

NPP has sent an open invitation to all Ghanaians across the length and breadth of the country, especially party members, to join hands with them to, as Boakye Agyarko put it, “step forth through the hand of God.”

He said it was the wish of the NPP to win the 2008 elections but God, in “His own infinite wisdom”, did not grant that wish for a reason.
“But I believe God did not grant us because he needed to expose the NDC for what they are – hypocrites, liars, thieves of the first order. Otherwise how does a president who has declared himself righteousness allow such perfidy of taking the nation’s money to one person?”

By Charles Takyi-Boadu
 

2 Incest Father Caged

I SWEAR IT IS JUJU! Emmanuel Kwasi Yevu jail 10 years

A SCENE of humor erupted at an Accra Court yesterday when Emmanuel Kwasi Yevu, a man who was being tried for committing incest, pleaded with the judge to ‘forgive him his trespasses’ since his action was from a ‘juju’ spell cast on him by unknown enemies.

That humble appeal did not stop the trial judge, Justice Georgina Mensah Datsa, from sentencing him to ten years’ imprisonment after informing him that she had no powers over ‘juju’cases. The judge advised him to send his matter to a ‘juju court’ for settlement.

Yevu is reported to have impregnated his 13-year-old daughter after having sex with her on two occasions.

The convict, who attempted to abort the pregnancy, did not deny this allegation when he was put before the court.

The drama started when right after he pleaded guilty, his brother, who came to court to support him, raised his hand and informed the court that he had something to say.

The brother pleaded with the judge not to convict Yevu because his action was as a result of a spell cast on him.

According to him, Yevu, at one point, had confided in him that he was being haunted by some sort of charm that made him commit certain crimes he would not have committed if he was himself.

The convict, speaking in Ewe, confirmed his brother’s statement and informed the court that on the day of the incident, he got drunk and while sleeping that night, he detected that his daughter had put her leg on him.

According to him, because he often dreamt of having sex with his late wife, he was in a trance when the incident occurred and so he mistook his daughter for his wife.

Yevu said: “My Lord the thing came on me in a spiritual form. I sometimes dream that I am sleeping with my late wife. I took in some alcohol on the day in question before going to bed. I detected that my daughter had placed her legs on mine and I mistook her to be that of my late wife and I defiled her.”

The judge responded that she had powers only under the law but not ‘juju’ so he should send his matter to a ‘juju court’ for settlement.

This statement triggered laughter from the persons in the courtroom. Justice Datsa subsequently convicted him on his own plea and sentenced him to ten years’ imprisonment on each count but the sentences are to run concurrently.

 Presenting the facts, ASP Sarah Acquah told the court that the complainant was the victim’s uncle.

According to her, Yevu is the father of the victim and that since the victim’s mother died, the little girl had been living with the father at Omanjor in Accra.

She narrated that somewhere in October 2011, the victim was sleeping when Yevu forced and had sex with her on two occasions.

After the acts, the victim informed her father that she had not menstruated for the past three months but Yevu, knowing very well that the victim was pregnant, gave the victim medicine to swallow and inserted some of the medicine into her vagina.
Soon after inserting the medicine, the victim began to complain of abdominal pains and she was rushed to the hospital.

A report was made to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Odorkor Police station where the victim was issued with a medical form.

Yevu was later arrested by the police and during interrogation, he admitted to the offence.

By Mary Anane

3 Rbbers Nabbed

The suspected robbers with their weapons

The Adenta District Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with an alleged shooting which nearly killed a Japanese national last December.
The suspect, Eric Ofori, allegedly attacked a house at Ampomaa Village near Adenta with a pump action gun to rob. In the process, he shot the victim twice in the right arm and bolted.

Items retrieved from him upon arrest included a pump action gun and two live BB cartridges.

Narrating the story to DAILY GUIDE, the Adenta District Police Commander, Stephen K. Ahiatafu, said the suspect was the bosom friend of the victim’s husband.
On December 22, 2011 around 11pm, the suspect called the victim’s husband to find out if he was at home.
Upon realizing that the husband was still at work, the suspect stormed the house and ordered that the victim open the door for him to enter.

The victim was suspicious and queried the suspect what he wanted from her at that ungodly hour.

The suspect then asked her to bring an amount of GH¢2000, otherwise he would shoot and kill her.
Ofori went ahead to fire some bullets at the door when the victim answered that she had no money.

 “In the process, one of the bullets hit the victim in the arm. The victim then picked her cheque book and signed an amount of GH¢3000 to the suspect,” the commander said.

The suspect, upon sensing danger, left the cheque and bolted.
When police were informed and got to the scene, two empty shells of bullets were found, together with the signed cheque, on the compound of the victim.

The victim was rushed to the police hospital for treatment.

Suspect Eric Ofori was later arrested but upon interrogation, he denied having committed the act.

Early this month, the landlord of Eric, domiciled in the United States, reported to the station that his pump action gun and new clothing had been stolen.
“Suspect Eric Ofori, through our investigations, confessed having broken into the landlord’s room and stolen the items.

 “He also confessed having used the gun to shoot the Japanese. Our checks also indicate that the bullets in the gun were the same as the ones found at the scene. Suspect would be prosecuted soon,” the commander said.
Earlier, two men who attempted to rob a compound house were also arrested.
They are Gideon Fianku- 24, and Kwesi Adjei- 20.
DSP Ahiatafu indicated that the two conspired to rob a compound house on Thursday, January 26, 2012 around 10am.

Upon getting to the house, suspect Gideon jumped into the house while Kwesi stood outside and spied.

The landlord of the house who heard that someone was attempting to break into one of the rooms called for help.
Sensing danger, the two attempted to flee but they were arrested.
A search conducted on them by the residents revealed a double-barrelled locally-made pistol and a knife.
The suspects were brought to the police station for interrogation. The two would be arraigned later, the police said.

By Linda Tenyah

The mystery ram

THE STRANGE ram which was discovered at the premises of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) on Wednesday morning has been taken to the Manhyia palace, DAILY GUIDE has learnt.

The giant ram, which had a piece of red cloth tied around its neck was initially taken to the premises of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) at about 11:30am.

This was after the strange animal, which sources indicated was dropped off at the mortuary’s premises at about 1:30am by an unidentified person, was found loitering at the place around 5:30am.

The presence of the all-white ram shocked workers and patrons of the mortuary.

The workers were so afraid that none of them was able to go near the gigantic ram which many observers opined that it could have been left there by someone for ritual purposes.

It was not clear why the ram was sent to the official seat of the Asantehene, but it is believed that the animal was sent there because the palace is the home of tradition in the Ashanti kingdom.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that in view of the suggestion that the animal might have been brought to the hospital for ritual purposes, the Manhyia palace will perform the necessary rites to neutralise the rituals behind the ram.

This will ensure that there are no negative consequences in the region.

From Morgan Owusu, Kumasi

Kwasi Mortsi

Kwesi Mortsi, a carpenter, has been remanded by an Accra Circuit Court, after he was accused of raping his 18-year-old biological daughter, who lives with him.

The accused person, who had compelled his daughter to abort three pregnancies within last year, also prevented his daughter from going to work by seizing her handbag after she refused to have sex with him.

He was put in a court presided over by Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa, a High Court judge sitting with additional responsibility.

The carpenter, 40, pleaded not guilty to the offence and has been remanded in police custody while the case has been adjourned to February 17, 2012.

Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecuting officer, Chief Inspector A.A. Ahor, told the court that the victim is an 18-year-old girl who lives with her father, the accused, at Dansoman near the Keep Fit Club.

According to him, the accused had had sexual intercourse with his daughter for one-and-a-half years now.

The police officer said in 2011 alone, the carpenter impregnated his daughter on three occasions but he compelled her to abort due to the scandal it might create.

In addition, he stated that on January 16, 2012, the accused person made an attempt to have sexual intercourse with the daughter but she refused.

He said the next day, while preparing for work, the carpenter again asked his daughter for sex and she refused and said she was going to work.

 Mortsi then held the girl’s handbag and refused to give it to her in spite of pleas by the victim for her father to hand her bag to her.

After all attempts to get her bag back failed, the victim reported the incident to the police leading to the man’s arrest.

A medical report form was issued to the daughter to attend hospital after which the accused person was arrested and charged.

By Fidelia Achama

I SWEAR IT IS JUJU! Emmanuel Kwasi Yevu jail 10 years

A SCENE of humor erupted at an Accra Court yesterday when Emmanuel Kwasi Yevu, a man who was being tried for committing incest, pleaded with the judge to ‘forgive him his trespasses’ since his action was from a ‘juju’ spell cast on him by unknown enemies.

That humble appeal did not stop the trial judge, Justice Georgina Mensah Datsa, from sentencing him to ten years’ imprisonment after informing him that she had no powers over ‘juju’cases. The judge advised him to send his matter to a ‘juju court’ for settlement.

Yevu is reported to have impregnated his 13-year-old daughter after having sex with her on two occasions.

The convict, who attempted to abort the pregnancy, did not deny this allegation when he was put before the court.

The drama started when right after he pleaded guilty, his brother, who came to court to support him, raised his hand and informed the court that he had something to say.

The brother pleaded with the judge not to convict Yevu because his action was as a result of a spell cast on him.

According to him, Yevu, at one point, had confided in him that he was being haunted by some sort of charm that made him commit certain crimes he would not have committed if he was himself.

The convict, speaking in Ewe, confirmed his brother’s statement and informed the court that on the day of the incident, he got drunk and while sleeping that night, he detected that his daughter had put her leg on him.

According to him, because he often dreamt of having sex with his late wife, he was in a trance when the incident occurred and so he mistook his daughter for his wife.

Yevu said: “My Lord the thing came on me in a spiritual form. I sometimes dream that I am sleeping with my late wife. I took in some alcohol on the day in question before going to bed. I detected that my daughter had placed her legs on mine and I mistook her to be that of my late wife and I defiled her.”

The judge responded that she had powers only under the law but not ‘juju’ so he should send his matter to a ‘juju court’ for settlement.

This statement triggered laughter from the persons in the courtroom. Justice Datsa subsequently convicted him on his own plea and sentenced him to ten years’ imprisonment on each count but the sentences are to run concurrently.

 Presenting the facts, ASP Sarah Acquah told the court that the complainant was the victim’s uncle.

According to her, Yevu is the father of the victim and that since the victim’s mother died, the little girl had been living with the father at Omanjor in Accra.

She narrated that somewhere in October 2011, the victim was sleeping when Yevu forced and had sex with her on two occasions.

After the acts, the victim informed her father that she had not menstruated for the past three months but Yevu, knowing very well that the victim was pregnant, gave the victim medicine to swallow and inserted some of the medicine into her vagina.
Soon after inserting the medicine, the victim began to complain of abdominal pains and she was rushed to the hospital.

A report was made to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Odorkor Police station where the victim was issued with a medical form.

Yevu was later arrested by the police and during interrogation, he admitted to the offence.

By Mary Anane

The suspected robbers with their weapons

The Adenta District Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with an alleged shooting which nearly killed a Japanese national last December.
The suspect, Eric Ofori, allegedly attacked a house at Ampomaa Village near Adenta with a pump action gun to rob. In the process, he shot the victim twice in the right arm and bolted.

Items retrieved from him upon arrest included a pump action gun and two live BB cartridges.

Narrating the story to DAILY GUIDE, the Adenta District Police Commander, Stephen K. Ahiatafu, said the suspect was the bosom friend of the victim’s husband.
On December 22, 2011 around 11pm, the suspect called the victim’s husband to find out if he was at home.
Upon realizing that the husband was still at work, the suspect stormed the house and ordered that the victim open the door for him to enter.

The victim was suspicious and queried the suspect what he wanted from her at that ungodly hour.

The suspect then asked her to bring an amount of GH¢2000, otherwise he would shoot and kill her.
Ofori went ahead to fire some bullets at the door when the victim answered that she had no money.

 “In the process, one of the bullets hit the victim in the arm. The victim then picked her cheque book and signed an amount of GH¢3000 to the suspect,” the commander said.

The suspect, upon sensing danger, left the cheque and bolted.
When police were informed and got to the scene, two empty shells of bullets were found, together with the signed cheque, on the compound of the victim.

The victim was rushed to the police hospital for treatment.

Suspect Eric Ofori was later arrested but upon interrogation, he denied having committed the act.

Early this month, the landlord of Eric, domiciled in the United States, reported to the station that his pump action gun and new clothing had been stolen.
“Suspect Eric Ofori, through our investigations, confessed having broken into the landlord’s room and stolen the items.

 “He also confessed having used the gun to shoot the Japanese. Our checks also indicate that the bullets in the gun were the same as the ones found at the scene. Suspect would be prosecuted soon,” the commander said.
Earlier, two men who attempted to rob a compound house were also arrested.
They are Gideon Fianku- 24, and Kwesi Adjei- 20.
DSP Ahiatafu indicated that the two conspired to rob a compound house on Thursday, January 26, 2012 around 10am.

Upon getting to the house, suspect Gideon jumped into the house while Kwesi stood outside and spied.

The landlord of the house who heard that someone was attempting to break into one of the rooms called for help.
Sensing danger, the two attempted to flee but they were arrested.
A search conducted on them by the residents revealed a double-barrelled locally-made pistol and a knife.
The suspects were brought to the police station for interrogation. The two would be arraigned later, the police said.

By Linda Tenyah

Kwaku Kwarteng

The group that secured a court ruling ordering the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to remove illegal ex-refinery differentials from the petroleum pricing formula says it will go to court again to get the NPA to comply with the ruling.

Development Data filed an application seeking a declaration that the ex-refinery differentials are illegal and an order that the levies be removed and the total amount collected so far paid into the consolidated fund.

The NPA after dithering in complying with the court order filed a motion for a stay of execution, in order to pursue an appeal, which was thrown out this week.

The Chief Executive of the NPA, Mr Alex Mould announced Thursday that the matter had been resolved because “We have, in consultation with all the stakeholders, agreed that this ex refinery differentials is necessary in the price buildup formula…we then sought approval, we got approval, we are now gazetting it.

“The judge said because the last published gazetted petroleum pricing formula did not include the ex refinery differential, he doesn’t see how we can put the ex refinery differential in. So now that we have published it …using the processes which the judge asked us to use and now that we have gazetted it, the ex refinery differential or the stabilizing margin is part of the new prescribed petroleum pricing formula and as such we don’t have a problem,” he added.

But the Executive Director of Development Data, Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, said the NPA’s behavior was clearly a flagrant violation of the court orders, insisting the NPA must secure parliamentary approval of its so-called new formula.

The court said that the “NPA is restrained from imposing the ex-refinery differential on petroleum products in the country until approve by Parliament and the relevant procedures are complied with,” something the NPA said it has done but which Development Data challenges.

“Complying with the relevant procedures would be what, that you just enter your office and say you have varied the formula to include the illegality and therefore you have complied, is that the intention of the law”? Kwaku Kwarteng asked.

He said Section 80 (1)(d) of the Act establishing the NPA expressly requires that the NPA revises its petroleum pricing formula in accordance with a Legislative Instrument “that as far as I am concerned has not even been sent to Parliament yet. That Legislative Instrument through which they are allowed to modify the formula is even yet to be sent to Parliament.”

Mr Kwarteng said the NPA should do the decent thing by removing the illegal levies and if after that they want to re-impose it lawfully, they can go to Parliament and follow through with the appropriate procedure.

He said Ghanaians must wake up to the fact that the money collected from them illegally by the NPA is far greater than the GHS58 million paid to NDC financier Alfred Woyome which has become an issue for a national debate.

“What is happening with this ex-refinery differentials is worse than the Woyome matter…we are talking about GHS700 million that Mr Alex Mould is telling us has already been exhausted. The court said they must load that money into the consolidated fund; if they will not do that we will be going back to court to complain of what the NPA has done subsequent to its ruling,” he stated.

Source: Myjoyonline

James Avedze Klutse - Finance committee Chairman

Parliament yesterday waived the tax liability on equipment and materials, corporate income taxes as well as expatriate income tax in the sum of $4,666,833.00 and GH₵1,368,139.38 respectively for the smooth execution of the Mampong supply water rehabilitation and expansion project.

The project is being financed by the Government of Ghana and the Export Import Bank of the United States of America at the cost of $23,112,723.00 to enable Ghana Water Company enhance access to potable water and improve productivity of inhabitants in the catchment area.

A report of the Finance Committee, chaired by James Avedzi Klutse, indicated that the tax waiver was necessary for the smooth implementation of the project.

However, before the tax waiver was adopted, some members of the House expressed their disappointment about the materials on which government requested for tax waivers.

The materials included one-unit station wagon pipes and fittings, cement, paint, office desk, chairs, cabinets, tables, shelves, digital camera, stationary, tonner, microwave, coffee maker and utensils.

The rest were water treatment plant accessories, building and civil materials; electrical equipment, photocopier and fax machine, laptop, scanner, desktop computer and software, printer, one unit crane mounted truck, pumps, three-unit D/C pick-up and two-unit saloon cars.

The Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo, could not understand why most of these materials such as paint, office desks, chairs, tables, stationary and others should be imported by the contractor and taxes on them waived by government when these items could have easily been procured in Ghana.

Dr. Akoto Osei, a former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, called for the procurement of such materials in the local market in future contractual arrangements.

 By Awudu Mahama

George Aboagye - Chief Executive Officer of GIPC

A total of 8,351 jobs are expected to be created out of 117 new projects registered in the fourth quarter of 2011, representing 134.32 percent over 3,564 expected jobs to be created in the corresponding quarter of 2010.

According to the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), 7,629 of the jobs representing 91.35 percent were for Ghanaians, while 722 representing 8.65 percent would go to expatriates.

In terms of the sectors, agriculture recorded the highest with 3,277 jobs followed by manufacturing, building and construction and services with 1,357, 930 and 918 jobs respectively.  General trading and liaison were also expected to create 844 and 263 jobs respectively.

With regard to the sources of the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), China, with 25 projects, topped the list of countries with the highest number of registered projects. 

Korea with $2.25 billion as the estimated value of investments topped the list of countries with the largest value of investments registered during the quarters.

Seven out of the 10 regions directly benefited from the registered projects during the period from October to December 2011. They were Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Volta and Western regions.

Greater Accra recorded the highest number of projects with 82.91 percent.

Some of the major companies attracted into the country during the quarter were Asanteman Hong Group Limited, a real estate and general construction firm, Fresco Bio farms Limited, Rider Steel Ghana Limited and Armajaro Cotton Ghana Limited.

George Aboagye, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), GIPC, commenting on the FDIs, said his outfit will stay committed to its mandate and promote Ghana’s variety of investment opportunities geared towards the realization of the country’s developmental goals.

He noted that the year 2011 was indeed an action year for the country in terms of attracting FDIs, adding that Ghana exceeded FDI inflows target of $1.5 billion by $5.32 billion for 2011.

In 2011, total FDI recorded amounted to $6.82 billion while total initial capital transfers were $213.29 million.

By Charles Nixon Yeboah

Luiz Carlo Da Silva delivering his goodwill message at the forum

To further deepen its interest in the oil and gas industry, International Paints has supported the 3^rd Graphic Business Forum.

The one-day forum was on the theme, “Leveraging ICT and Oil & Gas Resources to Accelerate Ghana’s Economic Development.”  

Delivering his goodwill message at the forum in Accra yesterday, Luiz Carlo Da Silva said “in the oil & gas sector, International Paints is the world’s number one supplier of protective coatings and passive fire protection for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSOs).”

He added that “abiding by the corrosion industry standard Norsok, International paints has supplied coatings for half of all FPSOs across the world, including Shell’s EA and Bonga, ExxonMobil-operated Kizomba A and B projects, BP’s Plutonio, Chevron’s Agbami and Total’s Akpo, just to name a few.

“International’s FPSO offerings include coatings for structural steel, fire and blast walls, vessels and supports, process piping’s and valves, and cryogenic protection.”

He stated that in “Ghana, International Paints is helping to develop and upgrade this sector by means of various actions such as: training NACE certified personnel; providing technical support and know-how to clients and applicators and bringing the latest first world technology in products and equipment.”

Mr. Da Silva emphasised that International Paints, like Coral Paints and ICI Paints, are part of the Global Group Akzo Nobel, the world’s biggest paint and coatings conglomerate.

He indicated that “renowned for its quality, service and credibility, International Paints is the undisputed number one company when it comes to heavy maintenance coatings in the various sectors: mining structures, anticorrosion linings, corrosion protection, chemical plants, acid-proof products etc.”

He affirmed that International Paint is a natural fit for a properly developed Oil & Gas sector.

“It is against this background that International Paint is investing in this round-table forum, which has brought together the best brains in the industry as well as Ghana’s private and public sectors to deliberate on the best practices in the oil industry and come out with a blueprint to guide us in our forward march to join the elite of oil producing countries,” Mr. Da Silva reiterated.

 From Business Desk

Dai Jones - MD of Tullow Ghana

Tullow Oil Plc on Wednesday launched the Tullow Group Scholarship Scheme (TGSS) in partnership with the British Council to help develop local skills and expertise in the oil industry.

The scheme, which forms a key part of Tullow’s overall approach to education and capacity building, will support postgraduate degrees, technical training and vocational studies.
The scholarships aim to support local people to participate in the oil and gas industry and in other sectors that promote economic diversification.
The scheme will address both existing industry skill gaps and national capacity development requirements and is aligned with Tullow’s aim of supporting long-term socio-economic growth in countries where it operates.
A pilot phase began in September 2011 with 24 Ghanaians from the public sector pursuing Masters Level studies with leading universities in the United Kingdom.
Launching the scheme, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, Minister of Energy, said the scholarship scheme would give practical meaning to the country’s quest for indigenization of the work force in the oil and gas industry.

“The initiative is a welcomed bold step very much appreciated by government. There is no better way to develop Ghanaians to take over the commanding heights of the oil and gas sector than this approach which in the not too distant future will see our own people giving true meaning to local content in the industry,” he said.

The full Tullow Group Scholarship Scheme will have up to 110 scholarship awards this year allocated across the following countries Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Cote d’Ivoire, French Guiana and Bangladesh.

This year, fifty scholarship awards from the Tullow Group Scholarship Scheme are available to Ghanaians, who meet the set criteria through a competitive process.

Ten of the available scholarships would be set aside for scholars from the six coastal districts of the Western region bordering the Jubilee Field.

“This is a huge investment in capacity building by any estimation,” Dr Oteng-Adjei said and urged beneficiaries of the scheme to return home after their training so as to create the opportunity for others to also benefit.

The scheme will be run through a partnership between Tullow and the British Council – an internationally recognized service provider in the area of scholarship management and partnership brokerage in higher education around the world.

Aidan Heavey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tullow Oil Plc said: “This whole scheme is about developing potential – the potential that Tullow sees around it in Africa every day. Developing local talent for the oil industry makes good business sense for us, and it makes sense for oil producing countries to develop talent beyond oil.

This is a great opportunity for anyone who has thought about this and wants to make a real contribution to the future of their country.”

GNA

Ghana Cedis

Currency analysts are divided over whether the cedi will remain at GH¢1.70 against the US dollar on the forex market this year.

Yvonne Mhango, an analyst with Johannesburg-based Renaissance, predicted that the cedi will rebound against the dollar, adding that gold prices are expected to increase significantly to an average of $1,738 an ounce this year.

Ms. Mhango said “strong correlation between the gold price and the country’s foreign-currency reserves suggests reserves will continue to improve in 2012, which would be positive for the cedi.”

But Derrick Mensah, an analyst with SIC FSL, believes the local currency would continue to depreciate on the inter-bank market in 2012 on the back of a combination of domestic and foreign factors.

“On the international front, debt crisis in the Eurozone and a rather slow paced recovery in the U.S and the U.K is expected to reduce the volumes of foreign participation in local securities. We anticipate upcoming bond auctions to be more dominantly subscribed by local investors, reducing the inflow foreign exchange into the economy.”

“Historically, the cedi has performed poorly in election and post election years this is because the apprehension on the markets causes investors to hold their investments in foreign currencies, mainly the dollar for fear of political risk.”

This, he explained, puts additional pressure on the local currency since demand leans more towards the dollar.

Sammy Kofi Ampah of Goldcoast Securities, on his part, told CITY & BUSINESS GUIDE that the outlook was challenging.  

“It is expected that if panic and investor confidence is not restored in 2012, the cedi might end the year above GH¢2.20 to 1$.”

He explained that the major foreign currencies were expected to maintain some stability against the cedi as Europe continues to find lasting solutions to the debt, manufacturing and employment issues.

He added that the cedi could incur loss of 10-15 percent against the dollar this year if spending pressures are not kept in check ahead of elections.

Some importers have expressed worry about the rate at which the local currency is losing value against the dollar which tends to increase the cost of imported items.

A spare parts dealer at Abossey Okai, Frank Amponsah, told this paper that the dealers have no option than to pass the cost to consumers in order to avert debts.

Over the past two weeks, the Bank of Ghana has injected close to about $600 million compared to a weekly average of $50 million onto the currency market to prevent the depreciation of the local currency.

A stable exchange rate allows foreign investors to invest their capital into Ghanaian equities while a strong local currency has the tendency to boost investment climate.

By Charles Nixon Yeboah

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Boakye Agyarko

The Essipong Sports Stadium at Sekondi in the Western Region will be the centre of attraction this weekend when it hosts high-ranking members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) including the party’s Presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

The two would join several other Ghanaians including the party’s national executive at an interdenominational prayer service on Sunday, 29th January 2012 to commit the party’s 2012 campaign and the nation into the hands of God.

The service, which will start at 2:00pm, is themed ‘Setting Forth through the Hand of God’. It would also feature the party’s parliamentary candidates from across the country.

At a press conference in Accra on Thursday, campaign manager of the NPP, Boakye Agyarko said, “It will be a series of praises and worship, songs and prayers.”

Party chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey is expected to read the first scripture, followed by minority leader Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, with the third reading by Nana Akufo-Addo.

The high-point of the service is expected to be two reflections on peace, with the first to be delivered by former President Kufuor and the second, titled ‘Our Yearning For Peace’, by the NPP presidential candidate.

The sermon is scheduled to be delivered by Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante Antwi, former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, whilst Rev. Emmanuel Botchway will say special prayers for the presidential candidate and parliamentary candidates.

NPP has sent an open invitation to all Ghanaians across the length and breadth of the country, especially party members, to join hands with them to, as Boakye Agyarko put it, “step forth through the hand of God.”

He said it was the wish of the NPP to win the 2008 elections but God, in “His own infinite wisdom”, did not grant that wish for a reason.
“But I believe God did not grant us because he needed to expose the NDC for what they are – hypocrites, liars, thieves of the first order. Otherwise how does a president who has declared himself righteousness allow such perfidy of taking the nation’s money to one person?”

By Charles Takyi-Boadu
 

Fiifi Kwetey and Nii Nortey Dua

Delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Greater Accra Region go to the polls today to elect parliamentary candidates for the party in about 15 constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament (MP) in what has been described as a hot contest.

Most of the seats have sitting MPs who are ministers of state or deputy ministers.

Even before votes are cast, MP for Sege Alfred Abayateye is alleging spiritual attacks on his person ahead of the polls.

The MP is facing stiff opposition from four other persons in the constituency.
He said that even though there were spiritual attacks against him, he was optimistic of victory on Saturday.
The Sege MP told Citi FM: “Everything is going on smoothly, there are spiritual attacks here and there but God is seeing us through.
“I left the constituency for Accra last week Monday healthy and I came back sick. If you see me, you’d see what I’m talking of. Don’t rule those things out. God knows what I have done and the people in the constituency also know what I have done.”
The primaries for the Greater Accra seats were postponed from January 21 to today, January 28, 2012 due to what leadership of the party claimed to be operational challenges.

Today’s round of parliamentary primaries promises to be interesting in view of the positions held by some of the individuals involved, coupled with the tension that has characterised the campaign process.

Among the hot spots are the Odododiodioo constituency where presidential aide Nii Lantey Vanderpuye is contesting incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Nii Tackie Commey and the Klottey Korle constituency where Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashittey is also facing stiff opposition from four other contestants.

Incumbent MP for La-Dadekotopon, who doubles as Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Nii Amasa-Namoale, is equally facing a challenge from five other aspirants including Rita Odoley Sowah, Kelvin Catenor, Sowah Oblejumah, Emmanuel Odoi Yemoh and one Nii Armah.

Nii Armah Ashietey and Kojo Adu Asare

Another hot spot is the Ashaiman constituency where Alfred Agbesi is being challenged by four others including Abass Mustapha, Osabutey  Ibrahim Baidoo, Alhaji Braimah Suleimana and Tony Afenyo whilst MP for Ledzokuku and now Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Nii Nortey Dua is battling to save his seat from the hands of a former beauty queen (Miss Ghana), Benita Sena Golomeke and the likes of Sowah Boye-Sekan, a younger brother of the late Nii Adjei Boye-Sekan, the first NDC MP in the Fourth Republic in that constituency.

At nearby Krowor, incumbent MP and Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Nii Oakley Quaye Kuma, is also facing opposition from Beatrice Naa Momo Lartey, Presiding Member for Ledzokuku-Krowor (LEKMA) Municipal Assembly whilst MP for Adenta, Kojo Adu-Asare, who beat a hasty retreat at the last minute after declaring his decision not to contest the primaries, is reeling under the threat of being unseated by some of his party men.

 In the East Ayawaso constituency, Naser Mahama Toure has vowed to oust outgoing Deputy Works and Housing Minister, Dr. Mustapha Ahmed.

The Minister of Information designate, Fritz Baffour, is slugging it out with two others for the Ablekuma South seat.

In all, 76 people will be contesting in the region, out of which eight women are running in Ada, Shai Osudoku, Trobu Amasaman, Abokobi Madina, Krowor, Ledzokuku, La Dadekotopon and Adenta, with only two MPs, Dauod Anum Yemoh for Domeabra Obom and Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo for Kpone Katamanso going unopposed.

Seven individuals are running for the Adenta constituency, six each for La Dadekotopon and Shai Osudoku whilst five each are contesting for Sege, Ashaiman, Trobu Amasaman, Ablekuma Central, while four each are contesting for Klottey Korle, East Ayawaso and Krowor.

Three aspirants each are also contesting for Abokobi-Madina, Ledzokuku, Odododiodoo, Ablekuma South and Ada, and two are contesting in the Ningo Prampram constituency.

Fifi Kwettey, Deputy Finance Minister, is also slugging it out with Albert Ziga for the Ketu North seat in the Volta Region.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Kweku Baako Jnr

Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako says the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has allowed itself to be subjected to public ridicule over the controversial Woyome saga.

To him, it is an embarrassment that a ruling party which boasts of intellectuals and articulate people, cannot call on them to better communicate the stance of government on the Woyome saga which has resulted in two government appointees losing their jobs with some state institutions suffering serious severe integrity crisis.

The twists and turns of the Woyome scandal, akin to the never ending thriller of a block-buster movie, has become an albatross on the neck of the NDC as some leading members of the ruling government say.

The controversial Woyome GH¢51 million judgment debt payment continuous to receive massive media attention and has heralded public discourse for months now with the issue having been turned into a political debate between the ruling NDC and opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

President Mills has already ordered the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate the issue but the NPP believes a public inquiry into the matter would rather help unearth all the details.

In all this, the embattled NDC financier has however enjoyed massive support from leading members of the NDC and government who believe he is being unnecessarily persecuted. But most of the argument put up in defence of Mr Woyome seems to further tighten the noose of allegedly perpetuating fraud around his neck.

Last week, a pro-NDC pressure group, Concerned NDC Members, pledged unflinching support for the embattled businessman and even embarked on a demonstration Tuesday.

Their action stems from the refusal of some ministers in the Kufuor administration to assist the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate the Woyome judgement debt saga.

According to the demonstrators, ex-president Kufuor and members of his cabinet recklessly managed the resources of the country, leading to the state paying huge sums of money in judgement debts and thus petitioned government to arrest these past officials in connection with the issue.

They again called on the NPP flag bearer for the 2012 elections, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to resign on moral grounds until he had purged himself of all fraud leading to the huge judgement debt imposed on the state.

Contributing to discussions on PeaceFM’s “Kokrokoo” Morning Show, the Senior Journalist said much as the issue of judgment debts need to be critically dissected since it is being exploited by some who see it as a veritable source of corruption, the Woyome scandal is dominating the pack chiefly because “evidence abounds that something went wrong with this particular judgement debt and the payment of it”.

According to him, the State through the Attorney-General has admitted that it mistakenly effected payment to Alfred Woyome and there is also the element of fraudulent misrepresentation and collusion between Waterville and (Woyome’s company), to dupe the State.

Consequently, he said, he does not see the need why at this stage when the Woyome issue is of immediate relevance, he will turn his attention to the issue of all judgment debts before coming to address the Woyome case, pointing out that “if we are not careful we will be creating a forest of issues just to hide the trees.”

“…We need time to scrutinize the issue of judgment debts…For many years now many governments have gone through the process of paying judgment debts, but it never became an issue of high public interest or controversy…it has become an area some are exploiting to their advantage. I’m beginning to come to that conclusion that it has become a veritable source of corruption so it needs investigation. In principle, I’m for that. The genesis of some of these judgment debts dates back to the First Republic…but why presently the focus is on the Woyome saga is probably because, immediate there is evidence…evidence abounds that something went wrong with this particular judgement debt and the payment of it. At least the State (Ghana) itself through the Attorney-General…amplified…the payment was a mistake.

“(Martin) Amidu on his part has even added that there was the element of fraudulent misrepresentation and also collusion between Waterville and (Woyome’s company)…to dupe the State, there was fraudulent representation on the part of Woyome to dupe the State and the State itself due to a variety of reasons, mistakenly effected payment…but I don’t see why at this stage when the Woyome issue is of immediate relevance…I will leave that and look at the issue of all judgment debt before coming to address the Woyome case….No, I’m not prepared to do that. Let’s deal with the Woyome matter now, now now,…because if we are not careful we will be creating a forest of issues just to hide the trees…The man himself at the centre of the controversy has been silent…He’s granted an interview to the AfricaWatch claiming the NPP destroyed his documents…,” Kweku Baako said.

Commenting on the recent demonstration by the Concerned NDC members in solidarity with Woyome and their call for the prosecution of ex-president Kufuor and members of his cabinet for their role in the Woyome saga, Kweku Baako said he finds it hard to understand why the NDC has not unleashed its seasoned communicators to articulate the stance of the party but has rather allowed itself to be ridiculed in such a manner.

Whiles the immediate-past Attorney-General, Martin Amidu has been sacked, former Education Minister, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, who was the A-G at the zenith of the Woyome scandal recently resigned from her position in government.

Her complicity in the whole Woyome saga has to do with the decision to rather negotiate for consent judgment with the embattled NDC guru resulting in the huge money that was paid to him (Woyome).
She is believed to have signed most of the documents upon advice from the Finance Ministry that Woyome had a genuine case, after going through all their records.

But in a tone tinged with disbelief, Kweku Baako said there was no way a legally illiterate person like him will attach any importance to the letter written by Paul Asimenu, Director in charge of Legal Affairs at the Ministry Finance and Economic Planning, on behalf of the sector Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffour advising the then Attorney-General, Betty Mould-Iddrisu that the NDC financier should be paid because he (Woyome) was deserving of it.

Dramatically, he said, “i nearly collapsed when I read the letter”.

“…This thing is now being reduced to a ridicule now, it is now a joke…it’s a comic relief…a group went on a protest march saying Nana Addo should resign or be changed as flagbearer because he was General Legal Counsel for the NPP, a member of cabinet…look it should be an embarrassment to the NDC party, they have better people; they have more skillful, intelligent, articulate people…I don’t like the party as a party, the way it was crafted and brought into being but you can’t deny the fact that they have sharp brains in it, experienced in terms of politics…they can unleash those people to articulate the stance of the party, if they so want to…

“Because of this Woyome case, the NDC as a party is even being reduced to a ridicule. Government is getting into a terrible shape which probably is undeserving. With this case alone, Martin is gone…Betty has also exited…Two ministers are casualties so far and out there are more. The Finance Ministry, not just the Minister, the Director Legal…the Chronicle newspaper published a letter he wrote…That letter when I read it, legally illiterate like me having no competence for financial engineering and administration…I nearly collapsed…What, that is the letter written by the Director Legal Finance advising the Attorney-General that they can pay the money because Woyome was deserving of it? My Goodness!!! Man!” he screamed.

Firing at all cylinders, the newspaper Editor accused Alfred Woyome of putting together documents of dubious validity to rip off the state. He was emphatic that the Woyome scandal really “stinks” and the country after 20 years of democratic governance with its attendant challenges, was “better off today than this kind of scandal of gargantuan proportions,” and therefore deserves better.

“So it is not only people having ministerial or cabinet positions who are affected by this matter. The Office of the Chief of Staff…the Secretary to the President…(all have questions to answer)….As for Waterville and Woyome, I can put my hand on the paper here that they colluded. Of course some people slept on the job and made it work; otherwise I understand Waterville had already been paid $25million…that is another bombshell. They were paid for the work done under Kufuor administration…so this case has affected the Auditor-General, the Ministry of Finance, the Controller and Accountant General, the Bank of Ghana has been affected, even the Presidency. Ah, one man? Pursuing a dubious claim?

“I am saying so, I’m prepared to go to court on this matter…Institutions of state are suffering a serious severe integrity crisis on this matter…because of Woyomegate. How? We don’t deserve it…After 20 years uninterrupted constitutional rule; with the difficulties and challenges, this country is better off today than this kind of scandal of gargantuan proportions…We are better than this…and we don’t deserve it. How one man was able to put all sorts of documents together of dubious validity…this is not good at all. It stinks; it smells,” Kweku Baako yelled.

Source: Peacefmonline

John Kufuor and Jerry Rawlings

Former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor and incumbent President John Evans Atta Mills are scheduled to be honoured this year for their various roles in the country’s democratic process at a programme dubbed ‘Celebrating 20 years of peaceful democracy in Ghana (1992-2012)’ slated for June 14, 2012 at the Accra International Conference Centre.

Organizers of the event, Pure Creations limited, a strategic marketing communication agency said “the aim of the event is to educate the populace on political tolerance, peaceful elections and electoral violence.”

It would equally be used to recognize institutions, politicians, distinguished statesmen and women and corporate Ghana who contributed their quota towards achieving a peaceful and democratic nation.

It is therefore putting together an art and photo exhibition dubbed, ‘Portrait Of The Johns’ to celebrate two decades of peaceful democracy in Ghana (1992-2012).

They would be honoured for their contributions toward the growth and maintenance of Ghana’s democracy.

The arts include autographed portraits of selected high-profile citizens, past and present presidents, as well as ministers.

There would also be awards for Ministers and citizens who excelled both in government and outside government within the period under review and awardees would be chosen by the public through polls in the dailies and on the internet.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pure Creations, Paul Boateng said “the main objective of the event is to celebrate 20 years of peaceful democracy in Ghana, honour and highlight the achievements of the various heads of state that have served during the period, honour other individuals and institutions that contributed to building peaceful and stronger democracy.”

“Bringing President Kufuor, President Rawlings and President Mills at a single event to promote peace and unity as we prepare for both parliamentary and presidential elections, we believe, will foster a sense of unity among Ghanaians,” he noted.

As election 2012 approaches, he noted that the event will serve as a perfect platform to educate the populace on political tolerance, implications of the use of intemperate language, electoral fraud, electoral violence, voting procedures and avenues for addressing electoral disputes.

Mr Boateng indicated that “this event will also present golden opportunities for companies to associate their brand names and logos to this entire important project.”

The event is set to be climaxed with a grand exhibition and peace concert at the Accra International Conference Center from June 14-20, 2012 where the following personalities and individuals are expected to be honoured for their contributions toward 20 years of peaceful democracy.

Ekow Nkensen Arkaah, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, John Dramani Mahama, Speakers Of Parliament, Justice D.F Annan, Peter Ala Adjetey, Begyina Sekyi-Hughes, Mrs Bamford Addo, Georgina Wood among others are expected to be honoured.

Others include Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Edward Mahama, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Prof George Hagan, George Opesika Aguddey, Maj. General Erskine, Prof Albert Adu Boahen. There would be awards for the best ministers.

The regional exhibition will be held in Tamale from May 11-13; Kumasi from May 18-20; Takoradi from May 25-27, 2012.

The organizers intend to present a Ghana flag dubbed the ‘Peace Flag’ to all the various presidential and parliamentary candidates to append their signatures to it to symbolize their pledge and commitment to peaceful, free and fair elections.

The flag would be sent to religious bodies, Electoral Commission (EC), security agencies, key stakeholders in the country and finally handed to the National Peace Council on the day of the grand concert.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Professor Mike Ocquaye

The Second Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mike Oquaye, has described the dismissal of Government Statistician Grace Bediako as not only unusual but a directive likely to raise suspicion about the intention behind it.

Prof Mike Oquaye, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for the Dome/Kwabenya constituency, in a reaction to the order on the Government Statistician and her deputy to proceed on leave, said the action could be construed as an attempt by government to manipulate population figures.

To support his stance on the issue, he explained that in order to strengthen state institutions there should be no arbitrariness in dealing with such bodies.

He pointed out that ordering heads of such institutions and their deputies to proceed on leave as in the case of the Statistical Service is to “seriously tamper with such institutions.”

Such a decision, he explained, could only be resorted to under grave circumstances and even then he added “government should let us know.”

In the absence of the foregone, he pointed out the action could be perceived as part of a process for manipulation to favour the government.

Prof. Oquaye added that this flouted all tenets of good governance, constitution and democracy. He wondered if Madam Bediako was asked to proceed on leave so that the figures of the population census, which was recently held, could be manipulated to achieve electoral advantage since the results were yet to be released.

The action, he said, was particularly a serious one in an election year because the creation of constituencies had a bearing on population, adding that government could be in the process of creating districts with a view to creating constituencies out of them for electoral advantage.

“In Ghana, the order to proceed on leave we know is tantamount to dismissal. It should be viewed seriously by people of goodwill,” he said.

The MP also shared some thoughts on the president’s assignment for the Economic And Organised Crime Office (EOCO), regarding the Woyome debacle.

According to him, under a written constitution, when a specific function is given to particular authority to perform and as he put it “while that authority of the institution is seized of that matter, no other person or authority can be established by the executive to perform that same function which has been prescribed for that particular authority.”

He also noted that if this was not done, this constitutional provision could be usurped at the caprices of the executive, undermining the doctrine of separation of powers.

Prof Oquaye stated that the anomaly could also give room for abuse by the executive, explaining that only Parliament, under the circumstances, should perform this task of probing the issue at stake.

By A.R. Gomda

Several houses belonging to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) members in the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East region of Ghana were on Friday dawn set ablaze.

The burnt houses included that of the former Bawku NPP constituency chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala. The incident took place at one of the hotspots in the Bawku township called Zongo.

Amadu Hamza, the Bawku NPP Secretary, suspected the NDC youth in Bawku were behind the arson.

“We think that the attack was politically motivated by members of the ruling government since Mahama Ayariga [NDC parliamentary candidate for the area] came out earlier to allege that NPP members were burning NDC members’ homes two weeks ago,” he said.

“We believe the situation is not calm because there are indications that this is just the beginning and we are expecting government to strengthen the local security arrangement on the ground,” Hamza added.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister for Education and the NDC Parliamentary candidate for Bawku, Mahama Ayariga, who had earlier raised alarm on a similar attack on NDC members condemned the act.

He denied the allegation that his party supporters were behind the arson.

“I totally condemn this things and I want to give the assurance that no member or leader in our party will support such acts,” he said. “People are trying to create the impression that given the numerous complaints that I have made on this issue mean the NDC members are retaliating. ”

“We have been cautioning all our supporters not to attempt to engage in any act of retaliation and leave the matter in the hands of the police,” he added.

The deputy education minister therefore pleaded with supporters of the two major political parties in Bawku to co-exist peacefully.

Ayariga impressed upon the security operatives in Bawku to strengthen their intelligence systems to be able to apprehend the arsonists.

Source: Citifmonline

President John Evans Atta Mills and Sekou Nkrumah

Sekou Nkrumah, the last child of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, has blasted President John Evans Atta Mills, rubbishing his ‘father for all’ mantra.

Instead, Sekou said the President was a notorious hypocrite who should not be taken serious for the things he says.

Sekou, who fell out of favour with the government after being sacked as the boss of the National Youth Council (NYC) for questioning the competence of President Mills, was speaking in an interview over government’s decision to send two of his siblings, Professor Francis Nkrumah and Samia Nkrumah, Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), to Ethiopia to witness the unveiling of a statue in honour of their father.

A statement from the Presidency signed by Communications Director Koku Anyidoho, yesterday, said, “President Mills has invited Dr Francis and Samia Nkrumah, Chairman of the CPP, to join in the unveiling of a statue in honour of their father, for the leading role he played in the African liberation struggle as well as the Pan Africanist Movement.”

The President is expected to leave Accra for Addis Ababa on Friday to attend the 18^th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments of the African Union (AU) and would be accompanied by the two.

 Sekou sees everything wrong with the move since he was neither invited nor informed by government or his own siblings, noting, “The man who says he is the father of all now shows how hypocritical he is.”

Apart from the fact that he was not informed of it, Sekou said he was also not invited for the trip.

Sekou said he was not the least worried about the development because of how he was virtually sidelined during the centenary celebration of the life of his late father when he was not included in the programme like his other siblings.

He asked, “Is it because I have declared support for Akufo-Addo so I’m no longer Nkrumah’s son?”

Sekou believed he was deliberately not informed by government because of his criticism of the President and his administration.

“Let them do what they like. That’s their problem; honestly I care less,” he noted.

“I am more disappointed in my siblings not with the government because I have seen how governments behave; once you are opposed to them, they want to sideline you but that is not my concern but when it’s from your own siblings who will do a thing like that then honestly I mean it’s quite sad. 

“It’s really interesting that my own siblings too because of the little things they will get travelling with the President; they will also not discuss the matter with me. I find it very strange,” he stated, wondering whether Samia and Francis think they are more of Nkrumah’s children than he Sekou.

In spite of all this, the tough-talking politician stated, “I’m not worried at all but it just tells me that if you are going to represent the truth and fight for the best interest of Ghanaians and therefore looking for the best leadership that can really turn this country’s around, then it appears you are the bad one because I am not a bootlicker going to bootlick those in power for favours, for travels or whatever it is then I appear to be the bad son of Nkrumah.

“So let it be, if those of us who continue to fight for what is right who happens to be the bad once, I don’t mind; my conscience is clear. I will continue to fight for Ghana and I’m not fighting for my personal interest for the majority of Ghanaians to have a better life.”

Reshuffle Is A Big Joke

“Sekou also made a mockery of the President’s latest cabinet reshuffle, describing it as a joke since, according to him, “he (the President) is just moving people from one Ministry to the other and back to the same Ministry.”

“I think it’s just recycling the old people they have and then moving people around. When he started in 2009, Prof should have started with his first team. If now he is still reshuffling and making changes, I don’t think what he couldn’t do in three years he can do in one year.

 “If someone is competent you leave him where he is, if someone is incompetent, you don’t go and put him in another Ministry; I mean the whole thing is a joke and it looks like just giving job for the boys,” he emphasised.

He cited the appointment of Said Sinare as Ghana’s Ambassador to Egypt as a clear example, wondering, “What value is he going to add? He’s the same person who when I had problems with Mills, he was trying to tell me to be patient.”

Dr Sekou Nkrumah believed that the patience Sinare was talking about was to get something for himself because in his opinion, “people are just supporting personalities and governments just to get something for themselves.”

He equally did not see the wisdom in appointing the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South constituency, Fritz Baffour, as Information Minister.

 “If he was that good, do you wait for the fourth year before you appoint him as Minister and by the time he goes through vetting and settles down, when is he going to start work?” Sekou asked. 

He said, “It is high time Ghanaians voted and changed Mills and his incompetent government.”

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

John Paintsil

Ghana defender John Paintsil says Saturday’s game against Mali is just important like any other game for the sides 2012 African Cup of Nations hopes.

A win for either side would confirm their place in the next round of the competition.

Paintsil said on Thursday “it’s a crucial game” against the Malians at the Stade de Franceville.

“It’s a game that we are going to call it a do or die affair. That’s the game that would qualify us to the quarterfinal.”

Both sides are level on three points after Ghana beat Botswana 1-0 in their first game while Mali also won by a similar scoreline against Guinea on Tuesday.

Ghana are tipped as one of the favourites but for Paintsil, the Black Stars are not getting too far ahead of itself as they focus just on Mali.

“It’s a massive one against Mali. It wouldn’t be easy but we would keep our discipline and keep our heads focused and take one at a time just like we did in the first game (game against Botswana),” he said.

“We are very confident of making it to the next round and would play to win the next one (against Mali) and see how it goes from there. The reward after every game is the same, it’s three points, and that’s what we are determined to get.”

Ghanafa.org         

John Mensah

Courtesy::African OriginTravels/Royal Oasis Gh. Ltd

There is a refreshing wind blowing in the camp of the Black Stars and that has heightened optimism among the playing body and the technical team alike.

It has now emerged from the quarters of the team’s doctor that team captain John ‘The Rock’ Mensah will miss just a game- the Ghana-Mali on Saturday- as a result of the red card offence he committed in Ghana’s opening game against Botswana last Tuesday.

The Black Stars captain, according to team Doctor Percy Annan, suffered a slight injury-muscle contusion, and not muscle tear as was widely speculated.

And indications are that the defender is responding to treatment-making him a possible first team player when Ghana take on Guinea in their last group game on Wednesday.

“John is doing well, by way of recovery. It is not muscle tear as people speculated, rather it is a muscle contusion, a condition which rules him out for a short period,” Doctor Annan told this writer in an interview.

“The good news is he will be available for the Guinea game fully fit on Wednesday,” the doctor added.

  Mensah suffered the muscle contusion injury in his attempt to slide a Botswana forward which led to his exit in the 66^th minute in their Group ‘D’ opener.

 From Kofi Owusu  Aduonum,Franceville,Gabon

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

REPRESENTATIVES OF Sunderland FC in England are currently in the country at the invitation of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, DAILY GUIDE SPORTS understands.

The Sunderland FC team has made the trip to deepen ties with league leaders Kotoko who recently sealed a deal with their visitors.

As part of the visit, the Sunderland team would pay homage to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, owner of Kotoko.

They also would visit the Kotoko Secretariat at Odeneho Kwadaso to monitor how Kotoko management runs the club on a day-to-day basis.

The Sunderland officials are expected to visit the Kotoko Adako Jarchie training park to watch the team train.

A source said the visit is in line with the Kotoko/Sundeland marriage which was brokered via the instrumentality of Kotoko Executive Board Chairman, Dr. K.K. Sarpong.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal produced some scintillating tennis to come from one set down to beat Roger Federer and reach his second Australian Open final.

The world number two, who won the 2009 title, lost an opening set tie-break but hit back to take the next three and win 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.

Third seed Federer saved one match point on Nadal’s serve but the Spaniard held his nerve to take it on the next.

Nadal will play either Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final.

It was another classic encounter in what remains one of sport’s greatest rivalries, with the 10-time Grand Slam champion Nadal extending his winning record over Federer to 18 victories in 27 meetings.

The Mallorcan gave his best wishes to his defeated opponent after what he described as “another fantastic match”.

Nadal, who injured his knee prior to the tournament, added: “Sunday afternoon, 24 hours to play my first match, I was in my room crying because I believed I didn’t have the chance to play in Melbourne.

“So it was a very, very tough situation for me.”

Goran Stevanovic

Goran Stevanovic is ruing the absence of John Mensah who is suspended for Ghana’s next two games at the African Cup of Nations.

Mensah was dismissed in the Group D opener against Botswana after he scored to give the Black Stars a 1-0 win at the Stade de Franceville on Tuesday.

Stevanovic would now miss his captain for the Group D matches against Mali and Guinea.
“I’m worried because Mensah is very difficult to replace,” he said. “He played well against Botswana but then got sent off.”

However, the Ghana coach is equally happy with the options available and his team would be ready for Mali on Saturday.

“But while we were training in South Africa, I told the players that I need every one of them for this competition and so I have 20 other players who could replace him and we will be ready for Mali.”

Source: Ghanafa.org

Asamoah Gyan

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has described the Black Stars game against the Zebras of Botswana as a difficult one despite clawing all three points in their Group ‘D’ opener of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

”’I said earlier on that there will be surprises in this tournament, but let’s see what happens in our next game. We hope to lift our game on Saturday, Ghanaians should keep calm,” he said.

Gyan, Ghana’s top marksman, is hoping to hit the back of the net   when the Stars play their second group game against Mali.

He told fans to continue backing the Black Stars despite labouring to beat debutants Botswana 1-0 on Tuesday.

The striker had little space to operate in after being marked well by the Zebras captain Mompati Thuma.

Botswana coach Stanley Tshosane fielded five midfielders and that affected the fluidity of the match.

Ghana failed to unlock the defensive rearguard of their opponents and were lucky not to have dropped points. Gyan said his team deserves some plaudits for winning the match.

“I think it was a big win and what I want to tell Ghanaian fans is to keep calm because we were expecting a difficult game,” the Al Ain striker said.

“It (the performance) wasn’t what people were expecting. We knew what we were doing and at the end of the day we scored so let’s see what will happen in the next game.”

Meanwhile, Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic is ruing the missed chances against Botswana, insisting that the Black Stars have taken some lessons from their opening 2012 Africa Cup of Nations match..

Ghana fluffed several scoring chances while an outstanding goal-line clearance from John Boye prevented the Zebras from drawing level.

The Serbian trainer said he has taken a lesson or two from mistakes made in the opening game. “We learned that here in this tournament it is not easy to win anybody,” he said.

“We need to give our 100%, our maximum. In the first half we made some mistakes, some tactical mistakes, the players know what I am talking about.

“I think that the commitment and vision and all other things of my team show and I am really satisfied because I know well how important the first game is.

“It is always difficult to play a game when you are always pre-game winners and now we have one game experience so we prepare for the next game.”

From Kofi Owusu  Aduonum,Franceville,Gabon

John Mensah

Black Stars skipper John Mensah, after suffering a setback in Ghana’s opening game against Botswana, exiting midway as a result of a red card offence, has suffered another misfortune.

The strong libero did not train with his colleagues yesterday due to a thigh injury he picked when he fouled goal-bound Jerome Ramatlhakwane and that has heightened fears among the Ghanaian sporting fans.

But the player has revealed that there is no cause for alarm and that the injury is a minor one and he would make an early return.

He was scheduled for a medical treatment yesterday but the result was not available at the time of going to press.

“I am doing ok, it is a minor injury which won’t keep me away for a longtime. I will be seeing the doctor this afternoon, and I am hoping  to  return to the pitch  soon,” said Mensah.

Ghana team doctor Percy Annan added in an interview, ”We will take John Mensah to the hospital this afternoon for MRI scan to find out the severity of the injury.”

“He has some pain in this lower left thigh and that is why he is not training today.”
Ghana will play their next Group D match against Mali in Franceville on Saturday.

From  Kofi Owusu Aduonum, Franceville, Gabon

Former President Jerry Rawlings

Ghana’s former President and African Union High Representative for Somalia, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, says Africa failed to prevent excesses sponsored by some members of the international community during political upheavals in countries such as Libya and Cote d’Ivoire.

President Rawlings said the political movements in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Cote d’Ivoire challenged the capacity of the African Union as far as conflict resolution was concerned and called for an urgent corrective mechanism so the “blood and toil of those who laid down their lives to seek change do not go to waste”.

In an address as special guest at the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament in Addis Ababa on Monday, President Rawlings called on the continental Parliamentary body to take strong positions on African issues and allow itself to be heard.

President Rawlings who was appointed Ambassador of the Pan-African Parliament in October 2011, lamented a harrowing situation in Egypt where illegal immigrants are abducted, enslaved and some killed through theremoval of some of their organs. He said though the report was published by the CNN months ago action it had not been taken up and called on the Pan-African Parliament and other AU organs to thoroughly investigate the report.

The AU High Representative also expressed the world’s disappointment over the renewed violence in Egypt.

He said: “We should be particularly concerned about the situation in Egypt where the pain and agony that the people endured in Tahir Square and other cities, is repeating itself a few months down the line. It is obvious the very oppressive machinery the revolution sought to displace hasre-emerged and under the guise of national security, ordinary Egyptians areagain facing assault and brutalities reminiscent of what happened in January and February last year in Tahir Square and other cities across the country.”

Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi who was the Guest of Honour commended President Rawlings for his candour and called on the Pan-African Parliament to table the concerns raised in the former Ghanaian President’s address to the Assembly of Heads of State when it meets at the end of January.

Please find attached the full text of President Rawlings’ address.

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS, FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA AND AFRICAN UNION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOMALIA AT THE SIXTH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT – ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 16, 2012

Your Excellency Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Guest of Honour, Right Honourable Moussa Idriss Ndele, President of the Pan-African Parliament, Excellences, Honourable members of the Pan-African Parliament, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I wish to express my gratitude to the Pan-African Parliament for offering me the opportunity once again, to share my thoughts on an important occasion such as the Sixth Ordinary Session which has been convened on the theme: “Transformation of the Pan-African Parliament into a legislative organ.”

Having taking time to study and examine the overview of the review process of the protocol relating to the Pan-African Parliament and the treaty establishing the African Economic Community, it is obvious a lot of work has gone into reviewing the relevance of the Pan-African Parliament to make it a more recognizable organ of influence on the continent and more relevant to the changing face of politics in Africa and beyond.

The process of transforming the institution into a legislative one, albeit in a progressive manner, faces difficulties becausesome member states believe the continent is not ready for a Pan-African Parliamentary body with full or even limited legal powers.

Ladies and gentleman, this latest challenge means the Pan-African Parliament has been compelled to adopt lobbying at various levels in its quest to ensure the transformation process is not derailed.

During the last meeting of the Speakers of the Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, I expressed my support for a transformed body with the legal capacity to institute policies that will strengthen Parliaments across the continent and embolden them to play the role of being a common platform for Africa peoples and their grassroots organisations, as enshrined in the Pan-African Parliament charter.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and gentlemen, while the campaign for the transformation of the Pan-African Parliament into a legislative organ takes steam, it is imperative that the Parliament even in its advisory state enhances its image and reputation by taking strong positions on issues on the continent and allow itself to be heard.

Matters for discussion at the Sixth Ordinary Session include presentations and debate on the state of the African Union as well as Peace and Security.

These two issues I am convinced will dominate discussions during meetings of the Executive Council and the Assembly of Heads of State later this month. It is thus important that deliberations during this session set the stage for discussions during the upcoming summits.

Africa has over the past 12 months experienced political upheavals of a massive nature and the action or inaction of the African Union and its various organs has brought to question the future of this body established with most noble intentions.

From Tunisia through Egypt to Libya and even in Ivory Coast there were political movements of different nature that challenged the institution established to engender African unity, peace and development.

While majority of us were delighted by the will of the people to take their destiny into their own hands, we were taken aback by the failure of the continent to prevent excesses in countries such as Libya andIvory Coast.

Our collective drawback is something that has to be corrected with some sense of urgency and drive so the blood and toil of those who laid down their lives to seek change do not go to waste.

We should be particularly concerned about the situation in Egypt where the pain and agony that the people endured in Tahir Square and other cities, is repeating itself a few months down the line. It is obvious the very oppressive machinery the revolution sought to displace hasre-emerged and under the guise of national security, ordinary Egyptians areagain facing assault and brutalities reminiscent of what happened in January and February last year in Tahir Square and other cities across the country. For how long are we going to be silent observers? And yet the revolutions by the unarmed civilian populations in Tunisia and Egypt gave the world so much hope that freedom and justice was finally going to triumph. How do we then turn around and assault that resolve in the manner currently being observed by all?

A few months ago the CNN Freedom Project published an expose on the cruel abduction and removal of human parts from illegal immigrants trying to pass through Egypt into Israel. Bedouin smugglers trafficking humans reportedly remove the human parts while the immigrants are still alive. Immigrants are enslaved, tortured and those who cannot afford to pay huge sums to these smugglers face the ultimate penalty of a dehumanizing death through organ removal! And Africa is quiet?

Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot allow this level of depravity to continue on our continent without seeking answers and calling for thorough investigations to get to the bottom of the matter. These are the issues that the Pan-African Parliament should be forcefully questioning, tomake itself more relevant to the people of the continent and justify its quest to become a legislative organ. It is not too late and I hope and pray that you will look into this matter and call on other organs of the AU to also take a cue.

Parliament as an organ of state or of a continent, as yours is, is primarily an institution that serves not only as a law-making body but which also crystalizes the separation of powers concept that democracy prides itself in. Parliament serves as an anti-corruption organ looking into the activities of other institutions of state such as the Executive, to ensure that it takes actions that protect the rights of the people and the wealth of the state. It is thus important that at all times and purposes you remind your members who are representatives from various national parliaments that they are not an extension of the executive, elected by the people to endorse and rubber stamp every action of the executive, but to properly scrutinize and query actions of the executive and its organs in order to boost the confidence of the ordinary people of our countries in democratic governance.

Similarly the Pan-African Parliament should be empowered legally to have the capacity and responsibility of vetting the finances of the AU as all national parliaments are obligated to. That way we can offer more confidence to the donor community and allow our institutional transparency to trickle down to the rest of the continent.

Development should always be premised on justice, freedom, integrity and transparency. Had these ideals guided the huge economic and infrastructural development in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya their countrieswould not have endured the eruption in the people’s quest for justice and freedom.

Honourable members of African Parliaments represented here have a huge responsibility to also champion the crusade to make Africatruly African and capable of managing her affairs.

It is simply humiliating that in the 21st century our continent finds some of its leaders hounded to The Hague like lamb to the slaughter, while we are supposed to have the capacity to judge our own. We have to leave The Hague to those who cannot control their destiny. If Libyans were justified to overthrow the Gaddafi regime in their quest for freedom and justice, why then can they not try their own?

If Ivorians are truly seeking peace and reconciliation, a process agreed by both the Ouattara and Gbagbo factions, why then send a former leader who in spite of his faults has paid his dues to his country, to the ICC?

We have and have had faulty leaders but we have enough good and progressive leaders who can only succeed if institutions such as the Pan-African Parliament and national parliaments offer them the needed sense of direction and support.

The time has come to stop being observers but active participants in the changing scenes of the continent. We stand the danger of allowing a new form of colonialism to engulf our continent enslaving us into puppets of the international community. Let us combine our efforts in taking a strong stance against such a looming threat.

Your Excellences, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot conclude my address without mentioning Somalia. As African Union High Representative for Somalia, I must congratulate all stakeholdersfrom across the globe for their tremendous support in seeking peace in Somalia through the pursuit of the transitional roadmap. I am thankful also to all who supported the humanitarian effort and continue to do so. Many are yet to make good on their pledges during the Pledging Conference of last August and I serve a polite reminder to them not to forget the dire situation that millions of our people still face in the Horn of Africa.

I congratulate IGAD and particularly Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia for their renewed interest in creating a stable and peaceful Somalia. We cannot forget the pioneering role of Burundi and Uganda in the peace-enforcement process. We are also thankful to United Nations, which has played a crucial role in the progress so far. We expect more commitment in terms of enablers for AMISOM and the TFG so that this time next year we can have a more stable and politically secure Somalia.

Our dear members of Parliament from Somalia, this is a call to you and your colleagues who are not here, to give peace a chance byexploring all avenues to resolve the impasse over the removal of the Parliamentary Speaker. A lot of progress has been made on the political front and its paramount that we do not allow this standoff to sidetrack us from the progress achieved so far.

We should not allow observers to believe that we seek power at the expense of confronting the common enemy. If Al Shabaab were nolonger the perceived obstacle could you the major players guarantee peace and stable governance in Somalia?

Right Honourable Idriss Ndele, Honourable members of the Pan-African Parliament, Excellences, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish you a successful session and offer my unflinching support in your quest to seek a radical review of the protocols governing the Pan-African Parliament. Africa deserves strong and capable institutions and your quest is a noble one that deserves the support of everyone on the continent.

Thank you and Good Luck.

Source: http://jjrawlings.wordpress.com

Senator Ayoade Adeseun, Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other financial institutions

Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other financial institutions, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, has admonished the Federal Government apologists on the removal of fuel subsidy to stop comparing Nigeria with Ghana or any other country in the West African sub-continent on the fuel issue.

Adeseun representing Oyo Central Senatorial district, reminded that Ghana or any other country in the sub-continent is not an Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member.

The lawmaker said: “Ghana is not an OPEC country; it doesn’t produce nor export petrol, so why should Nigeria be compared with Ghana? And even when petrol subsidy was removed in Ghana, it only caused a 15 per cent increase in the pump price of the commodity?

“In Nigeria, the removal of the fuel subsidy has caused over 120 per cent increase in the pump price of petrol. Also, there is constant electricity in Ghana. Nigeria has no constant power supply and that is why 32 per cent of the consumption of petrol is for electric generating plants.”

He, however, advanced that rather than going ahead to remove subsidy, the government should have provided steady electricity and “stringent measures to police the system and plug the leakages.”

The Senator argued: “It’s so sad that a single refinery in Venezuela, a country with a population of 28 million, Paraguayan Refinery Complex (PDVSA) refines as much as 940,000barrels per day compare to just about 133,000 barrels per day been refined by the 4 moribund Nigerian refineries with total installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day.

“No wonder the Nigerian government has increased fuel price over 10 times since 1999 while Venezuelan Government has maintained the pump price since 1999.”

He said: “The Federal Government has shown that it is insensitive to the plight of the Nigerian masses by removing the said subsidy during the festive period when the people will need to travel back to their bases after spending the holidays with their various families.

“This removal is not only Ill-timed; it is a downright wrong decision that has brought serious hardship on the people. And the people of Oyo Central have not elected me to be a party to policies that will make life unbearable for them.”

Adeseun, however, declared his loyalty and support for the views and the resolution of the people saying “I stand by the people of Akanran, the people of Onipanu, the people of Oyo Kingdom, the people of Oluyole and all my good people of Oyo Central Senatorial District to reject this removal of fuel subsidy.”

A mosque and Islamic school have been attacked and set alight in the southern Nigerian city of Benin, police say.

Police told the BBC that one person was killed, 10 arrested and that part of the mosque was still burning.

It follows a separate attack on a different mosque in the city on Monday.

In recent weeks, southerners, who are mostly Christians or animists, have been the targets of deadly attacks by the Islamist Boko Haram group, which operates in the mainly Muslim north.

A leader of the Hausa community in Benin told the BBC’s Hausa Service that 7,000 northerners were seeking refuge in police and army barracks in the city.

The Nigerian Red Cross confirmed to the BBC that they were registering northerners at police stations and army barracks.

Two cars at the centre housing the mosque and Islamic school were also torched, police said.

The attack is the latest in a spiral of sectarian violence that has seen many southerners living in the north flee their homes.

Nigerian writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka blamed the violence on leaders who put their own religion above national unity.

“When you get a situation where a bunch of people can go into a place of worship and open fire through the windows you’ve reached a certain dismal watershed in the life of that nation,” he said in a BBC interview.

“There’s no question at all, whatsoever. Those who have created this faceless army have lost control of that army.”

Source: BBC

They started pushing as the gates were opened

One person has died after a stampede broke out among crowds of people trying to enrol at a university in the South African city of Johannesburg.

“There was a person that was deceased,” University of Johannesburg (UJ) spokesman Herman Esterhuizen said.

The victim was said to be the mother of a prospective student.

More than 180,000 high school graduates are expected to be turned away from South Africa’s nine top universities this year, said the Times newspaper.

It said about 74,000 students would fail to win a place at the University of Johannesburg alone.

Soaring unemployment has added to the pressure on place numbers, says the BBC’s Andrew Harding in South Africa.

Tuesday’s incident occurred as students queued for last-minute places at the university, registrar Marie Muller told eNews channel.

On Monday alone 5,000 registered in person for last minute places, and applicants waited through the night.

The stampede apparently happened just after the main gate was opened at 07:30 local time (05:30 GMT), emergency services spokeswoman Nana Radebe was quoted as saying.

The dead woman had suffered severe head and chest trauma, reports say.

Two people are also said to have been seriously injured.

‘People fell’

Wilson Matiba was present when the stampede occurred.

“Things got out of hand,” he said, according to the Mail & Guardian Online.

“We rushed the gates and people fell. We couldn’t stop,” said Mr Matiba, who was trying to enrol for a BSc degree in Zoology.

Mr Matiba said prospective students were desperate and felt left without any alternative other than storming the entrance.

“We need education. We need to register. We needed to get inside,” he said.

An eyewitness who spoke to BBC News said the numbers queuing were especially high because the queue combined new applicants and students returning for further study.

The eyewitness – who did not want to be named – said people had travelled to the university from around the country, many making overnight journeys.

She said there had been a similar crush on Monday, and that when it started to happen again on Tuesday “we just ran away because we knew we we were going to get hurt”.

The University of Johannesburg, which describes itself as “one of the largest, multi-campus, residential universities in South Africa”, was created when several institutions merged in 2005.

It is reported to be one of few which accept last-minute applications in January, after high-school final exams are released and some students realise they are eligible for university.

It used an SMS campaign to alert students to the possibility of last-minute places and on Monday, the normally quiet streets around the university’s Bunting Road campus entrance were packed with traffic and a kilometre-long line of applicants had formed at the main gate.

Source: BBC

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was captured in southern Libya in November

A deadline has nearly elapsed for Libya to give the International Criminal Court information about the health and status of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi.

The former Libyan leader’s son was captured in southern Libya in November.

The ICC, based in in The Hague, has indicted him for crimes against humanity but Libya’s new leaders say they want him to stand trial in Libya.

The ICC could refer Libya to the UN Security Council if it does not respond to its request on Tuesday.

The ICC has accepted that Saif al-Islam will be tried in Libya but wants assurances that the country’s justice system can produce a fair trial.

In a visit to Libya in November, the chief prosecutor of the ICC, Luis Moreno-Ocampo said: “The standard of the ICC is that it has to be a judicial process that is not organised to shield the suspect… and I respect that it’s important for the cases to be tried in Libya… and I am not competing for the case.”

Saif al-Islam, Colonel Gaddafi’s most prominent son, is being held in the western town of Zintan. He was arrested while trying to flee the country.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi told a representative of Human Rights Watch last month that he was being treated well, but had not seen a lawyer or the detailed charges against him.

Fred Abrahams of Human Rights Watch told the BBC that he had the impression from their meeting that Saif al-Islam “doesn’t fully understand that he is no longer one of the most powerful people in the country”.

The BBC’s Gabriel Gatehouse, who is in Tripoli, says the case of the former leader’s son charged with war crimes is becoming an unlikely cause for human rights campaigners.

Source: BBC

Arab League monitors made “mistakes” during their fact-finding mission in Syria, Qatar’s foreign minister said on Thursday.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani told reporters that the league is seeking technical assistance from the United Nations for its mission, lambasted by many critics for failing to halt violence

He didn’t elaborate on the errors, but he stressed that the mission was of an “observatory nature, not to intervene in stopping the violence.”

Members of the Syrian National Council opposition movement met with Arab League officials in Cairo on Thursday to discuss the mission.

“We requested more monitors and better logistical and general support to the mission,” council member Walid Buni told CNN. “We also highlighted some of their mistakes and requested the league be more precise in their statements.”

Buni cited an example of what he said was a mistake. He said Nabil el-Araby, the Arab League secretary-general, announced the release of nearly 3,500 detainees, but noted that the information came from the Syrian government and hadn’t been verified.

“I think these mistakes are due to the limited experience some of the monitors have in dealing with such a regime,” Buni said. 

Syrian state TV announced the release on Thursday of 552 detainees “whose hands were not stained with the blood of fellow Syrians.” The government has announced the release of other detainees during the observer mission.

Between 5,000 and more than 6,000 deaths have occurred over the last 10 months during the government crackdown against protesters, according to various counts. President Bashar Al-Assad’s government says it is putting down armed terrorists and blames the bloodshed on them.

On Wednesday, the death toll across Syria was 26 — 19 in Homs, four in the Damascus suburbs, two in Daraa and one in Hama — according to the Syrian Revolution Coordinators Union, an Egypt-based opposition group.

The al-Assad government agreed to a peace initiative with the Arab League that calls for security forces to withdraw from cities, release detainees and end violence. Part of the agreement calls for Arab League observers to monitor whether the government abides by the initiative. That mission began late last month.

Since the conflict began, reports on brutality in Syria have been issued by political activists and human rights watchdogs.

The political activist group Avaaz issued a report on Thursday detailing “atrocities”in Syria’s detention facilities.

“Bashar al-Assad’s security forces are detaining and in most cases torturing Syrian citizens opposed to the regime in overcrowded prisons, jails and illegal detention centers across the country. Avaaz has compiled the locations of these dungeons — which even include schools — and the names of regime loyalists running the facilities and the torturers-in-chief setting detention policy at the highest levels,” the group said.

The group called on the Arab League monitors to visit what Stephanie Brancaforte, an Avaaz campaign director, called “torture chambers.”

The group said 69,000 people have been detained over a-nine month period and more than 6,800 people have died, including more than 600 by “torture.”

“Of the 69,000 detained since March, over 37,000 people remain in detention and some 32,000 people have been released, many of them bearing scars from torture and violence,” Avaaz said. The group said it confirms deaths or arrests with “three independent sources, including a family member of the deceased and in the case of a death, the imam who performed the funeral procession.”

CNN cannot independently confirm events inside Syria because the government restricts the activity of international journalists.

CNN

Weaker demand for benchmark French 10-year bonds weighed on bank shares

The euro has dropped to its lowest rate against the dollar in 16 months as concerns continue over the health of Europe’s banks.

The euro fell to $1.2831 against the dollar and was at an 11-year low versus the yen.

Markets were unsettled after France’s cost of borrowing rose and a Spanish minister suggested its banks may face a higher bad loan bill.

Bank stocks dropped, with shares in Italy’s UniCredit at a 19-year low.

Luis de Guindos, Spain’s economy minister, told the Financial Times that its banks may face up to 50bn euros ($64.2bn, £41.3bn) in new bad loans – higher than previous public estimates by the government.

Later on Thursday, Spain will unveil more austerity measures.

French bank stocks fell, with Societe Generale down 4.8% and BNP Paribas down 4.1%.

Germany’s Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank both fell more than 4%.

Spain’s Santander dropped 3.3%. UniCredit fell 10% and its shares were suspended for the second day in a row.

Italy and Spain – both passing painful spending cuts – will have to sell debt in the coming months.

French debt sale

France sold 8bn euros of bonds at an auction, paying an interest rate of 3.29% to borrow for 10 years, up from 3.18% at the last sale in December.

Many investors fear that France is poised to lose its top credit rating, making it more expensive to borrow.

In December, France saw its AAA credit rating placed on negative outlook by rating agency Fitch.

Fitch said the change in outlook was prompted by the heightened risk of government liabilities arising from the eurozone’s debt crisis.

At Thursday’s sale, demand from investors for the benchmark 10-year bonds had fallen.

The bid-to-cover ratio was 1.64, almost half of the 3.05 it was in the December auction.

France introduced an 65bn-euro austerity plan in November.

The gap, or spread, on French bonds compared to comparable debt from Germany – Europe’s largest economy – hit record highs last year.

BBC

Mr Ibu and Wife Stella

Actor and comedian John Okafor, aka Mr. Ibu, and his wife, Stella-Maris, have lost their two-year-old son, Emmanuel Mandela.

Posts on some celebrity blogs on Tuesday indicated that the boy, who died on Monday night, had been ill for some days.

According to nigeriafilms.com, the actor confirmed that his son had been ill for four days.

On his Facebook page, JohnOkafor (Mr Ibu), the actor wrote, R.IP. Mandy, my son…Mummy and Daddy love you a lot but God loves you more.”

The actor’s fans have, meanwhile, expressed shock on social networks at the death of his son.

On his Facebook page, there were 254 comments as at 1p.m.

The actor’s wife and son were kidnapped in January 2011 by unknown gunmen. The death is just unfortunate.

Source: News-One

Raquel

Rising Ghanaian superstar Raquel Ammah has said she simply does not care what type or style of clothes she puts on to public performances and also does not give a damn about reports that she showed her naked vagina during a performance in Accra last December.

NEWS-ONE recently reported that it had photographs of the naked hairy vagina of a very well-known Ghanaian female musician while she was performing on stage at the Accra International Conference Centre during the Christmas season.

Though the paper withheld the name of the said female musician, other media houses speculated a couple of names including that of Raquel’s.

However, when NEWS-ONE decided to publish the naked photographs to end the speculations, the paper came under pressure from civil society, various groups and leading individuals in society to back down on its decision.

Ransford Tetteh, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), former National Women’s Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daavi Ama, News Editor of Peace FM, Issa Monnie and Rev. Opambour Adarkwa Yiadom of the Ebenezer Miracle Worship Center were among several persons who pleaded with NEWS-ONE not to publish the said photographs.

Interestingly, Raquel’s attitude to the entire episode makes nonsense of the persons and groups who called for a ceasefire on further publications.

“[This whole thing] is funny; it’s just a big joke. I don’t pay any mind to it and I have fans out there that don’t pay mind to it. My only interest is my music and not what I wear or eat…There is never going to be a day where they are not going to say anything about a musician,” Raquel told Joy FM.

She added: “Nothing has changed, Raquel is still the same. I am still the same person. To my fans, there is no need to get offended because at the end of the day you are probably going to hear stuff about me every day but it is up to you to choose whether you believe it or you don’t believe it.”

The UK -born Ghanaian songstress, Raquel, is currently lacing her boots for today’s ‘Raquel Live on the Dodi Princess’ which would be held on the Dodi Princess Cruise boat on the Volta Lake.

Meanwhile, there is a raging debate on whether or not NEWS-ONE should still go ahead and publish the photographs.

The said female musician mounted the stage of the Accra International Conference Center, dressed to kill, in a very sexy evening wear, with entirely no panties beneath. No panties means no panties, underwear, no slacks, no beads, just her naked hairy vagina.

During her performance, she positioned herself in such a way that the paper’s cameras captured her sex organ which might also have been seen by a good section of the audience, especially those on the front row. It was quite sizeable, chubby, dark and hairy but appealing.

This is the second time NEWS-ONE’s cameras have captured a top Ghanaian female celebrity at a public event without underwear.

The first was at a press conference of an all-female concert that was held a few months ago and one of the artistes at the conference sat in a way that exposed her naked sex organ.

What is not yet certain is whether, in the latest case, the musician deliberately used her naked sex organ as part of her stagecraft or she was doing something else back stage which could not give her enough time to put on her panties.

Source: News-One

Slim Busterr

Come Saturday, January 28, the National Theatre in Accra will explode with non-stop musical performances from talented hipife music stars during the premiere of Slim Busterr’s movie, ‘Hellmett’.

The night, dubbed ‘Music and Movie Night’, will witness performances from Kwabena Kwabena, Wutah, Tinny, King David, 4×4, among others.

The producer of ‘Hellmett’, Slim Busterr, told BEATWAVES that the premiere was expected to attract a large number of movie enthusiasts, music stars and music lovers from all walks of life.

He stated that since the movie was very educative and entertaining, he would be happy if Ghanaians came to enjoy it at the National Theatre at 8:00pm.

Slim Busterr, who played the lead character in the movie, explained that ‘Hellmett’ was about love, relationships, married life and a little bit of sex.

The 1986 national dance champion told BEATWAVES that the premiere would be impressive because it would witness a lot of musical performances and an azonto dance competition.

According to him, the after party would take place at the Aphrodisiac Night Club located at Dzorwulu in Accra.

By George Clifford Owusu

Ne Yo

R&B singer Ne-Yo has become vice president of the legendary music label Motown, it has been announced.

The star’s new role will incorporate producing, song writing, mentoring the label’s artistes and seeking out new talent.

The 32-year-old, who had previously been signed to Def Jam, will also release his fifth studio album this year with Motown.

“I’m honoured that I’ve been given such a prestigious title,” he said.

The singer added he felt “terrified” taking over a role that ‘King of Motown’ Smokey Robinson had previously occupied.

“These are big shoes to fill. But trust, I can handle it,” Ne-Yo said.

Motown’s chief executive officer Barry Weiss said: “This move to Motown will provide new and inspiring challenges for Ne-Yo as both an artiste and a key member of the new senior management team that is taking form at the label in 2012.”

Ne-Yo released four albums with Def Jam, earning a total of 4.3m record sales in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

His debut record, which was released in 2006, featured his first number one single ‘So Sick’.

His 2008 album, ‘Year of the Gentleman’, reached number two in the UK, with the single ‘Closer’ topping the singles chart.

Frank Kwame Gyasi Frimpong ,aka Cabum

Although Frank Kwame Gyasi Frimpong is new on the hiplife/hip-hop music scene, he appears determined to make it to the top despite the delay in releasing his maiden album, ‘Fano Normal’.

He is a great talent and definitely too hot to handle. He has a silky voice and is very good in the studio and on stage, and can thrill fans to a spectacular live-stage performance.

Frank Frimpong, artistically known as Cabum, is seen as a talented musician who has indeed proven beyond all doubts that he has come to stay.

 For many who have had the opportunity to listen to some of his songs, Cabum is not only a prolific singer and a songwriter but he is also a producer and sound engineer.

Although Cabum is young, he told BEATWAVES that his main aim was to reach the top of the ladder, saying, “I am ready to make my presence felt in the music industry. My target is to reach the top of the ladder”.

Cabum is optimistic that his style of play, coupled with the fact that most of his songs are fused with hip-pop and traditional rhythms, would make his album a success when it hits the market.

He has developed a strong passion for hip-hop music and his 10-track album is a great delight to listen to as the lyrics focus on real life issues.

The lyrics of the album and his good vocal power are neatly arranged with good rhythms and danceable beats.

With his presence on the music scene, Cabum has promised to run things in a different dimension with support from Lexis B of Hitz FM.

By George Clifford Owusu

Reggie Rockstone

Reports available indicate that all is set for the Glo ambassadors to do a compilation album in Accra very soon to project the activities of Glo.

The musical album features all the Ghanaian music stars on contract with Glo.

The stars are Asem, Tinny, Reggie Rockstone, Edem, Irene Logan and Sharifa Gunu.

The rest are Kwabena Kwabena, Gyedu Blay Ambulley, Pat Thomas and Paapa Yankson.

This was made known by Glo Ghana Boss, George Andah, during the launch of the Glo ‘Reserve Your Number Campaign’ in Accra.

Some of Glo’s ambassadors who attended the launch lauded the deal they had with Glo and also praised Glo for selecting them as its ambassadors.

Gyedu Blay Ambulley said Glo did a smart thing by selecting both young and senior musicians as ambassadors, unlike the other telecom operators who only focused on young people and failed to appeal to the elderly in society.

“We are a people of culture and so any company which fails to blend the old and the new is not being smart and I think Glo is smart on that count – we were selected by Dr. Mike Adenuga himself and I commend Glo for that,” he said.

Ambulley said the blend of the old and new on that album would give it staying power, as well as wider appeal.

He also lauded the Glo deal as very good for him because it gave him cash to invest in his music and other things, adding that some companies thought senior musicians like him were not making music anymore but that was not true.

Pat Thomas said he was happy with the Glo deal because it improved his financial condition and boosted his business, even though it also denied him invitations to certain shows, particularly those sponsored by other telecom operators.

“But I am happy Glo is about to launch because it would mean more shows and more money for us – our group album will also yield revenue in sales and royalties for us,” he said.

Paapa Yankson said even though his name was known among the elderly, many of the young people did not know him, expressing optimism that his deal with Glo and the new album would be a platform to make him popular among the youth.

Hip-life Grand Papa Reggie Rockstone was the first to come out ahead of last year’s Christmas holidays to say that until the Glo deal, his bank account was almost empty but that one deal had lined his pocket with enough money to build his popular self-named club, Rockstone’s Office.

Reggie also lauded Glo for taking on senior musicians Ambuley, Pat Thomas and Paapa Yankson.

“Glo has been generous and as they launch it means more money for us the ambassadors from shows and the proceeds of the album sale,” he said.

Asem, who sang on his ‘last song for the year’ album that “Glo has satisfied me”, also told Adom News he had high hopes for the Glo album, adding that the money was good and he hoped all his other colleagues got similar deals because “it encourages you to pursue the career you love with passion.”

Irene Logan said apart from the Glo album, the contract also gave her time off the stage to write and record more songs, which she would start releasing and performing this year, particularly on Glo platforms.

“I have been off stage for a while but I can’t complain because it was a win-win situation for me as I got time to rethink my career and write more songs – so this is the year Ghanaians will hear more of me – lots of singles, good music and videos from Irene,” she said.

Efya

Valentine’s Day, February 14 is a day set aside across the world each year for the expression of love.

However, this year’s Valentine’s Day in Accra is expected to be one with a difference as six of the nation’s favourite musicians have packaged a special gift to be offered to their loyal fans.

Kwesi Pee and his friends, Nana Fynn, Nana Tuffour, Efya, Kwabena Kwabena and K.K Fosu have decided to make this year’s Vals Day an unforgettable one by dedicating to their loyal fans across the country, especially in Accra, a concert dubbed ‘Vita Milk Valentine Love Nite’ on Saturday February 11.

According to available information, the six artistes have packaged their all time favourite and enjoyable love songs to be performed live for their dedicated fans who have been part of their success stories over the years.

According to the six artistes, although they had strived to achieve great heights in the music circles, they definitely could not have done that without the active support of the fans who patronized their songs.

To reciprocate this love and show of support over the years, the February 11 concert has been planned with their fans as priority and is strategically patterned to suit all patrons who will throng the National Theatre for the show.

As part of the special valentine gift to fans, they will be offered the rare opportunity to not only interact with artistes on stage during the show, but also request songs of their choice to be performed live by the musicians.

Patrons can also request for specific songs to propose love to their partners, say sorry to wronged persons and to express appreciation to deserving personalities.

In pre-event interviews,  all the artistes on the bill hinted that  they were geared up to treat fans to an unforgettable and splendid performance, saying patrons who would be at the National Theatre on February 11 will have more than they bargained for.  Tickets for the show are said to be fast running out.

Open drain

Over the years, various innovations have been introduced to enhance the living standards of the people. The water closet system is no longer out of the reach of the ordinary man as was the case a decade or so ago.

Public places of convenience are fitted with the hygienic system and for a nominal charge or fee, people who do not have such facilities in their places of residence can attend to nature’s call in comfort.

In spite of this, however, there are instances of people easing themselves in open gutters and places, a nasty spectacle to observe. Night soil carriers still carry human excreta and dump same into gutters which are not covered, a common feature around the drainage on the way to Graphic Road from Okaishie.

Interestingly, the night soil mode of disposing of human waste has been outlawed by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.

Bylaws intended to enhance hygiene standards are largely breached and unenforceable by those responsible for the task. In cases where attempts are made to enforce the bylaws, the public outcry is always overwhelming.

With the sincerity of those in charge of enforcing the bylaws in doubt because of their proclivity to taking bribe and letting go defaulters, such personnel do not bear the necessary clout for such missions.

Another interesting area to consider is the open drainage system in our cities. It is quaint and we wonder why so many years after independence, it is still a feature of our urban areas, especially the nation’s capital.

In the neighbouring Francophone countries, gutters are covered and we wonder why we cannot do same here in Ghana.

Gutters outside the well planned portions of the nation’s capital such as East Legon, Cantonments and others, although uncovered, do not serve as outlets for domestic garbage as is the case in other parts of the city.

One of the reasons people in the slums pray for the rains is that it is a sure way of washing away the stagnant garbage in the gutters.

The eyesore in turning such open gutters into garbage dumping sites aside, it is one of the threats to the environment.

It is likely that when such gutters are closed, those who dump domestic refuse into them will be compelled to turn to the appropriate places to do so.

Perhaps, until we are able to garner adequate financial resources to close such drains, we must consider educating residents in especially places where the practice of dumping refuse into gutters is commonplace. This should be supported with a rigid enforcement of the relevant bylaws.

We do not appear to be changing from our old ways of doing things and here we encourage assembly members to do more to ensure that gutters are not used as refuse dumps.

Dr Grace Bediako - Government Statistician

People of goodwill must view the order on the Government Statistician and her deputy to proceed on leave as a serious occurrence, so says Prof Mike Oquaye, 2^nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

The political scientist and lawyer’s admonition could not have come at a more useful time. We are confronted with a number of governance challenges under President John Evans Atta Mills. Impunity, arbitrariness and acting in flagrant violation of the constitution by the President are disturbing features of governance.

The order on the Government Statistician, Dr. Grace Bediako, to proceed on leave, local euphemism for dismissal, has erased all doubts about whether good governance is prevalent in Ghana or not.

In an election year, any attempts at introducing novelties which border on mistrust should attract the attention of people of goodwill who abhor turmoil and strife.

Unfortunately, President Mills is oblivious to such realities. If the President has placed election matters on the lower rungs of his scale of preference and therefore thoughtlessly committed the blunder of dismissing a high-profile personality with no regard for possible consequences, then there is cause for apprehension.

We still have not been told the reason behind the dismissal of Dr. Bediako and would never be told because the truth is that it is political.

Ours is a system in which impunity has found a haven, affording political players at the helm an opportunity to do as they please, regardless of constitutional norms.

We bemoan the tendency by the Presidency to dismiss people of such rare calibre and skills as Dr. Grace Bediako.

She is not the first victim of such arbitrariness from the Presidency and would perhaps not be the last under a Mills/Mahama administration.

As noted by Prof Mike Oquaye, such arbitrariness can impact negatively on state institutions. Our state institutions by such arbitrariness will remain weak in the face of a barking and ready-to-dismiss executive.

If there is any reason little or no progress is made in our development and other efforts as a nation, it is because of the weak state of our institutions.

When President Obama said Africa needs strong institutions and not personalities, he was right on target. Whoever is appointed as a replacement for Dr. Bediako will definitely not command the necessary respect and therefore the cooperation of the staff within the establishment to perform effectively. Ghana will be the loser. What will the international organizations which deal directly with the dismissed mathematician think about us? A reckless bunch of people who have no regard for experience.

Professionals heading state institutions stand the risk of losing their jobs when they refuse to undertake assignments inconsistent with their professional standards.

For those who want to maintain such employments, conducting themselves in contrast with the ethics of their professions should be the order, regardless of the impact of the anomaly on the fortunes of the country. Is that what we want of our country?

President John Evans Atta Mills

We are at a loss as to what exactly is happening to this country.

Politics under President Mills and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana has been reduced to something unworthy of attraction to men of repute. It is an unfortunate situation which demands intervention by good people lest the otherwise noble occupation of politics eventually becomes the preserve of fiends.

We pray that things do not degenerate to this lowly notch because the political leadership of every democratic dispensation is chosen from among politicians.

It is difficult to regard the present crop of men at the helm as presenting a good image of politics. It is unfathomable why those entrusted with the management of the affairs of the country would embark upon a course of destruction of the nation’s political values.

Yesterday, news about the veiled dismissal of Dr. Grace Bediako, Government Statistician, competed with the resignation of Betty Mould-Iddrisu, the immediate past Minister of Education.

Both reflect the unusual times the country finds itself in today, a period in which mendacity has become the order of the day in the seat of government.

If Betty-Mould’s exit can be attributed to the smelly Woyome debacle, the former is shrouded in the usual opaqueness associated with government business. It has sent Ghanaians trying frantically seeking answers to what informed the disguised dismissal.

We hasten to remark that asking such a high-profile personality, a Government Statistician and her deputy, to proceed on leave smacks of something sinister.

It is regrettable that government’s obsession with manipulating the people’s electoral verdict is driving it to engage in actions untoward and incompatible with civility.

In a country where rumours are rife, when there is a situation aggravated by a dearth of credible information from government sources, there is a tendency to be swayed by the fear being expressed by many that the dismissal of the Government Statistician and her deputy is part of a grand design to fidget with the population figures.

Gerrymandering is one of the preferred means of upturning the electoral verdict of 2012 by a government which is abhorred by most Ghanaians today. There is credibility in the fear being expressed about the real intentions of the government.

Such electoral manouvres are unsafe and should be avoided by all who seek the peace of this country. President Mills’s speeches are mostly ironic and for those hearing him for the first time, he is a gentleman intent on avoiding conflict in his country. It is an untenable impression however when such blunders, given their combustibility, are played out by the government at the behest of the President.

Ghana, he once said, would not burn when, in one of his cynical moods, poured scorn on his opponents; yet his supervision over the reckless treatment of high-level professionals such as Government Statistician and the Medical Director of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Prof Frimpong-Boateng, all under mischievous circumstances, makes us wonder where we are heading towards as a nation.   

All matters related to elections call for sincerity of the highest order because as flammable issues, they can be injurious to the fate of the country.

In nearby Ivory Coast, such manouvres left unattended, exacted a killer aftermath. Need we allow a reckless government to take us down such a path? No, because Ghana will outlive all of us and the worst we can do to her is to be irresponsible with such important matters such as elections. As for the Government Statistician and her deputy, we demand answers to what has befallen them. We are waiting.

A patient suffering from leprosy

INMATES AT the Weija Leprosarium will on Sunday, January 29 join the rest of the world to celebrate World Leprosy Day.

Leprosy is a an infectious disease of the skin, mucous membranes and nerves mainly occurring in tropical regions caused by a bacterium often leading to paralysis, disfigurement and deformity.

A release issued by the Lepers Aid Committee observed that the celebration helps us focus on the needs of the poor who are affected by the disease.

It also helps to tell the story to people who do not know that leprosy still exists and that it can now be cured.

“It helps us raise much awareness of creating a leprosy-friendly environment and the total elimination of discrimination perpetuated against lepers in Ghana,” it noted.

The statement observed that World Leprosy Day which has been observed each year on the last Sunday of January for more than 50 years is to commemorate those who suffer the devastating effects of the disease.

It further noted that although most people regard leprosy as an ancient disease that was eradicated years ago, new cases of leprosy keep emerging each year in Ghana and across the world.

“Sufferers had no choice in the past centuries than to be stigmatized and sent far away from their family houses to live with disabilities that are common in leprosy,” it indicated.

The committee added: “With the advancement of technology and the availability of drugs for treatment, early detected cases of leprosy are treated and cured.”

The committee added that Sunday’s activities will include a sod -cutting ceremony for the construction of an office as well as a visitor’s hall for the leprosarium.

It therefore urged Ghanaians to join hands in the eradication of discrimination against people with disabilities, especially leprosy and do away with all forms of stigmatization against lepers in their community.

 “As we join the world today in celebrating World Leprosy Day and in standing for those who face oppression and stigma every day, let us remember that we are one body, supporting and caring for one another. Let us come together and continue to do something beautiful for God.”

By: Ampem Gyeke-Darko 

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

THE ASANTEHENE, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has expressed delight over the release of money by government to complete the 37 year old maternity block project at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). 

Otumfuo who has a passion for the development of KATH, the largest medical facility in the northern sector of the country, reportedly heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing the good news.  

This was disclosed by the CEO of KATH, Prof. Ohene Adjei on Kapital radio in Kumasi. 

The CEO said he personally informed the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace about government’s efforts in completing the project. 

The maternity block at KATH began almost four decades ago but the facility aimed at easing congestion at the maternity ward is still yet to be completed. 

According to Prof. Adjei, before he could finish saying that   money had been released for the project’s completion, Otumfuo started smiling. 

He said the Asantehene later disclosed that he was extremely delighted about the positive news and urged those in charge of the project to do a good job.   

Prof. Ohene Adjei debunked reports that partisan politics existed among staff of the medical facility, saying “KATH is a health institution so we don’t tolerate politics.” 

On development projects currently going on the facility, he said, the painting of the old ‘GEE’ block waa going on steadily, adding that the eye clinic was almost nearing completion.

On the capitation system introduced by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA,) Prof. Adjei disclosed that about 10,000 patients had selected KATH as their preferred hospital. 

He said KATH management was currently monitoring the pilot capitation system and would come out with its final decision on it by the end of the month. 

About the hospital’s future, he said, workers at the medical facility needed to be disciplined and hard working at all times to help make KATH the preferred health center for patients.

 FROM I.F.F Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

Dr Adjase (right) signing the MOU with Dr Vivian Lee, Vice President of Health Sciences, University of Utah, while other faculty members look on

THE COLLEGE of Health, Kintampo (CoHK), has entered into a 5 year partnership via a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Utah in the US. 

The MOU signed on October 31, 2011 at the University of Utah, seeks among other things the exchange of professor and research scholars, collaboration in clinical, community and research projects as well as collaboration in the development of curriculum, teaching, service outreach and Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities.

The Director of CoHK, Dr Emmanuel Teye Adjase, at a press briefing to make the partnership public, said the MOU will “continue to promote the advancement of international understanding, dissemination of learning, exchange of knowledge, the fostering of sustainable improvements in health, education and economic conditions whilst strengthening cultural ties.”

Dr Teye said the programme will be open to qualified faculty, physician assistants, residents, graduate and undergraduate students as well as volunteers, subject matter experts or other appropriate individuals as approved by both parties.  

 “Participants will be selected by the home institution on the basis of academic merit, knowledge, self-determination and benefit to the host institution,” he further explained.

As part of plans to transform the college into a world-class health university, Dr Adjase said the school has acquired 3000 acres of land to develop it into a modern university campus.

He however said this plan will remain on the drawing board if government and corporate bodies failed to support the project.

The director said the college is ready to enter into a win-win agreement with any group of investors that will express interest in partnering it to develop the land.  

The college is so far the only school of its kind in the country with the mandate to turn out multi-purpose health personnel for the provision of quality health care.  

It currently awards certificates, diplomas and degrees in 13 programs including clinical psychiatry, medical assistants, technical officers and field technicians.

 FROM Fred Tettey Alarti-Amoako, Kintampo

Sylvester Mensah, CEO of the NHIA

A MASSIVE demonstration will hit the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in Kumasi on Monday, January 30 over the implementation of the capitation policy should the authority fail to heed calls for its withdrawal. 

The policy which is expected to replace the current Diagnosis-Related Groupings (DRG) mode of payment to service providers under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is presently undergoing a pilot scheme in the Ashanti region. 

Asante Development Union (ADU), a pressure group in Kumasi which has being agitating for the withdrawal of the policy on Monday served notice at a press conference that it will hit the streets if the NHIA refuses to withdraw it. 

Edmund Oppong Peprah, Coordinator of the group said the capitation system which allows subscribers to choose three health facilities to seek medical care from was detrimental to the health interest of people in the region and must be withdrawn immediately. 

Stressing that the NHIA sought to use the good people of the region as Guinea pigs in an unholy crusade, he wondered why the region was chosen for the pilot program. 

“ADU does not accept the excuses made by the NHIA. We condone or need further explanations. All we ask is that the policy be withdrawn immediately,” Mr. Oppong noted at the press conference attended by medical experts including Dr Nsiah Asare, former CEO of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and Dr Adusei Poku, President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA). 

He said the group does not understand why a population of close to five million with over 30 percent NHIS subscribers in the region, could be used for an experiment which did not even have a specific time line. 

ADU he said, had gathered that subscribers visit health facilities in the region only to be turned away because they could not find their names on the registered list, while others receive sub-standard services. 

“Information reaching my outfit indicates that since the implementation of the policy in the region three weeks ago, hospital attendance has gone down considerably. 

“The good people of this region do not need education or further explanations to safeguard their health; we therefore call for the immediate withdrawal of the policy.”  

Mr. Oppong said the argument advanced so far by NHIA in favour of the capitation which among others is to check leakages in the scheme is shallow and lacks substance. 

“In the first place, were the subscribers who are the primary stakeholders consulted?” Mr. Oppong asked wondering why the private medical and dental associations which form the majority of health providers were not also consulted. 

“The authority should consider how to retain funds and use it prudently for preventive health, expansion of services under the scheme and generally improve health service delivery,” the coordinator added. 

Concluding, Mr. Oppong entreated people in the region to come out in their numbers to express their displeasure with the   policy.  

He also launched a blistering attack on the CEO of the authority Sylvester Mensah, asking him to resign from his position honorably or be sacked by his employer for his contribution towards the implementation of the ‘killer’ policy. 

The coordinator said Mr. Mensah’s admonition that the private health providers could go to hell if they did not like the capitation policy was unfortunate to say the least and that he deserves to be given his marching orders and a more responsible person given the job. 

 From Morgan Owusu, Kumasi

Dr. K. O Antwi-Agyei

THE MINISTRY of Health in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, has introduced a second dose of measles vaccinations. 

The dose scheduled to be given out from February 1 for children between the ages of 18 and 30 months, will follow normal vaccination guidelines for children which is usually after 9 months. 

The introduction of the second dose under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is aimed at providing children with complete immunity from the acute viral illness.

It is also to maintain reduction in the incidence of measles and deaths due to measles towards achieving Millennium Development Goal 4.

Speaking at a meeting to brief the media on the introduction of the vaccine, Dr. K. O Antwi-Agyei, National Manager of EPI, said Ghana has made strides in the effort to reduce childhood deaths from measles to its bearest minimum.

He said as a result of this Ghana has been offered the opportunity by the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue the second dose of the vaccine.

“We need to institutionalize the second opportunity through the routine immunization programme and after careful consideration of our options, the second dose is to be provided at the age of 18 months,” he stated.

He said despite these achievements, there are still reported cases of the illness.

 “Currently the national coverage for measles is 79% according to the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey results. This means that over 20% of our children are not protected against measles resulting in the increase in incident rate,” Antwi-Agyei said.

He further noted that since vaccine viruses are destroyed by prevailing antibodies passed on from mother to child, supplementary immunization involving older age groups is needed as older persons develop better protection.

“Vaccination at 9 months has 85% vaccine effectiveness, 12 months has about 95% effectiveness and 18 months has 99% effectiveness,” Antwi-Agyei stated.

He consequently encouraged parents and guardians to have their children between are 9 and 18 months immunized at child welfare clinics across the country.  

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

Professor F.T. Sai

PROFESSOR FRED T. Sai, a former presidential advisor on population issues, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS, has called for the enactment of legislation to legalise abortion.  

The family health specialist noted that in a country where there is restrictive abortion legislation or no law to legalise the process, women resort to unsafe abortion which often leads to high rates of maternal mortality.

According to him, over 15 percent of maternal deaths in Africa were through unsafe abortion which he observed, have devastating consequences for families.

Addressing the Sixth Annual Research Conference on Population, Reproductive Health and Economic Development in Accra, Prof. Sai said if legalised, abortion could also help in family planning.

The four-day conference was organized by the University of Ghana in collaboration with the Population and Poverty Research Network (PopPov), a group of academic researchers and funders from around the globe interested in how population dynamics affect economic outcomes and population researchers, with an emphasis on empirical research about Africa.

PopPov investigates how population policies could influence poverty reduction at the household level and economic growth at the country and state level.

The researchers at the conference were expected to identify gaps in evidence and methods that inhibit development of sound policies on population, family planning, reproductive health, discuss examples of the influence of research on these areas and find how to communicate research to policymakers.

Prof. Sai called on African leaders to show commitment in addressing family planning issues since it was one of the tools which could address maternal health problems when applied.

Prof. Sai noted that stronger commitment by African governments was required to address the issue of rapid population growth and meet MDG 5.

A recent report by World Health Organisation (WHO) corroborates Prof Sai’s fears, saying a rising proportion of abortions worldwide are putting women’s health at risk.
The WHO study suggests global abortion rates are steady, at 28 per 1,000 women a year.
However, the proportion of the total carried out without trained clinical help rose from 44% in 1995 to 49% in 2008.

The Lancet, which carried the report, said the figures were “deeply disturbing.”

By Awudu Mahama

Dr Opoku Adusei

THE GHANA Medical Association (GMA) Council will meet next week and declare its official position on distortions created by the migration of doctors and other health professionals onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).

  The meeting, which is one of their normal council meetings, will among other issues discuss problems erupting after being migrated onto the SSSS since December 2011.

      Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, President of the (GMA), announced these in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in response to comments by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) that it was not responsible for the distortions.

     The FWSC advised the GMA to trace the shortfall of the salaries of their members and other health workers to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD).

    The commission said it should not be blamed for the shortfalls but urged the pay roll outfit of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to liaise with the CAGD to address the anomaly.

      Dr Opoku-Adusei explained that the GMA had a meeting with FWSC, which was attended by the Ministry of Health and the CAGD, and that the distortions did not come

from the GHS’ pay roll office.  

     “After our Council meeting, we will then decide on this matter and will make it known,” he added.

     The GMA on Wednesday announced in an interview with the GNA in Accra that the migration of health personnel onto the SSSS had created irregularities which had attracted serious concerns.

     According to the GMA, the migration, which was implemented in December last year, had resulted in professionals receiving lower salaries than what they were previously earning, hinting that the development might result in another battle between the GMA and the FWSC this year.

    Dr Opoku-Adusei explained that the National Labour Commission (NLC) had ruled after the compulsory arbitration meeting that the matter should be resolved by the Ministry of Health and the GHS Council.

    He said since the NLC had no jurisdiction over the matter; letters written to the Council by the GMA did not receive any response.

    In October 2011, the doctors, staged a 14-day nationwide strike because of distortions in their migration onto the SSSS over the inability of the FWSC to provide unequivocal evidence of migration of doctors onto the SSSS and the ambiguous stance of the SSS Secretariat on the position of district directors of health service and medical superintendents.
The inability of GMA and FWSC to resolve the problem compelled the commission to refer the issue to NLC to apply the compulsory arbitration as provided for under Section 162 of the Labour Act.

     The NLC ruled that the CAGD should pay the doctors their SSS whilst that of district and medical superintendents should be settled by the GHS Council.

GNA

Betty Mould-Iddrisu

The year was 1967. I was in form one, Achimota School. The school prefect was some handsome young guy, Kwaku Yeboah. When you see him in his blue sixth form uniform, walking majestically along, blessed by God with a very noble personality – not tall, not short, not fat, not slim – just a prim figure – you cannot but admire him. And he was correct and flamboyant, neatly dressed all the time, the very epitome of what a senior student must be, an inspiration to all; the school prefect of Achimota school- Kwaku Yeboah.

All of a sudden, one evening, when we went to supper, I saw the deputy school prefect sitting on the SP’s chair, so I asked one senior at my dining table – where is the SP?

He retorted: ”Go to the notice board”,

Straight from the dining hall, I rushed to the notice board and there was this terse notice from the Headmaster, Alan Roudwick: “The School Prefect, Kwaku Yeboah, has resigned”.

That was my introduction to the spectre of resignations.

Anytime I hear that someone has resigned from his or her appointment, my mind races back to November 1967 – the resignation of the school prefect.

You can therefore imagine how my brain lobes reacted when I heard on the airwaves that old an student of Achimota, fine and distinguished lawyer Betty Mould-Iddrissu, had resigned as Minister of Education.

Betty has resigned? Why? Minister of Education? The Minister with the biggest budget? How come? Reports say no reasons were given, probably for “personal reasons.”

There are three types of resignations – voluntary resignation, principled resignation and compulsory resignation -which of these three best fits Betty Mould Iddrisu?

Voluntary resignation is where circumstances compel you to resign, either because of negative natural causes or positive natural causes. For instance, if you are holding a position and you are continuously sick, bed ridden, incapable of performing your functions, it is only fair that you resign.

Or, in other stances, like I found myself in the year 2000. I had been the President of the Berekum Citizens Union for six years running, and had now become the NPP parliamentary candidate for Berekum. I did not want people to think that I was politicizing the union, so I resigned as president of the union and my vice president took over.

Or you are the president of the Ghana Bar Association and you have been named as Ghana’s Ambassador to Papua New Guinea. You cannot go there and run the Association from there (don’t ask me where on the map Papua New Guinea is – probably somewhere in the Far East). Usually, voluntary resignations are not very common.

Principled resignation is also not common, but takes guts to carry out. A principled resignation is required when you like the job you are doing, in fact you are enjoying it, but you realize that the environment you are operating in is hostile to you and if you want to be at peace with your conscience, sleep soundly at night without tossing up and down on your bed, avoid being saddled with unnecessary questions in future about “what did you do” or “what you did not do”, then you must say a word of prayer to God and come to terms with the fact that the ship is sinking and you don’t want to be part of it.

Principled resignations are very common in the USA and in Europe – but in our part of the world; principled resignations are few and far between.

The most famous principled resignation I can recall in Ghana was when Hon Kojo Yankah, MP for Agona West and Ashanti Regional Minster was reshuffled by President Rawlings and he literally told him to ‘knock off’ with his appointments – he had had enough. Reader, principled resignation is not easy.

When P.V. Obeng was the PNDC Coordinating Secretary and virtually Prime Minister, he fell out with some of the men around Rawlings and called it quits and left Accra to live in Kumasi.

The rumour is that several people went to talk to him and he reneged on his stance, ate humble pie and resumed his functions as PNDC Coordinating Secretary.

I remember when Prof Kwesi Botchway was Minister for Finance. He held that portfolio for a long time and got pissed off when the President, Jerry Rawlings, travelled abroad with Tsatu Tsikata, whom he (Rawlings) described as a “financial wizard”.

Kwesi Botchway resigned but after three days, he ate humble pie and announced that he was still “the nation’s Minister of Finance”. Not long after he was reshuffled out of that office.

Reader, principled resignation is not easy.

I will not be doing justice to this article if I don’t mention the purported resignation of Alan Kyerematen from the NPP after losing the flag-bearer race in 2007. One was not too sure the reasons for his resignation, but within two weeks Alan ate humble pie, renounced his resignation and returned to the fold of the Elephant family.

I conclude that it takes guts to resign on the basis of principle, the reason being that usually the perks associated with holding public office almost tend to blindfold one’s vision of wisdom. In Africa, principled resignation is uncommon.

The third and last form of resignation is compulsory resignation. It is a respectable way of sacking somebody from office, either preparatory to condemnation or to save one from upcoming embarrassment.

I have a small group called Theatre Mirrors, a drama society, and the most coveted position in the group is Stage Manager. One guy was elected to that position and he was doing marvellously well to the admiration of all.

Regrettably, he had a terrible weakness and he misconducted himself so badly that instead of reporting him to the police for terrible consequences, I just told the group that the stage manager had resigned, and as you can guess, “for personal reasons.”

Following the kidnapping and murder of the three High Court Judges, serious finger pointing began, directed at the corridors of the PNDC, hovering around PNDC member Joachim Amartey Kwei.

All of a sudden, it was announced in the media that two members of the PNDC had resigned- J. Amartey Kwei and Rev Dr Kwabena Damoah. I have no doubt in my mind that none of them ever wrote a letter resigning, or even said a word about resigning, but resignation was imposed upon them. That is compulsory resignation.

Now, the news is that Betty Mould-Iddrisu has resigned. Was it a voluntary resignation, a principled resignation or a compulsory resignation? It definitely must be one of these three.

I know Betty personally. I invited her, as the Copyright Administrator at the time, to be the Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of the Accra Drama Festival, and she came. I also invited her to officially cut the tape to open a boutique for my wife in Ablemkpe in 2000 – and she came.

Betty, married to Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, former PNDC member and Minister for Defence, is a lady by all standards, very noble from a high class family in Ghana and a professional lawyer through and through. Of course she is my senior in age by almost 10 years.

Maybe her classmates in Achimota School definitely know her better, because I for one was surprised when I heard that she had “entered politics” and was being touted for running mate for Mills in the 2008 General Elections, that she was a Konadu woman, that she was now Attorney General …this quiet “I don’t want problem” lady? How possible?

There is so much dust in the air about the Woyome affair that I do not want to make any comment about the possibility of linking her resignation to the Woyome affair. Is it possible, mark you, I am only asking a question – is it possible that probably this whole Woyome fracas was brokered over her head and that she is angry at all the rubbish being heaped at her doorstep? So, resign and leave? Or is it possible that she is neck deep in the mess and is therefore now on the firing line of the President so she is using resignation as an honourable escape route?

To conclude, let me offer the following suggestions for further reflection, reader.  

Before you accept any office, ask yourself whether you have the mettle for the office – are you ready to accept public criticisms, insult, abuses, and also ready to throw some back? Are you capable
of handling the job? Do you know the technical pressures on the office?

One of the best attorney generals in the history of Ghana was a famous court-going lawyer, Joe Reindorf. Prior to this appointment, he was always in the courtroom, head of his own law firm. As the nation’s top lawyer, you dare not send any funny paper to the office of the attorney general- all the lawyers in the department were working under a man who they knew, if he were not an attorney general, was already a solid man, so standards were very high.

You know why it is important to have expertise? Because at the end of the day when the chips are down, they will say that you were the minister of finance, you were the attorney general, you were the managing director, you were this, the that, ….. history will be merciless on you.

Make no mistake, the hawks and aides around the “old man” are not saints. They are always looking for weak joints to carry out their acts of mischief.

They want to siphon some state funds, but they cannot do it through the consolidated fund. Meanwhile, the minister for trees is a school teacher who knows nothing about forestry, so his technocrats are doing all the work… let us call the chief director … or the minister for livestock, who is a retired diplomat who spent all his life in New York and China and does not know the difference between piggery and cattle …let us call the chief director….. or the minister for parks and gardens.    Reader, unless you know your job very well, technocrats will make you a “simpa painyin” and soil your beard with frightening volumes of thievery.

One of the best sermons I have ever heard in church was delivered by Professor Adei, one time Rector of GIMPA at the Accra Ridge Church one Sunday. His theme was a verse from one of the Psalms – “what can the righteous do when the foundations are being destroyed?”

All around are unsteady roaring waters; corruption is rife, people refuse to tell the truth, they worship mediocrity, fear inhibits righteousness … there is chaos all round.

Reader, you can do a lot. Let your staff and those who come in contact with you testify that you are different, you are a man of your word, with you in charge there are no loose ends…

Believe it or not, it is these few noble vessels around who are used by Almighty God to keep our society running. It is these few who know their job and do it well, who stand out in history and are canonized as heroes of their generation.

Come to think of it – your name in history versus access to free food and drink and cars – which is better?

Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu has resigned – are you sure?

From: Dr Kwame Nkrabeah

We are in bad times and the signs, according to my crystal ball, point to gloomy days ahead.  With people like Larry Gbevlo-Lartey and his BNI at the helm of affairs, as far as the national security outfit is concerned, we are doomed.  The country is about to revisit the crazy days of the revolution when human life and dignity were treated with disdain. It looks as if the Mills/Mahama regime has given Gbevlo-Lartey the license to torture and kill.  Nobody in this country is safe anymore as the former boss of the dreaded 64 Battalion continues to flex his muscles and lies through his teeth.  I shudder to look back and recount what happened to the good people of this country when Rawlings and the Gbevlos of this world took up arms and treated Ghanaians as subhuman beings.  Those were the days when we witnessed the horrifying spectacle of sadism offered to the public gaze.  I surely remember the bazaar exhibition of ‘soldier power’, the drilling and shaving of suspects with broken bottles and acts of terrorism often explained away in the name of ‘revolutionary justice’.  We are back at square one. 

My fear would have been allayed if the National Security Coordinator, in the person of Mr. Gbevlo-Lartey, had apologized to the good people of this country in general and lady Gifty Lawson in particular, following the brutality meted out to the poor girl by operatives of the BNI when she was going about her lawful duty to earn a living.  Listen to the man who should have been on retirement defending the brutalities: “The BNI is a creature of the law and they will go ahead and do their job as prescribed by law and we are not going to take any indiscipline from any member of the public.  It doesn’t matter who he is preventing the BNI from doing their job”.  Oh no, Mr. Gbevlo-Lartey, that is not the issue. The BNI operatives rather took the law into their own hands when they manhandled the unarmed lady who was taking pictures at the court premises, which is allowed, anyway.  The creatures called BNI were undisciplined and they are those who need to be whipped into line. 

If we are to escape the danger of gradually drifting into the wish-to-be-forgotten days of ‘soldier power’, it is necessary to apply the sanctions whenever necessary, instead of leaving things to the temperament of individual BNI operatives who may ultimately do more harm than good through misguided zeal.  Are those seven BNI operatives men at all?  If it took seven well-armed BNI operatives to arrest an unarmed lady photojournalist, then I wonder what they can do when faced with armed robbers. Indeed, if a BNI operative can threaten to shoot a poor girl like Gifty, then I wonder what such a man will do if he comes face to face with this irrepressible earth Angel Gabriel, the zongo boy who fears no police.  But come to think of this, don’t you believe that some seized cocaine might have found its way to the offices of the BNI where these operatives laid their hands on to become ‘high’ like those who manhandled the girl? It is highly possible because what they did was unthinkable. Shame!

If Mr. Gbevlo-Lartey and his cohorts think journalists in this country can be cowed into quietude, then they have to think again.  What they did to Gifty has opened a can of worms which will be difficult to close.  In fact, what they did has put more ink in our fountain pens and we will show them that the pen is mightier than the sword.  In my own small way I will continue to use this column to exhort Ghanaians to rise in protest against this government’s violation of our fundamental human rights.

 I will unrepentantly use intemperate language to describe any bully who may treat Ghanaians so shabbily like they did Gifty.  And as sure as the sun will shine tomorrow, I will continue this path with strong will. If President Mills who calls himself “Asomdwiehene” fails to whip his men into line and they continue to provoke confrontation, we will call their bluff at the risk of our lives.  In fact, we will never hesitate to use the most offensive language to describe their foolishness. 

The ‘Gifty case’ will forever remain in our minds till Election Day.  We are aware the NDC would try all means to bully Ghanaians in the run-up to the elections but they will never have their way as everybody is now wide awake.  What Mr. Lartey and his overzealous scatterbrains should understand is that this time around, the good people of Ghana will not be so docile again for a few undisciplined BNI operatives to step on our rights.  Yes of course, they have the guns but we have the will to survive.  The time has come for us to remake the BNI.  The outfit is loaded with inexperienced NDC supporters who know nothing about security.  Can you imagine a situation where operatives of the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) in the US or the MOSSAD of Israel grabbing an unarmed girl and subjecting her to severe beatings and putting their hands inside her panties in search of a suspected hidden camera, simply because she was seen taking pictures of a victim of human rights abuse?  These libidinous BNI operatives should bow down their heads in shame.  I can bet with my last Kufuor gollar that if they had the chance they would have raped the poor girl.

 Accept my sympathy Gifty.  Be strong and remember that this is a price you have paid to expose a bunch of criminals parading as BNI operatives.  All Ghanaians should see the treatment meted out to Gifty as a national concern. People should stand up to be counted else these goons could repeat the show.  Threatening to shoot somebody while directing the gun at the person’s head is enough scare to make one contract a heart attack.  It was the vulture who said that when man points a gun at you and even fails to pull the trigger, you lose more than ten years of your life. I can imagine the nightmares that these Daily Guide reporters, who went through the ordeal, are having. For me, Gifty is a symbol of resistance.  The day before she was manhandled, family members of the DSP maltreated her at the same place.  The girl was so bold that she went again to cover the story despite the risk she faced.  This is a sign of a brave journalist.  One can compare her to Christina Amanpour of CNN fame.  

And if Gbevlo-Lartey and his boys think they have an axe to grind with Gina Blay’s DAILY GUIDE, then they better gird up their loins because the battle will be hotter and they may not even get time to go for supper.  The absurdity of the whole drama is that at the end of the day, DAILY GUIDE was able to publish the picture of DSP Gifty Mawuenyega Tehoda on the front page of the paper.  Who won the war?  Who say man no dey?  You don’t screw with DAILY GUIDE, you know! I must admit that there are some fine guys in the BNI who are doing their job with dignity.  When a few party boys who were drafted into the system recently began fooling around, I sincerely pitied the good guys out there.  The behaviour of the few undisciplined goons in the Gifty saga should be condemned by all peace loving Ghanaians.  Today it is Gifty.  Who knows, they may one day extend their fists of fury to the noses of our chiefs and men of God. 

When then Chairman Rawlings disbanded the Special Branch and replaced it with the Bureau of National Investigation, he did so with good intention but sadly the current crop is destroying the good intention. 

Operatives of the BNI who are supposed to be secret agents are making a mess of the institution.  The perfect anonymity of a secret agent is totally lost as they continue to expose themselves in the course of their duties.  Some of them quickly introduce themselves to even strangers as BNI operatives.  Do you think any operative of the KGB will even mention his real name to anyone, not to talk of introducing himself as an operative of that outfit? A secret agent is supposed to be colourless, so ordinary a man you could not pick him out of a crowd.  Indeed a secret agent operates in a world where he is the man who is a mystery to all but himself. Not so with Gbevlo-Lartey’s BNI who do not hesitate to pull a pistol at the slightest provocation and put their hands inside the panties of girls to retrieve cameras.  What a gargantuan mess! (Apologies to Martin Amidu)

From Eric Bawah

Jerry John Rawlings

Greetings, Papa Jay! It’s with a deep sense of remorse that I send you this note. I hope it reaches you in good health. Indeed, I know you are alive and kicking because I recently saw you on television attending to some pressing issues in Somalia. More grease to your elbows!

Surprised, eh? I know you are because it’s an understatement to say I was one of your harshest critics. I would be lying if I said I did not always use the little opportunity to tongue-lash you. But I’m now a changed person because I know better. I now know that most of the accusations against you are figments of some people’s imagination.

Even though my compatriots say ‘forgiveness’ is a word not found in your lexicon, I hope you would find a place in your heart to forgive me. I can swear by Antoa Nyamaa that I’m now a changed person. I’m more than willing to undergo chemical interrogation if you still do not believe me.

Mr. President, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard you talk about corruption and mediocre appointees in the government of the very party you founded. Many people, myself inclusive, thought you were expressing those sentiments because your protégé had refused to consult you day and night as he promised. We thought you were only manifesting the proverbial sour grapes because the president had refused to be your puppet.

Events of the past 12 moons have however proved beyond reasonable doubt that you were only calling a spade by its real name. Many have asked you to support your allegations of corruption against the Agya Ofuntuo government with tangible evidence. With the evidence now staring them in the face, I doubt if they would still say so.

I’m very sure you’ve heard about the miraculous mosquito which hatched blocks and built two mansions within 24 moons. I do believe also that you are privy to how prices of school buildings are being inflated and the difference used in lining the pockets of the greedy bastards.

Your Excellency, you did hit the nail right on the head when you called them ‘greedy bastards’. Their greediness has eaten into their heads so much that they’ve lost all sense of shame. They eat with both hands and shamelessly tell the hungry bloke it is a ‘better Asomdwekrom’. They squander the nation’s precious cowries on hampers and pampers, while the masses struggle to survive.

You and your wife are very justified in your crusade to take back your party and rid it of the greedy elements who have no respect for truth, probity, accountability and integrity- the very pillars on which your party was built. Your wife failed to achieve that feat in Sunyani, but there is no denying the fact that she sent shivers down the spines of the president and his cohort.

Talking about the Sunyani congress brings to mind the infamous 90m tape. Is it true that the story of the existence of the tape is not a Kwaku Ananse tale? If yes, why don’t you give your compatriots also the opportunity to have a feel of its contents? Believe me, that is a better option than listening to it alone in your bedroom.

The news making the rounds in Asomdwekrom is that the president has become so unpopular that he has resorted to desperate measures to correct the flaw. There is an administrative directive that the president’s portrait be placed in all basic schools across the length and breadth of the country. This is no joke, Mr. President. It is all part of the ‘better Asomdwekrom’ agenda.

It is said that there is no honour among thieves. Your ‘boy’ Martin Amidu has however defied the truism in the saying by being the odd one among the greedy bastards. Event at the risk of losing his job and the perks that go with it, he pledged to uphold, preserve, protect and defend the country’s constitution by fighting ‘gargantuan crimes’ against the people of this country. He eventually lost his job but the whole world now knows that there was at least one man of integrity among the greedy bastards.

That Agya Ofuntuo has messed up almost everything he inherited from the Gentle Giant is a fact no objective person can deny. It is therefore understandable if you feel betrayed by the very man you picked from obscurity and mentored to become president. But there are those who say you, and no one else, are to blame for all the mess. They say the one to blame for the havoc the snake caused is the man who let it into the garden. Don’t you think it’s a legitimate point to make?

By the way, is it true your wife has plans of contesting the president in the 2012 polls as an independent candidate? Do you sincerely believe she can make any meaningful impact, or it is only a scheme to pour sand in Agya Ofuntuo’s gari? Hmm! Wonders shall never end!

Mr. President, the title ‘Agye wodin’ bestowed on you by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is seriously under threat. Courtesy of the ‘woyomization’ of the state, it is becoming increasingly clear that Alfred Agbesi Woyome would sooner than later wrestle the title away from you.

It is the reason I cannot wait for your June 4 speech. I know my compatriots would call it another ‘boom’ speech. And why not? A speech that unravels the truth would definitely rattle nerves and sometimes cause a tsunami. The only song that comes to mind as I eagerly await your June 4 speech is your famous composition, “Gadindim- Gadem, Gadindim- Gadem.”

Bonjour, Monsieur Boom!

“The city authorities should have at least served us official notice prior to the demolition exercise,” laments Nii Ayittey Noyaatse, chief of Joma, a fishing community located near the Weija dam in Accra.

 “The taskforce has demolished over one thousand houses in the community, including those houses which did not fall within the buffer zone of the Weija Dam,” he stressed.

For several weeks, residents of Joma, a new sprawling community on the outskirts of Accra, the nation’s capital, were subjected to mental and physical torture as their properties were virtually eaten up by bulldozers sent to the area bring them down.

Residents were wailing and crying when they lost their houses in the demolition exercise, which they said was illegal. They claimed they had documents to support their properties when they visited DAILY GUIDE in Accra.  

At the last count, over thousands of houses including schools and hotels had been pulled down and more are have been earmarked for further demolishing. According to recent security reports, more houses have to go in order to protect the dam.

Nii Noyaatse’s palace served as a shelter for over one hundred victims of the demolition exercise carried out by city authorities to prevent the Densu River, which runs into the Weija Dam, from being further polluted by members of Joma and other surrounding communities.

The palace was however not spared, as it was also demolished, forcing the chief to run to court for an injunction.

Nii Noyaatse was shocked by the incident as he claims the Ga West Municipal Assembly had assured him that his house would not be demolished because it was located beyond the buffer zone.

“Without any prior notice, the palace was razed down leading to the displacement of hundreds of persons,” he said.

He lamented that those he was sheltering in his palace had now joined the other displaced people who could not be housed at the palace, and had been left stranded, sleeping in the open outside the palace.

“It was horrific, de-humanizing and pathetic to see how the ‘refugees’ who were in the palace at the time were driven out by the task force which pulled down the palace without paying heed to several pleas by the people,” Nii Noyaatse said.

History

The Gyaasetse, Nii Ayikwei Aryee, who is also the Secretary of Joma, narrated the history of the community as he maintained the demolition exercise had been extended beyond the buffer zone.

He explained that Joma was acquired and occupied as an Accra suburb over 16 centuries ago by their forefathers for hunting expedition.

“Later, when Greater Accra developed further and expanded to the area, government acquired about 13,580 acres of the land for electricity project,” he said.

Nii Aryee stated that out of the 13,580 acres of land acquired by the government, 3,686.40 acres were earmarked as the buffer zone to protect the Densu River.

He said nobody was allowed to trespass on the buffer zone, adding that previous governments had undertaken sensitization and education programmes for the affected communities on the need to protect the Densu River. 

Nii Aryee added, “The previous government ordered us to plant trees, covering about 900 feet, along the Densu River, an order we did not decline.”

City Authorities

Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Kweku Botwe, explained that government had already compensated property owners in Joma and surrounding communities, prior to the exercise.

He said as part of efforts to protect the dam and lives of the people in the communities, compensations were made to property owners, with the last compensation being paid in 2005.

According to a document relating to the resettlement and compensation payments, the people of Joma were resettled outside an acquired area called Joma Village.  

The document further indicated that on January 15, 2004, judgment was granted to the Nii Aryee Family of Joma, owners of the land, by his Lordship Nana Gyamera Tawia, in the case titled Nii Anto Nyame vrs Lands Commission and three others.

The judgment ordered the defendants to pay Nii Aryee Family of Joma a compensation for 1,502.33 acres of their land which was occupied under E.I. 130, in the sum of ¢55, 900,888,375.00.

By the terms of the settlement dated November 30, 2007, the Lands Commission offered the sum of ¢28,208,276,000 to the family as full and final settlement payment, which they accepted.

This, according to the document, was subsequently paid by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to the family.

Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater Accra Regional Minster, also said the exercise, which was undertaken by the Ghana Water Company with support from the Ga West Municipal Assembly, the Greater Accra Regional Security Council and the National Security, was necessary.

He said the extensive encroachment on and around the Weija Water Works catchment area necessitated the undertaking of the exercise.

The regional minister, who is also the chair of the Ga South Municipal Assembly committee, noted that the assembly had sent several notification and warning letters to the residents prior to the exercise, but they had failed to heed those warnings.
“We cannot compromise the lives of people,” he said. “If the dam is polluted, it affects everybody”.

“We insist that developers get permits before they begin construction and I believe that if that happens, these demolition exercises will not be necessary.”

Effects

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, following a vehement protest and a court suit filed by the chief and people of Joma, ordered the suspension of the exercise which started on December 10, 2011.

However, as much as the injunction to prohibit the city authorities from continuing with the exercise brings relief to those whose houses were to be demolished, the memories of the first demolition still lingers on for the over three thousand people at Joma and surrounding communities who had been displaced.

“They have destroyed so many properties belonging to private people and the stool, including stool regalia, souvenirs, traditional and historical artifacts, laptops, TVs, money and other household items worth millions of Ghana Cedis,” Nii Noyaatse noted.

He lamented that the Christmas holidays was turned into a period of mourning for victims which included nursing mothers and aged women.

Some aggrieved members also claimed the exercise had resulted in several victims being hospitalized as a result of the shock and trauma.

A victim who gave her name as madam Jacqueline, a teacher at the demolished Joma Presbyterian Primary School, stated that the demolition exercise had affected the education of the children in the sense that apart from the interruption of the pupils’ exams, they no longer had a place to learn.

The only surviving school at Joma is the Akyeaba International School, the first preparatory basic school that provides quality education to most children within the community.

However, inhabitants of houses which were not affected had been forced to move out together their families, taking with them electrical gadgets, furniture and other personal belongings.

Majority of the residents however claimed they lawfully acquired the lands since 1977.

Madam Akua Akyeaba Larbi, Proprietor of Akyeabea Turom School,  explained that before acquiring the land for the school, she passed through all the legal processes for land acquisition and had secured a building permit.

She indicated that her mother received a shock and became unconscious at the sight of the joint military-police operation, and was therefore rushed to the hospital.

“Although the school is not within the buffer zone, it had been marked to be demolished. I am therefore calling on the authorities to exercise some restraint before another blunder is caused,” she pleads.

Justifications

The regional minister said the Weija Dam was an important national asset providing potable water for thousands of residents of  Central and Western Accra. Thus the aim of the exercise was to protect the Densu River from encroachment.

“There is therefore the justification of the demolition exercise,” he said.

Ebenezer Debrah, Chief Manager, Planning and Development of GWCL, explained that the technical design of the dam was based on a maximum level of 16.8m (55ft) contour above sea level.

He pointed out that the dam was fed by the Densu River and a reservoir that covered an area of 29.3 kilometres square with a normal water level of 47 feet, and could store about 25.3 billion gallons of water.

“About 50 to 60 percent of water consumed in Accra comes from this dam. But the level of pollution is too high and this has increased the cost of treatment,” Debrah noted.

He further noted, “To reduce the treatment cost and reduce tariffs, he recommended that we need to demolish the illegal settlements around this area and protect the water.”

Excerpts of a security report of the Weija dam also indicated, that the collapse of the dam could cause the water from the reservoir to flood the western and central portions into the sea.

“If the encroachment and other activities such as stone quarrying within the gorges of the dam are not stopped, there is the possibility of a dam break which will release the entire water in the reservoir onto the main land,” the report stated.

As the way forward, the report supported the ongoing demolition exercise being undertaken by the Weija municipal assembly

“The Weija catchment area must be demarcated and all structures in the prohibited zone must be demolished to save the dam from collapse. It is better to demolish a few illegal structures than to lose a whole township and hundreds of lives,” the report recommended.      

The security report further reiterated previous government’s efforts to protect the dam and the buffer zone and to minimize the effects of possible flooding.

“The government, in 1977, under the state lands act 1962 (act 125), acquired a total area of 13,580 acres around the site, for which compensation was duly paid,” it stated.

Also, a high number of commercial activities including fuel stations, factories, garages, stone quarrying and mechanized farms were found sited in the buffer zone, contributing to the pollution of the lake.

The effect of commercial activities undertaken by the encroachers, according to the officials at the Weija treatment plant, was that the holding capacity of the reservoir kept dwindling, and for the GWCL to get enough water to treat and supply, the dam had to be dredged at a very high cost.    

 By Stella Danso Addai

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ANY NATION WHICH CLAMPS A PADLOCK ON THE MOUTH OF CONSCIENCE, ALLOWS IDEAS TO ROT IN VAULTS OF SILENCE.

Last week, a state security apparatus which is supposed to protect all of us through its mandate decided to expend some of its energies on unarmed journalists who were simply doing their work, also to protect the state. In the first place, let me admit, and I believe all Ghanaians would also admit that there is no nation on earth which does not have intelligent networks with the responsibility of gathering information internally and externally for the security of the state. The U.S.A has the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), which primarily deals with internal security, focusing on crimes and other related matters. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) also primarily deals with external intelligence in the interest of the country.

The United Kingdom has the MI5 and MI6, the Isrealis have the Mossad, Russia has the KGB and on and on and on. The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) is therefore not anything different in as far as intelligence work for the protection of a nation is concerned. The only difference is the orientation of our security agencies. The BNI, which is a product of the revolution, took over from the then Special Branch and the Military Intelligence (MI). The revolutionary orientation which included needless brutalization of suspects and blatant violation of their rights has not changed almost 20 years into the democratic and more civilized means of governance. Perhaps the problem is that as a nation, we have not been able to reorient the minds of the men and women within the security agencies. The discipline which they require to be abreast of modern day security work, in my view, is missing. 

One would have expected that as educated as many of them might be, they would have on their own re-oriented their minds in line with the constitutional era in which they operate. Even when the Constitution of the Fourth Republic amply guarantees the freedoms and liberties of the people of this country and anyone who lives within the boundaries of this nation, the operatives of the BNI, in many instances, would want to trample upon these constitutionally entrenched freedoms of the good people of this country. Indeed, former functionaries of the Kufuor administration opened the eyes of Ghanaians by letting them know that any suspect held by the BNI has the right to legal representation. That reality notwithstanding, the BNI does not seem to come to terms with the new era in which this nation is moving. 

During the era of the PNDC, the first institution the government killed was the media. The government ensured that the media, which was predominantly state controlled, became a toothless bulldog. The very level headed and objective journalists were hounded out of this country while a new crop of journalists working in the state media were indoctrinated by the regime in communists countries to play journalistic sycophancy. Many of them are still there, at the top of some of the state media.   

The actions of the operatives of the BNI on that fateful day are part of the intimidations that security agencies embark upon to cow down vociferous journalists and media houses which are very critical of the status quo. This is not the first time the BNI and other security operatives have waged psychological warfare on journalists in this country. The difference this time around is the fact that the operatives did not give respect to womanhood, and went ahead to virtually strip naked an unarmed woman in public. This is madness in all its ramifications, the average Ghanaian male, no matter what, has a certain level of respect for a woman and her privacy. That the BNI operatives went to the extent of wanting to strip the lady naked in public goes beyond reasoning.

Gifty, while offering you in particular and everybody in Daily Guide my sympathies, let me also take this opportunity to encourage you to hold on to the principles which guide you in the performance of your duties. Those of us who began this art in those hazy and difficult days never gave up, particularly those of us who worked on the The Guide and later the Daily Guide. Ask Malik Kweku Baako to tell you the difficulties he went through when he was editing the paper. Ei, Kweku, where is that your rickety taxi cab which was shuffling you around? Please go and look for it because it certainly must be a museum piece.  He indeed went to jail with Haruna Atta for alleged contempt. In fact, we had to embark on a public demonstration through the principal streets of Accra to express our disgust and to send a petition to the then Chief Justice, the late I.K. Abban. Strangely enough, when we got to the Supreme Court building around mid-day that day, the whole court had closed. Yes, we forced them to close court sitting that day. Ask Gina, she was part of the demonstration.

Kofi Coomson was incarcerated on criminal libel charges, I was in James Fort on criminal libel charges too, and the late George Naykene was also sentenced on the same charges. The military, somewhere in 1998, also kidnapped Kabral Blay Amehere, then Editor In-Chief of the Independent around Kasoa, just for writing something which was not pleasant to the powers that be. Gifty, apart from the physical and psychological battles waged against individual journalists and some media houses, they also inflicted economic sanctions by way of ensuring that no adverts came to us. Even though we were not expecting much or any adverts at all from government sources, the private sector was also scared to offer us adverts. We were financially strangulated as it were, ask Gina. These were all part of the challenges that the private media in Ghana have had to battle with to get to where we are today.

Gifty, it is very important to also note that if the highway robber who is coming after you has shown no signs of tiredness, you do not complain of tiredness as well. Have you heard about ‘shit bombing before?’,  they were all part of the means of breaking the private media then and some Ministers of State welcomed these nauseating acts in a civilized or so we thought society of ours. We have struggled to be where we are today; it does not mean that we have won the war. Have you been reading about what is happening at the Daily Graphic? Yes, they are all part of the psychological warfare. The evil-minded and the rented journalists with their collaborators within the security apparatus will always be with us, but we should never ever give up else this country will be the loser. Even as the Criminal Libel law has been abolished, thanks to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, the anti-free speech elements in our society will do everything possible to gag the media. Do not give them the chance. 

I remember somewhere in 2000, I did a story on a bribe taken by some top members of the NDC government way back in 1982 from Willow Brooke Company. One of these top government officials who is still in government today, filed a suit against me in an Accra High Court to demand 180 million cedis at the time. I filed my defence and appeared before court. Strangely enough, the plaintiff who happened to be in government did not appear before the court and the matter died naturally. They are all part of the intimidations against individual journalists or the media houses. Gina, I remember you took my defence documents and put them in a bank; I hope they are still there, I think I still have mine too. One day one day I will revisit it. 

But for the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law, the Attorney-General would have taken the ‘criminally-minded rented NDC press’ to court for criminally libelling the Attorney General. So you see, those opposed to the repeal of the obnoxious law used by their masters against some of us are today benefiting from its repeal. Ewiase nye de.  What happened to you is very disgraceful and condemnable in this era, but that should not break your resolve to serve mother Ghana in the capacity you have chosen. Ghana needs all of us to build it; it is also true that there are others who have chosen the part of evil in our collective will to build our nation. We should not give them the opportunity to take all of us hostage. Let us fight on. If you were anywhere around me, I would have offered you some three shots of mahogany bitters, and I bet you, it would have made you good. Take heart and do not give up because we never gave up.

Kwesibiney2009gh@yahoo.com

Corruption

“Democracies can no longer tolerate bribery, fraud and dishonesty; especially as such practices disproportionately hurt the poor”.

-Jimmy Carter, former President of the USA

“Corruption produces human rights violations and affects many lives”.

-Mary Robinson, Executive Director, the Ethical Globalization Initiative, and former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

“Ghana needs a Lee Kuan Yew”

-A Ghanaian Female Visitor to Singapore

Does anybody remember Prof James Watson? The name should sound familiar to those who have been regular readers of this column for a long time. For those who are recent converts to this column and also to refresh the minds of the old readers, I wish to take the opportunity to say a little bit about Prof. Watson. It brings to mind what the venerable late Prof. P.A.V. Ansah would have said in Fanti about President Mills and his NDC administration considering all the twists and turns which have characterized the STX episode and Woyomegate saga. These two acts of malfeasance and malevolence just represent the tip of the iceberg of such acts of commission and omission of the Mills NDC administration.  Prof. Ansah would have said in Fanti: “Ebei! Agya Atta Mills ebadzie nti na eregu Mfantsifo animuase dem?” to wit: “Ebei! Agya Atta, why are you disgracing the Fantis like this?”

The genesis of this posthumous quotation arises from the various indicting statements by some NDC apparatchiks of President Mills’s NDC administration which have cumulated in the mother of all statements issued by Mr. Martin Amidu, the current Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in President Mills NDC administration. His statement read in part: “I wish to assure the people of Ghana that I still stand by my promise in spite of the fact that hard core criminals in our society today have made it a habit to hold paid membership cards of major political parties in the Republic as an unconstitutional insurance against crime and criminal persecutions. I wish core members and supporters of the NDC who cherish the principles and ideals upon which the party was founded to know that the attacks against me which started in the Daily Post publication of 3^rd January 2012 were planned by a colleague Minister of State who perceived that my integrity and professionalism as a lawyer was a threat to the concealment of gargantuan crimes against the people of Ghana in which they might be implicated”. Readers will recall that Mr. Martin Amidu was the presidential running mate of Candidate Mills during the 2000 presidential elections and therefore a very close insider of the NDC. A second Daniel has come to judgment, indeed. 

Soon after Mr. Martin Amidu had released his statement, the vindictive and shameless Castle boys started singing like witches and wizards confessing to their hideous blood thirsty crimes. Listen to the cry of anguish from The Castle: “The Attorney-General has opened the Pandora’s box. He has stirred the hornet’s nest”. So there is a Pandora’s Box and an hornet’s nest within the walls of The Castle where gargantuan crimes, corruption and fraudulent practices against the state are carried out by public officers entrusted with efficient, effective and transparent administration of the nation. Indeed, while some well connected and influential NDC members have called for the resignation or sacking of Mr. Martin Amidu, others in keeping with the penchant tradition of the NDC being economical with the truth while peddling propaganda lies, have expressed complete ignorance of this well publicised statement by Mr. Martin Amidu.

Quiet clearly, President Mills NDC administration has fallen apart and completely collapsed. The centre can no longer hold. It is worse than a ship without a rudder and akin to a bullet train hurtling down an inclined plane with brakes failure. The regime today exists only in name. In the advanced democracies, President Mills would have thrown in the towel and gone under the yoke as was done in ancient Rome by all defeated enemies. Clearly, President Mills is a defeated, lonely man whose dreams have gone sour, dreams which were never properly articulated in the first place. While the going was good, Candidate Mills promised to consult President Rawlings, his Godfather and his mentor all rolled into one 24 hours a day once in power. Within a wicker of assuming power, he jettisoned his Godfather and mentor and surrounded himself with a vindictive and incompetent group of “greedy bastards”. A“Team B” cabinet and political appointees with “Standard Seven” certificates to the chagrin and anguish of President Rawlings.

When President Rawlings realised the monster of an enemy he had created for himself in President Mills, he became the worst and leading critic of President Mills, calling him and his assembled team “mediocre.”  Today, President Rawlings is so bitter with President Mills to such an extent that President Rawlings has become the conductor of the orchestra formed by the FONKAR melodious artists playing the dirge of President Mills’s NDC administration. No political leader in the history of this country has been so assailed in the most derogatory manner from within his own quarters than President Mills. No political leader in this country has been subjected to such foul flood of vituperation from his political opponents and political supporters alike than President Mills. No political leader in the history of this country has failed to understand the socio-politico-judiciary environment he is supposed to operate in than President Mills.

No president or head of state in the history of this country has been derided, called names, insulted, abused, held in contempt, disrespected, ridiculed, held in public opprobrium, and rejected by the kingmakers of his own party as it has happened to President Mills. And yet, somehow President Mills pretends and convinces himself that he has the strength and goodwill to carry on in the noble Office of the President of this country, albeit, incompetently and even seeks a second term. The politically sycophantic, bootlicking, lapping greyhounds of party cheerleaders who have created the impression that their entire lives and those of their dependents depend on the continuous stay in office of President Mills were around during President Mills’s latest failed encounter with the press before, during and after the meet the press encounter to tell their patriot saint that his achievement was that of an immaculate platinum award winner.

So what keeps President Mills hanging onto the straw in the manner of a drowning man? I can only hazard a guess as somebody who watches events from the touchline.  The only thing keeping President Mills’s NDC administration in place is the semblance of the well verified and observed characteristics of obstinate impunity displayed by a dying cockroach combined with the characteristics of the black man as observed by Prof Watson. He has surrounded himself with the wrong people who are not telling him the truth and hiding the true situation in the country from him. Many of the people around him are so vindictive, lack the necessary expertise to handle the affairs of the nation and plain political rascals driven by the sheer motivation to seek their own welfare rather than have any understanding and appreciation of governance. But how can the devil drive out the devil? So there must be some element of devilishness in President Mills himself for him to assembly such a discordant Titanic working crew to manage this nation state in the centenary of the Titanic.  Is there no wise person with authentic Man of God credentials very close to President Mills who can offer him an authentic and original religious advice to move him away from the delusionary religious trance he appears to be under so that he can throw in the towel and save himself and the nation from further damage to the nation and himself?

This has happened because President Mills has never been a leader or a manager. Party faithful kept on harping on his “successful” tenure as the Commissioner of the defunct IRS without pointing out any single successful achievement wile in office. President Mills is not a decision maker hence his resort to the empanelling of numerous committees. The national presidential throne just met him on the way and he grabbed it with both arms and legs which happened to be outstretched on impulse at the right time. I am also beginning to believe that he is a greater pretender and a vindictive person as pronounced on the FM stations by various and numerous commentators. The decision by President Mills therefore to run for a second term should have been ludicrous were it not so tragic, considering all the negative disasters which his administration has brought upon itself as a result of crass ineptitude and incompetence leading to the perpetration of gargantuan corruption by operators of his administration and NDC party supporters hiding behind unconstitutional certificates of insurance to avoid crime and criminal to prosecution. 

By Kwame Gyasi

No human being is a saint, and that is why in the Lord’s Prayer we say “lead us not into temptation”.

If you were a police/narcotics/security officer, holding an exhibit of raw cocaine, knowing that once it is presented in Court the same day it will be destroyed, and someone is dangling $50,000 in your face, won’t you swap it for baking soda?? Only Jesus Christ and one percent of homo sapiens will not do that!!!!

By Dr Kwame Nkrabeah

It's pretty hard to call those blank-eyed hours of liking and commenting and scrolling through photos as "me time."

‘Tis the season of fresh resolutions, still glittery with promise before time constraints, reality and your extreme laziness settle over them like a moist gray tarnish.

Looking back on 2011, we’ve dished up some social media advice that could very well stave off that sad day in early spring when you come across your scribbled-down “2012 GOALS,” all multicolored highlighters and bubble letters, and weep softly.

So, whistles blaring, puffing with unusual optimism and pep, we, your resident netiquette drill sergeants, dispense the following tools to help you achieve your dreams in the big 1-2.

I resolve to fall in love.

Since that whole join-a-bowling-league advice your mom gave you isn’t working out so well (Memo to mothers of the world: Gutter balls, mozzarella sticks and horrifying color-block shoes are not a recipe for love.), you’ll probably need to sign up for online dating.

First off: Avoid putting up a terrible profile picture. No dreaded MySpace shots, no pictures of you in a crowd of better-looking friends or children who may or may not be yours — just you, looking like you do in 2012, preferably with something interesting in the background (you playing Velcro toss in the park, you at the World’s Largest Ball of Twine, you goofing around in a culturally appropriate manner on the Great Wall of China).

Now, get over your fear of rejection and send some cute messages (Dos are here, don’ts are here.). Congrats! You’re online dating! You’re like 1/793rd of the way to engagement. Now take it offline and don’t screw it up.

I resolve to find more “me” time.

How can you find an extra 23.5 hours per month?! (Ooh, we know this one! We’ve got it! Teacher, pick me!)

That’s how much time the average user was spending on Facebook last spring, and since the number of active users has blown up since then, the minutes we’re devoting to the site may very well have, too. Some users (and some experts, though the two groups surely aren’t mutually exclusive — anyone else familiar with the term confirmation bias?) assert that social media is making it easier than ever to maintain friendships.

But it’s pretty hard to call those blank-eyed hours of liking and commenting and scrolling through photos of that cool girl from high school who now has 11 children “me time.”

Set a rule that works for you (no FB after 10 p.m., a 15-minute max on browsing time, whatever) and soon you’ll recall that hanging out alone is a good deal more fun than clicking, zombie-like, through 487 snaps of yourself.

I resolve to be a better friend.

Young folks: The way to really reconnect is not more Facebook messages or impersonal retweets, it’s that handy gadget you sometimes use to order pizza (i.e. the phone).

Mother Nature designed us to gather tons of information from people’s voices — info we just can’t infer from the written word, no matter how many emoticons we include. So find a few minutes while you’re preparing dinner or cleaning your room or whatever to give your buds the benefit of some voice-on-voice action.

Another good-karma-earning move you can make: Be nice to the annoying snots who just won’t leave you alone. It’s oh so tempting to give an eager job seeker, a shilling PR person or a clueless suitor the silent treatment in the hopes they’ll just go away, but we talked it over with the morality police and they agree that polite rejection is the classiest course of action.

A related hot tip: Don’t lie to one person so you can hang out with another, leaving behind an easily sniffed trail of photos and Foursquare check-ins and hurting that blown-off friend to her very core. Pinocchios rarely prosper.

Oh these? These would be your angel wings. Enjoy.

I resolve to find a new job.

You’re not alone: One in three American workers is seriously thinking about leaving his or her job, according to a massive survey from Mercer. Tread a bit lightly if you’re job-searching whilst employed; if you’re sending out cover letters during work hours, for example, your potential employers might just worry you’re going to carry your sneaky ways along to your next cubicle.

When you’ve actually found a position that sounds like a fit, apply meticulous care to your e-mail application: Paste your cover letter into the body of the message, attach your resume as a PDF, and use a clear subject line that includes both your name and the job you’re applying for. (And yes, get the hiring manager’s name and gender right. One of these humble netiquetters has trashed a goodly number of cover letters addressed to a “Mr. Bartz.”)

Don’t forget to shower interviewers with well-written thank-you notes. Accept your swank new position. You’re welcome.

CNN/Tech

Facebook's first Hacker Cup, held in March, drew 25 finalists from 10 countries

Think your programming skills are world class? Facebook wants you to prove it at its second annual Hacker Cupchallenge.

“Hacking is core to how we build at Facebook,” the company said in a blog post announcing this year’s competition. “Whether we’re building a prototype for a major product like Timeline at a Hackathon, creating a smarter search algorithm, or tearing down walls at our new headquarters, we’re always hacking to find better ways to solve problems.”

Open to coders anywhere in the world, Facebook’s competition pits participants against each other in five rounds of programming challenges. The first kicks off January 20 with a 72-hour qualification round. Three more online rounds will thin the field down to the final 25 competitors, who will be flown out to Facebook’s Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters for a final competition in March.

The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize. Last year, nearly 12,000 programmers participated in the Hacker’s Cup. Petr Mitrichev, a Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) employee from Russia, took home the top prize. (In a nicely ironic twist, Mitrichev wore his Google employee badge during the competition.)

Tech companies have an ulterior motive for running hacking contest: They’re a great way to find skilled programmers, one of the industry’s scarcest resources. Google runs an annual Code Jam contest, which Mitrichev won in 2006.

CNN/Tech

Google's patent shopping bill has so far run into billions of dollars

Google has gained hundreds of patents from IBM as it continues its intellectual property spending spree.

It has acquired 187 patents and 36 applications, adding to the 1,000 it purchased from IBM last summer.

The latest patents include a system for “using semantic networks to develop a social network”.

Google has spent billions building its technology rights portfolio, including a $12.5bn (£7.7bn) deal for Motorola Mobility.

The California-based company has been actively bolstering its patent catalogue in the face of lawsuits from key competitors such as Apple and Microsoft.

Among the patents acquired in this latest deal is US Patent 7,865,592 which relates specifically to social networking sites, allowing “identifying common interests between users of a communication network”.

Vicki Salmon, the chair of the litigation committee of the UK Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, believed this might be a nod that Google was moving from protecting existing technology and beginning to plan for the future.

“When you start you have to play catch-up,” she told the BBC.

“When you’ve finished playing catch-up and you’ve got yourself in a stronger position, you then can begin to look forward.”

Other patents included a method for using web-based applications across additional devices, and an intriguingly titled computer phone.

Neither Google nor IBM would comment on the deal when approached by the BBC.

‘Get real’

Last year, Google accused its competitors of buying up what it called “bogus patents” in order to slow the development of its Android operating system.

However, the company now appears to have succumbed to the same approach as it adds the IBM patents to a portfolio that also includes technology for driverless cars.

“Although you can object to a lot of cost of inconvenience by virtue of people enforcing their patents, the patent system still exists,” Piers Strickland, a lawyer specialising in mobile telephone patent litigation, told the BBC

“In order to engage with that you’ve either got to take licences from from people’s patents, and/or aggressively increase your bartering position by buying patents.

“I think they’ve realised that they just had to get real, and understand that you can’t just ignore the system.”

Google’s agreement to buy Motorola Mobility, announced in August last year, includes 24,500 patents, many of which could be used to defend the use of features on its Android mobile operating system.

The purchase is currently being reviewed by competition regulators.

‘Turf war’

Google’s Motorola move came off the back of losing out on buying the 6,000-strong patent portfolio of bankrupt telecoms firm Nortel. It was outbid by a consortium of companies including Apple, Microsoft and Blackberry manufacturer Research in Motion.

“The reality is that you’ve got a fairly vicious turf war going on between the different operating systems,” explained Ms Salmon.

“People want to be in there, and they want their platform established and people to be using them.”

Google is just one of many technology companies involved in patent lawsuits which seek to slow down competition or strike lucrative licensing fee settlements.

On Wednesday, US mobile operator AT&T was forced to pay Tivo – the digital video recorder specialist – $215m plus additional undisclosed monthly licensing fees.

The fee will vary depending on AT&T meeting growth targets for digital video recording customers until 2018.

“No matter which projections you take, they all involve AT&T paying us significantly higher revenue than $215m,” Tivo chief executive Tim Rogers said.

BBC/Tech

As consumers use GPS-enabled smartphones, Dealnews predicts standalone GPS units will get cheaper than ever

Amy Gahran writes about mobile tech for CNN.com. She is a San Francisco Bay Area writer and media consultant whose blog, Contentious.com, explores how people communicate in the online age.

(CNN) — As the tough economy drags on, cost remains a leading consideration that people use to decide which mobile devices and wireless services they’ll purchase.

Dealnews.com just took a look at things that will probably cost consumers either more or less in 2012. Mobile devices featured most prominently on the site’s list of 12 Things That Will Be Less Expensive in 2012.

Here’s a roundup of their findings, from a mobile-tech perspective:

Tablets

On the tablet front, writer Louis Ramirez says the Kindle Fire has, “ahem, ignited a fire among tablet manufacturers as they scramble to match Amazon’s $199 price tag. For consumers, the competition translates to better tablet bargains in 2012.”

Smaller, cheaper Android-based e-reader tablets aren’t really meant to compete directly with fully featured tablets such as the iPad or the Samsung Galaxy Tab. They are very different product types that appeal to different market niches — and as such have significantly different price points. The Dealnews tablet deals page regularly lists special offers on new or refurbished tablets, both large and small, and fully featured or limited, on every mobile operating system.

Will the iPad be cheaper in 2012? Maybe, if you don’t need the latest model.

Ramirez predicts that the iPad 2 will see a significant price drop in 2012.

“The [widely anticipated] iPad 3 will not feature a significant price drop (if any at all), but one thing is guaranteed — Cupertino’s forthcoming tablet will most certainly bring down the price of refurbished iPad 2s, as the iPad 2 did for its predecessor,” he wrote. “The iPad 3 may even cause resellers to offer more deals on new iPad 2 models as they try to move yesterday’s tech to make room for Apple’s latest and greatest.”

E-readers

Dedicated e-reader devices such as the Amazon Kindle and the Kobo (which focus mainly on displaying books and long-format content, rather than Web-based services and apps) are likely to reach all-time low prices in 2012.

According to Dealnews: “Each new generation of Amazon’s Kindle reader has chipped away at the e-book reader’s price tag, sometimes by as much as 61%. Assuming there’s a new Kindle in 2012 (rumor has it that an e-ink update with video support will debut), we expect to see continued price cuts on Amazon’s popular e-book reader.”

As I wrote last year, it’s even possible that Amazon might start giving away the Kindle — maybe in 2012.

Notebooks

Notebook laptops are also a popular type of mobile device. According to Ramirez, 2012 might yield some especially good deals on refurbished Apple MacBook Air models.

“In 2011 the price of a refurbished, fourth-generation 11-inch MacBook Air dropped from $849 to $699 (17%). Not bad for a notebook that’s single-handedly changing the laptop industry. Apple is bound to refresh its MacBook Air in 2012, and the new model (which would be the sixth generation) is guaranteed to drive refurb prices down even lower. Don’t care for a refurb unit? In 2011, we also saw aggressive deals on new, current fifth-generation MacBook Airs with prices dropping from $999 to $850 (14%).”

GPS units

As consumers get used to using GPS-enabled smartphones and tablets for navigation, Dealnews predicted that standalone GPS units (such as those sold by Garmin) will get cheaper than ever. “In 2011, units that were once fetching around $160 reached price-lows of just $70.”

In fact, Ramirez wrote, “No gadget is as close to extinction as the GPS unit.”

However, if the recent National Transportation Safety Board recommendation to ban cell phone use by drivers in cars is implemented by any states or municipalities, sales of GPS units might see a resurgence — since the recommendation exempted devices specifically “designed to support the driving task.”

What will get more expensive

What will cost mobile users more in 2012? The Dealnews list of 11 Things That Will Be More Expensive in 2012 contained only one reference to mobile: data plans.

As I wrote last year, perhaps the most important development in the U.S. mobile landscape in 2011 was that all but one of the major carriers have abandoned unlimited data plans in favor of tiered service. This comes as the carriers are rolling out high-speed 4G networks, and U.S. mobile users are developing a strong taste for data-intensive services like streaming media.

If you’re on a tiered plan and start using a lot more data, you could end up with a large surprise bill — or throttled service.

Determined price-conscious consumers have been trying to find tricks to get unlimited data on tiered plans. But the carriers can catch on to this — Verizon recently closed a loophole that allowed this.

In October, the Federal Communications Commission said it might issue new rules to prevent bill shock. The major U.S. carriers said they would voluntarily start issuing text alerts to customers who near their phone plan caps.

However, it’s unclear how fast or consistently this alert feature will roll out, and whether it will include alerts related to data consumption. So to control your costs, if you use data-intensive mobile services, your best bets are to use Wi-Fi whenever possible and to install apps or other tools that allow you to keep a close eye on your data usage.

CNN/Tech

What price an old laptop?

Anyone cashing in their old laptop would be better off doing so privately rather than via websites trading in second-hand hardware, Which? suggests.

The consumer watchdog conducted an investigation of five such websites, requesting valuations for five laptops including a 2009 MacBook.

Prices ranged from £34 to £202, with one firm offering just £67 for a MacBook.

Equivalent models fetched a far higher price on eBay.

High demand

Which tested five websites – webuyanylaptop.co.uk, buymylaptop.co.uk, sellyourlaptops.co.uk, laptoptrade-in.co.uk and Asda’s Tech Trade-in.

Only three of the above offered a price for the MacBook – which was originally valued at £1,125.

Buymylaptop offered Which? £202 for it, Laptoptrade-in came back with an offer of £90, while Sellyourlaptop was only prepared to give the watchdog £67. Which? said an equivalent laptop could have sold on eBay for £350.

Sellyourlaptop consistently offered the lowest prices of the five. Director Sean Colson told the BBC it had been a victim of its own success.

“We didn’t expect the demand we got, which was 6,000 requests a month. We had to put the prices down to silly money as the person behind it – a sole trader- couldn’t cope,” he said.

He said that the company has since been radically overhauled and is now offering people the option to get quotes from local dealers.

“We have 600 dealers on board and there are 4,500 possible dealers out there,” he said.

Each will offer their own quotes and pay sellyourlaptop an annual fee.

‘Honourable company’

Each website operates in a similar way. Users have to enter details about what they want to sell – in the case of laptops they need to include detailed information about the manufacturer, processor, memory, screen and hard disk size.

They are then sent a padded box in which to post the equipment. According to Which? many of the websites offer lower quotes when they actually see the machines. It did not test this part of the process.

All the websites said that they wiped all data from the hard disk before selling machines on.

Laptop trade-in.co.uk fared best in the study, generally offering the highest prices for laptops. It was the only one of the five to offer a free pick-up service.

“We are proud of what we do. We are an honourable company and we try to do things the right way,” director Mike Harrup told the BBC.

He said that it was unfair to compare his company with eBay.

“The prices we offer would be much less because we are buying not selling. Often the machine we end up is worth nowhere near what the website quotes,” he said.

“We are happy with the prices we offer. Often on eBay laptops are sold with a warranty and we get no warranty,” he said.

He added that he did not understand how Which? had received a £90 valuation for a Macbook because the website did not offer valuations for Apple products.

When it comes to technology, people are better off selling privately, Which? concluded.

“People should be aware that the amount offered by these companies is not always the final amount you receive. Selling an old laptop online can be an easy way to recoup some cash, but it pays to shop around and try online auction websites to find the best deal,” Which? computing editor Sarah Kidner said.

The watchdog also found that many people were prepared to give away their old laptops. In a survey of more than 500 people, it found that 44% donated their unwanted laptop to a family member.

BBC/Tech