Akua Donkor seen at Buhari’s swearing-in

Nigerian President, Mahamudu Buhari’s inauguration on Friday was graced by some of the most recognisable faces, including United States Secretary of State John Kerry, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe and Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama.

The large number of high-profiled dignitaries was expected considering the influence Nigeria has on the African continent and across the world. However, Ghanaians would have been surprised by one particular name on the guest list at the event. The founder of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Akua Donkor, colourfully dressed with a matching bag, joined Nigerians to celebrate Buhari’s inauguration earlier on Friday. Her presence was first noticed by the BBC’s Akwasi Sarpong, who tweeted a picture of the outspoken politician. The 2012 Presidential candidate of the GFP has been known to grace and make her presence felt on the big occasions and this was no different. She took to the stage last December at the National Delegates’ Congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to shower President Mahama with praise, calling him ‘a gift from God.’ Buhari was elected President in polls last March, defeating then President Goodluck Jonathan
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credit:citifmonline.....

Dumsor Vigil: “Shallow” celebs don’t understand the issues - Abeiku Santana

Abeiku Santana

Popular broadcaster Gilbert Aggrey aka Abeiku Santana has hit at Ghanaian celebrities organising Saturday’s 'dumsor' vigil, saying they have no intellectual appreciation of the power crisis Ghana is battling.

Actress Yvonne Nelson and her colleagues in the creative arts industry, EL, DKB, Van Vicker, Barimah Sydney and many more, have concluded arrangements with the police and city authorities to rally their fans for the vigil in Accra on Saturday, May 16.

But Santana said their efforts are misplaced given there are other important things they could fight for.

"Instead of them fighting for their poor film industry, they are here talking about something they don’t even get.

“Currently, lying before parliament is the film bill. They sit here and there are a lot of foreign soap operas taking over our television sets. Can’t you see that they are very, you know, excuse me to say, shallow?” he asked.

According to him, “they don’t understand the issues” pertaining to the energy crisis.

“They don’t even appreciate, they don’t understand the issues and they want to fight for the nation.

“If you want to fight for something that would benefit you directly. As for the energy crisis, it’s a national crisis. Government is committed and government will make sure it will do everything in their power to resolve it,” the Mfantseman West NDC parliamentary aspirant told journalists in Accra, Friday.

“They won’t achieve anything because 'Won gbo' has done it, 'Wahala' has done it,” he stated indignantly.


Source: Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM

Nobody In The NPP Will Be Forgiven If… – Aide To Kwabena Agyapong

Davis Opoku

Aide to NPP’s General Secretary, Davis Opoku has cautioned against utterances by some leading members of the elephant family which may diminish the party’s chances of winning the presidential election come 2016.

According to him, the likes of Dr. Arthur Kennedy [former flagbearer hopeful] among other statements in recent times is really “killing” the party in the public domain.

Speaking on OKAY FM’s "Ade Akye Abia" morning show, Davis Opoku also known as ‘OPK’ opined that, it will be a calamity upon the NPP if its flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo miss again the presidential seat for the third time.

He explained that, false accusations labeled against the flagbearer by some individuals are issues that can affect the party.

“If Nana Addo does not win the presidency in 2016, nobody in the NPP will be forgiven. Why must we create confusion when there’s none? He questioned.

He however prayed for unity in the party so as to help Nana Addo and the NPP clinch election 2016.


Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007

Nana Akomea To Prez Mahama: Please Solve The Dumsor…We Are Suffering

Nana Akomea

Communication Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party [NPP], Nana Akomea is now pleading with President John Dramani Mahama to solve Ghana’s power crisis.

According to him, the Mahama-led administration must at least find a solution to the situation which has lasted for years because it has been a major worry.

Nana Akomea noted that Ghanaians deserve an uninterrupted power since the NDC promised them of a “better Ghana” when seeking their votes.

“President Mahama and his government must please solve the Dumsor, we [Ghanaians] are suffering now,” he appealed.

Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, the former NPP MP also lauded some Ghanaian celebrities for their effort to campaign against the power crisis, dubbed #DumsorMustStop vigil.

The vigil which will be held on 16 May, 2015 will attract some politicians and celebrities but has noted that, he will not be part of it.



Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007

More Trouble For Bishop Obinim

Eight more charges have been brought against Founder and Leader of God's Way International Ministry who is in court for allegedly assaulting two journalists at Accra-based Hot FM.

Bishop Obinim, noted for his infamous attack on the station, appeared before an Accra High Court on Friday, in the company of two of his associate Pastors, Kingsley Baah and Kofi Akwettey.

The court, presided over by Justice Abdullah Iddrisu, charged them for an unlawful entry into the radio station with the intent to commit crime and destroy properties belonging to the station.

The Bishop and his two accomplices were also charged for unlawfully and intentionally using a 'crowbar' to assault the Presenter of a show dubbed "Nya Asem Hwe" on Hot FM. On the third count, they were further charged for assaulting the producer of the show, Shedrack Adu, including a panelist Reverend Amoako Atta and also causing harm and citing him (Shedrack Adu) to anger.

They are also to pay for the items they destroyed, worth GHC 138,050.

The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been granted bail by the Police to a tune of GHC 10000 each with one surety, Hot FM's reporter said.

Narrating the incident to Peacefmonline.com, Hot FM's Joseph Oppong stated that Prosecutor, Joyce Debrah told the court that Bishop Obinim was informed by his wife, Florence Obinim, that he was being discussed on the programme "Nya Asem Hwe."

Following up on his wife's message, the Bishop stormed the station with a crowbar together with his Junior Pastors and smashed the glasses and studios of the station, where he also assaulted the Presenter, Producer and the panel member.

The case has been adjourned to November 6, 2013.


Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com

President to fulfill campaign promises

President John Dramani Mahama on Friday renewed his commitment to fulfill all his 2012 campaign promises before the 2016 general election.

He therefore called on Ghanaians to exercise restraint and support the government to achieve those goals for the betterment of the entire nation by playing their respective roles responsibly.

President Mahama renewed the commitment when he inspected the 200-acre land in the Odupong traditional area that has been released for the construction of a Community Day Senior High School (SHS) in the Awutu-Senya East Municipal Assembly.

During his 2012 campaign, President Mahama promised to establish 200 new Community Senior High Schools in selected districts in the country.

Out of the number, 50 schools would be built in selected deprived communities in selected districts throughout the country every year.

The first phase of the schools would be made up of 24- classroom block each, four science laboratories, libraries, eight offices for Heads of Departments, ICT laboratories, Headmaster's bungalows and a block of staff flats for eight tutors.

President Mahama stated that about 47 per cent of Junior High Students had over the years failed to gain admission for further studies on account of inadequate access to secondary education, hence his resolve to increase the number of high schools throughout the country.

He appealed to the beneficiary communities to reciprocate that gesture by willingly releasing land and other facilities for the execution of development projects in their areas of jurisdiction.

President Mahama appealed to his critics to make constructive criticisms that would help his administration to take the right steps towards the execution of development projects.

The President said government had just began its development agenda and hoped that by the end of the four-year mandate all the campaign promises would be fulfilled, a situation he said, would convince Ghanaians to return his administration to power.

Nai Odupong Awushie Tetteh II, Paramount Chief of Ofaakor, near Kasoa, commended President Mahama for fulfilling the promise to establish a public SHS in the municipality.

He said he was particularly delighted on account of his profession as a teacher, coupled with the fact that the whole area was without any public Second Cycle institution.

"I am so happy that President Mahama has walked the talk and I now want to believe that he will fulfill all other promises he made during the 2012 general elections campaign," he added.

Mr Samuel Sarpong, Central Regional Minister, gave the assurance that government would continue to galvanise the support of all development partners to provide basic amenities for Ghanaians, irrespective of their geographical location.

Source: GNA

20-year-old man beheads another for making noise

The Fomena Police have arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly beheading a man and wounding another.
Samuel Quansah, alias Kwadwo Tabi, was arrested at Ahimase, near Nzema, in the Western Region, where he had gone into hiding a week after committing the crime at Akwanserem, near Fomena, in the Ashanti Region.
The Fomena District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Daniel Amoah, told the Daily Graphic that the police had information that the suspect had sought refuge at his uncle’s house at Ahimase.
According to Mr Amoah, the suspect had since been remanded by the Fomena District Magistrate court to reappear on November 13, 2013.
Narrating the circumstances leading to the incident, the district police commander said at about 9.30 a.m on Monday, October 14, 2013, an argument ensued between Quansah and two brothers.

Mr Amoah said the suspect then rushed into his room for a double-edged machete and beheaded Philip Domey, 35, after inflicting multiple wounds on his elder brother, Benjamin Domey, 37.
He said Benjamin Domey was later resuscitated at the New Edubiase Government Hospital where he was rushed for medical attention.
According to Mr Amoah, the verbal exchanges began when Quansah, a small-scale miner, accused the two siblings of making unnecessary noise.
He said it was during the exchanges that Quansah sneaked into his room for a sharp machete and attacked the two siblings resulting in the death of Philip Domey and Benjamin Domey getting injured.
He said the police were still conducting further investigations into the case.

source:myjoyonline

2 Arrested For Sale Of Firearms, Wee

Two suspects have been arrested for selling illegal firearms and dried leaves believed to be Indian hemp, in separate operations at Pokuase and James Town in Accra.

While George Kamatu, 41, was apprehended at Pokuase, Michael Lawson, 29, was arrested at James Town in Accra, on Tuesday night.

Lawson was arrested around 9 a.m. after a police dispatch team had spotted him at the Palladium area, near James Town, when he was about to sell a pistol and two live cartridges at a corner.

Immediately he spotted the police in their patrol vehicle, Lawson was said to have abandoned the pistol and fled.

The police, who had then spotted Lawson from afar, pursued him, leading to his arrest and the subsequent retrieval of the firearm.

Kamatu, on the other hand, was arrested around 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday after the police had received information about his escapades.

A search in his room led to the discovery of one AK 47 rifle, with its magazine, and a small quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

The Accra Regional Police Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Frank Adufati, said the two suspects were arrested after the police had received information from their intelligence unit and carried out thorough investigations.

Kamatu and Lawson are currently in police custody, awaiting the completion of investigations for possible prosecution.

Source: Daily Graphic

Skeletons Found In Sir John’s Cupboard

Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie

The Herald has landed dirty secrets of why and how the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, alias Sir John was fired from Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), while serving as the Deputy Managing Director in-charge of Administration, before vying for his present job.

According to a report of a Board Subcommittee, he was driven out of the GNPC over his illicit sexual affairs with his females subordinates, as well as, an attempt to dupe Gaddafi’s Libyan government, with a fraudulent claim that the Ghanaian government, led by John Agyekum Kufuor needed money for various projects it was undertaken.

The NPP General Secretary, who is seeking re-election, also criminally impersonated some officials at GNPC and using letterheads of the Corporation without the knowledge and authority of the Managing Director (MD), Moses O Boateng, who according to the report Sir John, had grossly disrespected.

The Board subcommittee was purposely setup by the then GNPC Board, chaired by Stephen Sekyere-Abankwa, to investigate causes of deteriorating top management relationship at GNPC and discovered that Mr. Owusu-Afriyie, was the main bug eating up the prestigious Corporation, and demanded he resigned or get fired from his lucrative job.

A very embarrassed Lawyer Owusu-Afriyie, the report said with a speed of light signed his letter of resignation on March 8, 2004, leaving without receiving any benefits from GNPC.

Those who attended the Board meeting that sacked Sir John, were Mr. Sekyere-Abankwa, who apart from being the chairman of the Board, was also the MD of the Prudential Bank, C.Y. Adu-Gyamfi, M. O. Boateng, Armiyao Harruna, Muriel Holdbrook-Smith, Patrick Nutor and Tettey.

Others who also attended the meeting were John Boateng, Thomas Manu and Naomi Adashie, Legal Consultant, Director of Operations and Recorder, respectively.

On March 11, 2004 the Board “critically examined the findings and recommendations of the subcommittee and endorsed them after exhaustive discussion. The specific findings and recommendations that took time to discuss and concluded were those that related to the former Acting Deputy Managing Director (Ag-DMD), Mr. Owusu-Afriyie”.

“The Minutes Of the 24th Board Meeting” in the possession of The Herald revealed the Sub-committee members as saying they received, “during their deliberations, adequate evidence on the conduct of the Ag. DMD (Sir John), which they considered unedifying”.

“Accordingly, they had determined that Mr. Owusu-Afriyie was guilty of misconduct and should be asked to resign voluntarily without benefits; but if he failed to do so then, he should be dismissed”.

Some of the evidence of misconduct considered by the Sub-committee concerning Mr. Owusu-Afriyie’s relationship with the Managing Director (MD) and other management staff, as well as, his illicit relationship with some female staff of GNPC.

“The usurpation of powers and functions that belonged to the MD alone by him also appalled members of the Sub-committee. Besides, the Sub-committee commented at length, particularly on Mr. Owusu-Afriyie’s letter to the Libyan Government by which he had solicited funding for various projects alleged to be undertaken in Ghana,” the report said.

“In writing the said letter, the Sub-committee found that Mr. Owusu-Afriyie, had pretended to be doing so with the consent and approval of the Government of the Republic of Ghana and other functionaries of the Government, when in fact he could not prove such mandate or authorization”.

“Also, the said letter had been written by him pretending to be the Deputy Managing Director of GNPC, whose letterhead he had used without prior authorization and approval of the MD. The said letter also showed evidence that it had been copied to several prominent public and private persons in Ghana, but this has been found to be untrue”, the report said.

At the end of their deliberations, members of the Board accepted the main recommendation of the Sub-committee as regards Mr. Owusu-Afriyie and agreed that Mr. Owusu-Afriyie’s letter of resignation should be accepted with effect from March 8, 2004 as his letter indicated.

The Chairman, accordingly directed that a letter accepting Mr. Owusu-Afriyie’s resignation should be dispatched to him indicating that his resignation had been accepted but no benefits would be paid to him. He should accordingly be requested to return his duty post vehicle immediately and leave his duty post accommodation within three (3) months, after having settled all utility bills outstanding.

Next, Members considered other findings and recommendations of the Sub-committee dealing with the management style of MD. The Sub-committee had in its report commented that the MD did not apply laid-down procedures in effecting disciplinary action against staff.

The Committee found that the MD preferred verbal caution, instead of the more formal procedure of a written caution, which would show on staff records to serve as a deterrent to erring staff members. The committee recommended that the MD should in future be more assertive, in order to establish his superior and ultimate authority.

Also, the members of the Committee were of the opinion that it was because the MD failed to assert his authority that Mr. Owusu-Afriyie was enabled to usurp his functions, thereby arrogating to himself authority and powers that he did not have.

As regards the relationship between the MD and the Director of Finance and Corporate Planning (OFCP), members of the Sub-committee, opined that they elicited no direct evidence of misconduct against her vis-a-vis the MD.

Although they also found no evidence of a deliberate subterfuge in concert with Mr. Owusu-Afriyie against the MD, they nevertheless recommended that the OFCP should be summoned before the full Board and cautioned to give full recognition to the status and authority of the MD, when she resumed duties from her leave.

The Board decided to leave the MD to determine appropriate sanctions against Miss Abigail Asamoah and Miss Pearl Ansah-Dankwah, based on the adverse comments made by members of the Sub-committee regarding their rude and arrogant behaviour when they appeared before them.

The Board on the day also considered operational activities of the GNPC during which the Director of Operations (DOP) elaborated on reports of the Technical Evaluation on another Drillship, the North Sea Pioneer (NSP).

The DOP presented the Technical Evaluation on NSP. He explained that except for minimum routine maintenance on some machinery, the NSP had undergone no major rehabilitation/dry-docking since 1992. There was no insurance cover and worst of all, it was technologically outdated. Given GNPC’s current mandate, the NSP could not be used in direct operations.

He said, bearing in mind the status of NSP, a lease option turned out to be unattractive and therefore the sale option would have to be considered. The OOP cautioned that by all indications the best price for the NSP would be dictated by the market.

The sale option would eliminate the present high cost of maintaining the NSP in our waters. However, in order to be irreprehensible regarding sale procedures, the Board directed that having heard and noted the content of the report, all preparations and negotiations on the sale of NSP be halted.

Meanwhile; The MD and the technical group should contact both local and foreign companies dealing with classing of offshore Marine equipment with a view to bringing the NSP back to class.

They should also contact Valuation companies for estimates of how much it would cost the Corporation to conduct a professional valuation of the NSP.

The Board’s decision to suspend the sale process should be communicated to the two bidders – Lushann and Alambco.

Source: The Herald

Former GNPC Boss: I Erred In Ordering Sale Of Drillship

A former CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Amos Ofori Quaah, has admitted erring in selling the state company’s drillship without the blessings of a board at the time of the sale.

Ofori Quaah told the Judgment Debt Commission on Wednesday that there was not board to sanction the 2001 transaction.

The Discovery 511 was sold in 2001 for 24 million dollars to defray a judgment debt owed French bank Societe Generale.

About $US1 million of the money was, apparently, used to settle legal fees.

However, US$3 million of the proceeds can still not be traced.

None of the agencies involved in the transaction has been able to provide a paper trail for the sale.

Mr. Ofori Quaah on Wednesday revealed to the Judgment debt commission that he never sited any court ruling from the UK asking the Government of Ghana to pay any amount to Societe Generale.

The former GNPC boss said he was only called on by then Attorney General, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to grant the Deputy Energy Minister at the time, K T Hammond, the power of attorney to deal with the negotiation of the sale, something he described as technically wrong.

He also told the commission that upon K.T Hammond’s return to Ghana, a letter was sent to his office informing him about the amount the Ship was sold for and the breakdown of the proceeds.

Credit:peacefmonline

Judgement Debt C’ssion Close To Solving Drill Ship Mystery

The Judgement Debt Commission says it is close to unravelling the mystery surrounding the sale of a Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) drill ship for the settlement of judgement debt.

The GNPC sold Discovery 511 in 2001 at a cost of $24 million to settle a judgement debt of $19.5 million awarded to Societe Generale (SG) by a court in London.

More than a decade afterwards, details of the sale are shrouded in mystery, as officials of the SG, the GNPC, the Bank of Ghana and other state institutions appearing before the Judgement Debt Commission to testify on the matter have failed to produce any or relevant documents that lay bare the transaction.

Those challenges have conspired to throw the spotlight on a Minister of Energy in the Kufuor administration, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, under whose tenure as minister the drill ship was sold, and his deputy, Mr K. T. Hammond, who led the government team to London to negotiate the sale of the drill ship and the payment of the judgement debt to SG.

Even before the commission executes its intention to invite the two former ministers of state to appear before it, its counsel, Mr Dometi Kofi Sokpor, told the Daily Graphic after yesterday’s sitting that it was close to stripping the sale of Discovery 511 of its mystery.

He would, however, not be drawn into further discussions on what kind of information the commission was privy to that warranted his confidence in unravelling the matter soon, except to say, “We will inform the media at the right time.”

GNPC Audit

The comments by Mr Sokpor came in the wake of another fruitless search for detailed information on the sale of the drill ship, as his probe of a representative of the State Enterprises Audit Corporation (SEAC) on an audit report it prepared for the GNPC, dated November 24, 2003, failed to yield the desired results.

A Senior Audit Manager of the SEAC, Mr Frederick Boniface Senahia, could not assist the commission with the working documents on a financial statement captured in the audit report because the documents were not available.

The financial statement had made general references to transactions the GNPC had made with some corporate bodies, and that, according to counsel for the commission, made it difficult to know which companies were involved.

James Manu

A former employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and beneficiary of judgement debt payment, Mr James Manu, appeared before the commission to clarify matters on that matter.

The Judgement Debt Commission and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had indicated earlier that they could not trace Mr Manu to serve a subpoena on him.

But, responding to a question by the Sole Commissioner, Mr Justice Yaw Apau, as to whether he had been living in Ghana or abroad, Mr Manu said: “My Lord, I’m here.”

Mr Manu had worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 25 years and was stationed at the Ghana High Commission in London.

In 1999, he voluntarily retired from the Foreign Service and, on his retirement, he was paid £10,463.17 as end-of-service benefit.

However, dissatisfied with the retirement package, he initiated a court action against the Ghana High Commission in London, claiming that he was entitled to about £26,000 and not the £10,463 paid him.

Upon the failure of the Ghana High Commission to enter an appearance in the case, the court gave a default judgement in Manu’s favour, asking the commission to pay him the difference between what was due him and what had been paid him, plus interest.

On his return to Ghana, Manu instituted a fresh legal action against the state in 2006 and this time round the state only made ‘sporadic’ appearances in court.

Subsequently, Manu secured judgement in his favour and was paid an additional end-of-service benefit of GH¢60,052.

Source: Daily Graphic

Mahama’s Impending Reshuffle

The President Of Ghana

The New Statesman has picked up information from the presidency indicating that President John Dramani Mahama is set to announce some changes in his government in the coming weeks.

The impending reshuffle is expected to sweep through the seat of government to the ministries, hitting some state institutions and ending up with appointments of some key loyalists for ambassadorial positions.

An initial plan by President Mahama to send Ras Mubarak to Nigeria as High Commissioner has been put down, following strong criticisms on social media that he is ‘too young’, and perhaps not seasoned enough, to handle a very difficult portfolio as high commissioner.

Unconfirmed reports indicate Mr Mubarak would be going to the Ministry of Information and Media Relations in the next reshuffle, expected in February 2014. But the New Statesman can state authoritatively that he would be heading the National Youth Authority in the coming weeks.

Dr Stephen Opuni, Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority, who has been accused of high-handedness in his dealings with players in the pharmaceutical industry, has been pencilled for the Chief Executive position at the COCOBOD, amid stiff resistance, while former Adentan Member of Parliament, Kwadwo Adu Asare, would be heading the National Service Scheme.

Among those going out of the Mahama government is Tonny Aidoo, the man who was appointed Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at the presidency by the late President John Evans Atta Mills. He recently complained that since the demise of the president who appointed him, his office had been rendered non-functional, with no money to carry out his mandate.

Aware that he has been virtually booted out of the Mahama government, Dr Aidoo is said to have entered into an agreement with Joy FM to partner Dr Wereko-Brobby on the ‘Super Morning Show’ with Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

The New Statesman can report that since the appointment of Dr Sule Gariba as Senior Policy Co-ordinator at the presidency at the early stages of the Mahama administration, Dr Tony Aidoo has remained redundant, though he continues to draw salary from the national kitty.

Also to be affected is the office of the National Security Advisor. An initial plan by President Mahama to send the embattled Brigadier-General Nunoo Mensah to the newly-created office of Presidential Advisor oh Human Security is said to have been put on hold, following the wide-spread condemnation he has received from many groups and individuals over his request to agitating workers to leave the country if they were not prepared to sacrifice.

The National Security Co-ordinator, Lt. Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, is also set to be replaced, as he prepares to take up an ambassadorial responsibility, just as the position of Inspector General of Police will be occupied by a new person.

Source: The New Statesman

Review Petition Judgment Without Insults - Chief Justice

Chief Justice Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood

Chief Justice Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood on Friday urged Ghanaians reviewing the judgment of the election petition to do so without casting insinuations or make any false allegations.

She said: “I am happy that the petition has come to an end and we must work together to build our nation and respect each other”.

The Chief Justice made these remarks when the newly elected executives of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) paid a courtesy call on her to introduce themselves and invite her to the Association’s flagship awards night, which comes off on November 2, 2013 at the Banquet Hall.

This year’s GJA Awards would be on the theme: “Promoting Healthy Partisanship and Fruitful Partnership in Governance: The Role of the Media”.

It will have President John Dramani Mahama as the Special Guest of Honour, the Chief Justice as the Guest Speaker, Alhaji Mohamed Garba, President of the Federation of African Journalists as the Guest of Honour and the UN Resident Coordinator as the Chairperson.

Chief Justice Wood commended journalists for their coverage of the hearing but expressed concern about the lapses adding “we must always ensure that our reportage is geared towards the good of the people and not to undermine the integrity of the other.”

She said the media had enormous powers as the Fourth Estate of the Realm adding that “as you enjoy the freedom associated with it, you must also live up to the responsibilities that go with it”.

Chief Justice Wood said the judiciary was collaborating with the Government of Brazil to air court proceedings in the High and Supreme courts and show a delayed broadcast for the lesser courts to ensure transparency.

This, she said, was also to help improve on the quality of justice and alley the fears of the public of injustice.

Mr Affail Monney, President of the GJA, appealed to the judiciary to help build the capacity of journalists specializing in court reporting to enable them to report accurately.


Source: GNA/Ghana

Norwegian may have been involved in Westgate mall attack, Kenya sources say

Kenyan counterterrorism sources are looking at a Norwegian citizen of Somali descent as a possible suspect in the Westgate mall attack last month, the sources told CNN on Friday.

The Norwegian citizen is believed to have ties to Mohamed Abdikadir Mohamed, known as Ikrima, who is regarded as one of the most dangerous commanders in the Somali terror group Al-Shabaab.

Norwegian intelligence services are in Kenya investigating Ikrima and the Norwegian citizen, the Kenyan sources said, and have also spoken to the latter's sister in Norway.
Norwegian authorities have not yet released the Norwegian citizen's name.

Mall survivor: I thought we would die

Kenyan authorities suspect Ikrima of involvement with the Westgate mall attack.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the bloody four-day siege at the upscale mall in Nairobi, where at least 67 people died.

U.S. officials said Ikrima was the target of a raid earlier this month by U.S. Navy SEALs on an Al-Shabaab compound near the town of Baraawe in Somalia. It's believed that he escaped after the U.S. troops came under heavy fire.

A Kenyan intelligence dossier seen by CNN alleges Ikrima's involvement with Briton Samantha Lewthwaite, a terror suspect known as the "White Widow," in a foiled Mombasa attack in 2011 with Jermaine Grant, a fellow British citizen currently held in Mombasa on terror charges.

Kenyan intelligence sources say that Ikrima, who speaks six languages and grew up in Kenya, is the main "point person" between al Qaeda in Somalia and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and that he has helped pinpoint Kenyan targets.

By Nima Elbagir and Laura Smith-Spark, CNN

Legalise Sex Trade, Prostitutes Tell President Mahama

Prostitutes in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Area (STMA) in the Western Region have urged President John Dramani Mahama to legalize the sex business.

The prostitutes, who are from various parts of the country and operating in the oil city, are also advocating the introduction of a national policy to legally back their trade.

Furthermore, they want President Mahama to play a leading role in the formation of an Economic Community of West African Prostitutes (ECOWAP).

Weekend Finder has gathered that there are three different categories of commercial sex workers operating in the oil city.

The first is the 'Moderate' group made up of mainly trafficked girls, migrants and minors who have been introduced to the business by their guardians.

These people are either from local fishing and farming communities in Ghana or migrants from countries in the West African sub-region such as Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali.

The second group is known as the 'Super Divers', made up of high class ladies who are interested in only expatriates and they target tourists.

The last group is called the 'Smart Ladies' made up mainly of middle class ladies who deal with all kinds of clients. Their charge is GHC50 for 'short time' and GHC100 for 'long time' and for them to stay the night with the client, they are open to negotiations.

Demanding money before speaking to Weekend Finder in separate interviews last weekend during their business hours, the prostitutes explained that they want major trans-formational policies to be introduced by the government to streamline their activities and make their business attractive and sustainable.

Ms. Mary Amponsah, who first made the request on behalf of her colleagues, explained that even though there are dangers associated with the trade in which one woman sleeps with many men, they are in it because of joblessness.

She called on the government to address the insecurity associated with the trade such as abuse by recalcitrant clients and the various security forces.

Also, she called for the licensing of all prostitutes in the country for easy identification and taxation.

Hostel facilities and other housing projects could be provided by government to address the accommodation problems most of them are currently facing, as that has made them depend on hotels where they pay exorbitant amounts, she said.

"If we are registered, they can check on us, monitor our steps, and conduct medical review of all members from time to time, so that in the end, they can tax all of us to improve revenue generation in the country. In addition, they can educate us on sexually transmitted diseases, but at the moment, nothing of that nature is happening and that is not good," she said.

Ms. Amponsah, who is in her late thirties and a single mother belonging to the Smart Ladies group, said she and many others in the trade hope to marry someday, adding that presently they want to maximize the gains in the business and also build other businesses.

"For instance, I have a cold store in Accra that I run, but I still need money to keep it in good shape, so what I am doing right now is to get enough money to support the business. I also want to help my brothers and sisters who are in school to continue with their education. This is because I had to drop out due to severe poverty and other financial challenges that my parents could not handle. Besides, through this business, I single-handedly managed my late mothers' funeral without any support from any family member," she told the Weekend Finder.

Another prostitute, Ms. Veronica Abban, who is one of the Moderates, said she left school after Junior High School, claiming that she was introduced to the trade by her friend.

"Though I was introduced to the job by my friend out of ignorance, I can confidently say today that I have benefited from the sex trade because I have been able to take care of myself without having to depend on any family member. In fact, I have suffered so much in life.

I remember selling all kinds of things just to survive, and yet I couldn't deal with the challenges that were coming, until I was introduced to this job."

Ms. Effia Alhassan, one of the Super Divers, who only deals with expatriate workers, said she joined the trade out of the broken heart she experienced.

"I was dating a military officer; sponsored him and when he graduated and became an officer, he dumped me. In fact, I had a broken heart, and decided I will never have anything to do with a black man. Currently, I sell my body to only expatriates, and that is what is keeping me in business. I don't deal with blacks, because I have come to realise how disappointing black guys can be, so I am careful with my trading activities," she said.

Currently, more than 60 prostitutes are operating in the oil city.

Source: The Finder

32-Yr-Old Zimbabwean Immigrant Infects 16-Yr-Old Girlfriend With HIV

Dailymail.co.uk : A man who infected his teenage girlfriend with HIV then urged her to 'sleep around' to spread the virus was jailed for four-and-a-half years today.

The 32-year-old hid the fact he was HIV positive from the girl, who was only 16 when they met.



Read Full Story .... Dailymail.co.uk >>> :

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

WE ARE SORRY

WE WILL BE BACK SOON. WE ARE CHANGING THINGS HERE THAT IS WHY THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEWS LATELY. WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE AUTHENTIC NEWS SOON.

                                                                                         Blogger: N. A. Kasapahene

“Our victory was won cleanly and fairly” – Mahama

Ghana’s President, Mr. John Mahama has said his party, the National Democratic Congress, won the 2012 presidential poll “cleanly and fairly” and therefore confident the Supreme Court will re-affirm that victory..

“…Our victory was won cleanly and fairly and that justice will be served and cannot come to any other conclusion than acknowledging the very transparent, free and fair victory that we won at the elections and so I’d ask you, while the Court case continues, to continue to strengthen the base of the Party”. Mr. Mahama told party supporters at the Headquarters in Accra to mark the NDC’s 21st anniversary.
He is the First Respondent in the ongoing election petition at Ghana’s Supreme Court, in which the Petitioners, including his arch-political contender, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo are praying the Court to overturn the results.

Nana Akufo-Addo, together with his running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the NPP’s national Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey claims the elections were fraught with malpractices, statutory violations and gross manipulation which cannot go uncontested.

The Electoral Commission and the governing NDC are the other two Respondents in addition to President Mahama.

Mr. Mahama however remains confident that the Supreme Court will re-affirm his victory at the end of the hearing.

The Court has heard the case for the past one month.

Source: Ghana I RadioXYZonline.com

President: John Dramani Mahama

Mr Mahama became president when his predecessor died

Vice-President John Dramani Mahama became interim head of state following the death of President John Atta Mills in July 2012.

Mr Mahama won his first full term in office in an extremely tight election a few months later in December, defeating Nana Akufo-Addo of the opposition New Patriotic Party with only 50.7% of the vote to Mr Addo's 47.7%.

The NPP boycotted his swearing-in, saying he had won fraudulently.

Several foreign observer teams, including those of the African Union and regional body Ecowas, declared the election free and fair.

Mr Mahama is a respected historian, writer and communications specialist. Regarded as a champion of the underprivileged, he has a keen interest in environmental issues, particularly the problem of plastic pollution in Africa. His book, entitled "My First Coup d'Etat" was published in July 2012.

He studied in Ghana and Moscow. Between 1991 and 1995 he worked as an information officer at the Japanese embassy in Accra.

President Mills died in July 2012

He joined the non-governmental organization PLAN International in 1995.

He was elected as a member of parliament in 1996, and served communications minister between 1998 and 2001.

In opposition from 2005 to 2011, Mr Mahama served as parliamentary spokesman for foreign affairs.

Mr Mahama was born at Bole-Bamboi in the Northern Region in 1958. He is married and has seven children.

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13433792

Ghana arrests Chinese for 'illegal mining'

Ghana is one of Africa's biggest gold producers

At least 124 Chinese nationals suspected of illegal gold mining have been detained in Ghana, officials say. Chinese officials said most of those detained were mining illegally without visas, work and residency permits.

They are negotiating the detainees' release, a spokesman from the Chinese embassy in Ghana said.

The arrests took place in several locations around the country following a call by Ghanaian officials to end unauthorised mining by foreigners.

Officials raided a hotel and areas near mines where the Chinese were living, the embassy said.

'Gold rush'

The arrests are part of an ongoing crackdown on foreign nationals working in small-scale gold mines, reserved by law for Ghanaians, reports the BBC's Akwasi Sarpong from the capital, Accra.

Ghana is expected to repatriate the miners who were arrested in raids in four mineral-rich regions, he says.

A Ghana immigration official told Xinhua news agency that the detainees "were involved in illegal gold mining".

They are being held at an immigration centre in Accra, Chinese officials said.

Yu Jie, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Ghana, told Xinhua they "have cautioned all the Chinese people in Ghana to strictly abide by the related laws and regulations".

Most of the detained workers flocked to the "Ghana gold rush" from the impoverished county of Shanglin in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Chinese media say.

The issue has been widely discussed in the Chinese media, with some miners reportedly saying they want to leave but face hefty fines.

Ghanaian authorities introduced a ban in April on Chinese engaging in illegal gold mining in the central region of Ashanti, as well as in western and eastern regions, to stop environmental damage.

In October last year, a Chinese boy was killed during a security crackdown on illegal mining.

About 100 Chinese nationals were also detained over illegal mining the same month.

Ghana is Africa's biggest gold producer after South Africa, producing more than 1.6 million ounces in the first half of 2012.

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-22793659