Welcome to Owusu Ansah's Blog: February 2016

Monday, February 29, 2016

E.L Tops VGMA List, Grabs 10 Nominations

E.L

BBnZ’s artiste and beat producer E.L has picked up nominations in ten categories of the 2016 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), making him the artiste with the highest number of nominations for his own works.

E.L has been nominated for the Overall Best Artiste of the Year, Vodafone Song of the Year (Mi Naa Bo Po), Hiplife/Hiphop Artiste of the Year, Album of the Year (Elom), Producer of the Year (Mi Naa Bo Po), Hiphop Song of the Year (All Black ft. Pappy Kojo and Joe B), Hiplife Song of the Year (Koko), Best Music Video (Shelele), Best Rapper (King Without a Crown) and Afro-Pop Song of the Year (Mi Naa Bo Po).

Yaya Toure

After Yaya Toure copped another trophy on English soil on Sunday, his brother feels a stay is in the works.

By his own very standards, the Ivorian captain's performances for Manchester City have dropped, especially following the run to winning the last African Cup a year ago. It has led to many suggestions that the midfielder will leave at the end of this season.

With Pep Guardiola set to take over at Manchester City in the summer, speculation has only heightened in this direction. "Everybody wants to play for Pep. He is a top manager. They know each other very well and I don't think it will be a problem if they keep working together," Kolo, the elder of the brothers, notes.

[From leff] Philip Addison and Nii Noi Nortey

Nii Noi Nortey, the defeated New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary aspirant for the Klottey Korle constituency, has hinted he might head to the courts to get the results of Saturday's primaries overturned.

His closest contender, Lawyer Philip Addison won the bid to represent the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Klottey Korle Constituency in the upcoming November 7 polls.

Out of the about 763 votes cast, Addison polled 396 votes while his closest contender, Nii Noi Nortey, polled 367 votes.

Kofi Adams

National Organizer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams has described as unnecessary the opposition New Patriotic Party's (NPP) version of the State of the Nation address.

According to him, the NPP led by its flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo only engaged in political gimmicks in their "desperate attempt to win the November 7 general elections."

The NPP leader on Monday presented what he called the "Real State of the Nation" after President John Mahama delivered his in Parliament last Thursday.

Nana Akufo-Addo among other things said the President appears to have lost touch with the country he is governing and has thus refused to admit that Ghana is in crisis.

Edward Mahama

The flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC) for 2016 elections, Dr Edward Mahama, has described the State of the Nation address delivered by President John Dramani Mahama as a long speech of politics of deceit.

He said speeches meant to deceive people were often long but do not contain any substance that the people could hold on to and remember after their delivery.

Dr Mahama, who was reacting to the State of the Nation address by the President, therefore, wondered whether the President was being fed with the wrong information at the Flagstaff House by his advisers and ministers.

Nana Addo

The flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo Addo has drawn conclusion that Ghana's economy is in crisis.
Addressing what he termed as the 'Real State of the Nation' today at the Physician and Surgeon College in Accra in the Greater Accra region, Nana Addo said "I believe the only conclusion to draw is that ours is a nation in crisis. Ghana is a nation in crisis."

Touching on a wide range of issues at the heart of the economy, Nana Addo attributed the "crisis" to reckless borrowing by an "incompetent government has led to unsustainable debt rate which has officially closed the space for capital investments."

Bawumia Comes To The Rescue Of Kperisi School Children

Bawumia and Kperisi School Children

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Running Mate to Nana Akufo-Addo, has come to the aid of students in the Kperisi Primary School in Wa where students lack school furniture and have to study on the floor.

Dr. Bawumia, who made a brief stop at the School on Friday, while on his way to the Wa East Constituency for a tour, informed the Head Teacher of the school, Madam Rosina Diedong that the conditions he had seen demanded immediate action and that he had therefore ordered school furniture for 500 students.

English Barclays Premier League Fixtures Today

Sunday 28 February 2016

Businesswoman and media personality Delay says she still looks good at the age of 33 .

She said this during an interview with Kofi Kinata on her Delay Show.

“I still look good at the age of thirty three going to thirty- four. I am not one of those presenters who struggle to fit in.

“This is a girl who takes care of her body, I work out. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I take very good care of myself. I’m not like those presenters who smoke and take in alcohol,” she said.

Popularly called Delay, she is the host of the Delay Show, which “asks the hard questions to get the uncensored truth out”.

Daniel Amartey makes debut against Norwich City

Ghanaian defender Daniel Amartey made his debut for English Premier League leaders Leicester City on Saturday in their game against Norwich City.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, Okyenhene

The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, has underscored the need for the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) to ensure that Ghanaians actually own its proposed 40-year development plan.

He noted that the implementation of the plan could be impeded if Ghanaians did not have a sense of ownership of the plan and the resources of the country.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin made the call when he contributed to discussions at a forum organised by the NDPC to brief the National House of Chiefs on preparations towards the development of the 40-year plan.

The meeting provided the platform for the NDPC to explain the rationale behind the plan.

Leicester

Substitute Leonardo Ulloa scored an 89th-minute winner as Leicester City breathed fresh life into their improbable Premier League title challenge by edging Norwich City 1-0 on Saturday.

Two weeks on from a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, Leicester were on course to drop points again until Ulloa tapped in at the death to send Claudio Ranieri's side five points clear at the summit.

The Argentine's goal, only his third of the season, puts the pressure on Leicester's closest rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, who host Swansea City and visit Manchester United respectively on Sunday.

[From leff] Philip Addison and Nii Noi Nortey

Lawyer Philip Addison has won the bid to represent the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Klottey Korle Constituency during the November 7 polls.

Out of the about 763 votes cast, Addison polled 396 votes while his closest contender, Nii Noi Nortey, polled 367 votes.

The election was conducted under tight security on Saturday due to the tension that exists between the two contestants and their supporters.

English Barclays Premier League

Saturday 27 February 2016

Gianni Infantino

Fifa's new president Gianni Infantino on Saturday faced the mountainous task of reforming and uniting world football, with a pile of crises from the scandal-ridden Sepp Blatter era needing urgent action.

Infantino, an executive at European football confederation Uefa, promised an end to the dark days at Fifa following his convincing election win.

But the 45-year-old Swiss-Italian national was immediately met with multiple challenges, as football powerful players including key corporate partners must still be convinced that Fifa can mend its ways.

Chairman of the National Peace Council, Most Rev. Professor, Emmanuel Asante

The National Peace Council has tasked the media to help restore trust in Ghana's electoral process ahead of this year’s general election

The Eastern Regional Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr Peter Kwame Agbozorsday noted that there was so much mistrust in the country and challenged the media to address the situation and hold the country together.

Mr Agbozo was speaking at a two-day workshop for journalists and media practitioners in Ho on “Promoting responsible and peaceful electoral leadership” organised by the Legal Resources Centre.

Lawyer Philip Addison

Delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Klottey Korle Constituency in the Greater Accra Region will today elect a new Parliamentary candidate to represent them in the November 7 polls.

The two candidates vying for the position are; former Klottey Korle constituency chairman, Nii Noi Nortey and NPP lawyer, Philip Addison.

A third aspirant, Samuel Nii Adjei Tawiah on Friday pulled out of the race.

This will be the second time the primary in that constituency is being held following a court action initiated by Philip Addison and Nii Adjei Tawiah after Nii Noi Nortey was declared winner in the August, 2015 primaries.

UEFA Europa League | RESULTS

UEFA Europa League

Europa League - Round of 32

DKB, Comedian

One of Ghana’s fast-rising and most recognized comedians, DKB, took to social media platform, Twitter, on Thursday, to question President John Dramani Mahama’s State of the Nation address delivered to Parliament.

The President, in his delivery, which is the last in his four-year term, touched on several government social intervention programmes ranging from health, education and the economy.

In providing what he called evidence-based address, he went further to showcase some beneficiaries of the programmes to Parliament.

Jinapor - Don’t jubilate yet; dumsor not over

John Jinapor

Deputy Power Minister, John Jinapor has stated unequivocally that the four-year-old power crisis known in local parlance as dumsor is not over.

According to him, there is enough generation to supply the whole of Ghana but “until we are able to get our own gas, dumsor cannot be over”.

Mr. Jinapor’s comment comes after President John Mahama at the 2016 State of the Nations Address to Parliament Thursday said he has solved dumsor.

“I stood before this very august house and promised to fix the power sector deficit that at the time had become a significant constraint on the economic growth and a destruction to Ghanaians both home and at work” he president said.

Hon Isaac Osei (L) and Hon Kofi Armah Buah (R)

Hon Isaac Osei, Member of Parliament for Subin Constituency in the Ashanti Region has bemoaned the number of hours the President spent in delivering his "theatrical" State of the Nation’s Address (SoNA).

According to him, “the last time I was in the UK, the Queen’s speech lasted 25 minutes; what do we have here that we are talking so much.”

President John Mahama on Thursday addressed Parliament in his last SoNA in his First Term. He touched on a number of issues including education, health, finance, sports, energy and the upcoming November polls.

Ghana Black Star

The President of the Republic of Ghana has emphasized that the report of the Commission of Inquiry into Ghana’s participation in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will be implemented.

The Black Stars for the first time in their World Cup campaign in 2014 failed to progress past the group stage, amid issues of player agitation over the delay in the payment of appearance fees.

A 3-man presidential commission of inquiry was formed to investigate the events before, during and after Ghana’s elimination from the 2014 World Cup staged in Brazil and come out with a lasting remedy to prevent future occurrences.

UEFA Europa League | FIXTURES

Thursday 25 February 2016

Komla Dumor

The BBC is seeking a future star of African journalism for the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award, now in its second year.

The winner will work with teams across BBC News in London for three months.

Last year's winner, Nancy Kacungira, said: "I felt supported as a journalist from the continent, to tell the story I wanted to tell in the way that I felt it should be told."

Applications close on 23 March 2016 at 23:59 GMT.

The award was established to honour Komla Dumor, a presenter for BBC World News, who died suddenly aged 41 in 2014.

Ms Kacungira, a television anchor for Kenya's KTN television channel, was selected from nearly 200 applicants.

Manchester City

Manchester City may be toiling domestically at the moment but they produced a superb European away performance to beat Dynamo Kiev 3-1 in Ukraine in their Champions League last 16, first leg on Wednesday.

Manuel Pellegrini's side did enough to win the game in the first half with Sergio Aguero and David Silva both scoring to underline their importance to City.

Dynamo pulled a goal back in the second half through midfielder Vitaliy Buyalskiy, but Yaya Toure's late beauty ensured that City are very much on course to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in their history.

Bawumia

I have just read a statement from the Ministry of Communications purporting to respond to the issues I read at the University for Development Studies, Wa Campus concerning the propagandist claims of the current government on infrastructural investments under their administration.

Afoko

The suspended national chairman of the New Patriotic Party Paul Afoko has described as "risible" claims that he is being sponsored by the ruling National Democratic Congress to ruin the political chances of the NPP flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Speculations are rife that Mr. Afoko has been given an unspecified amount of money to ensure that Akufo-Addo is not elected President of Ghana in the upcoming November 7 polls.

Madam Charlotte Osei, Ghana's EC Boss

Former Chief Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, Mr. Kwame Damoah Agyemang says the measures the Electoral Commissioner, Madam Charlotte Osei is putting in place ahead of the November polls may endanger the elections if caution is not exercise.

According to him, as the Electoral Commissioner is new to the office she occupies, it is disturbing to hear that the EC boss has asked those due for retirement to proceed on leave.

He however wondered the haste with which the Electoral Commissioner asked those with in-depth knowledge about elections to proceed on leave with the barely a year away.

Haruna Iddrisu

Government has ordered the release of an amount of GHS 1,579,078.20 to settle 2012 salary arrears of teachers across the country.

The decision was taken after a meeting by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Ministry of Education, National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT).

A communiqué signed by the various stakeholders at a meeting on Wednesday said arrears for 2013 and 2014 will, however, not be paid, until authorities validate some payment processes which will begin on Thursday.

Champions League Fixtures

Wednesday 24 February 2016

Koku Anyidoho - Deputy NDC Gen. Sec.

A Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the reputation of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the running mate to the New Patriotic Party’s 2016 Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo as being in ‘tatters.'

According to Koku Anyidoho, "Dr. Bawumia has allowed himself to be used for far too long” after the former deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana challenged the Mahama-led administration to provide the cost breakdown for the projects it claims to have undertaken across the country.

“The credibility of Bawumia is in tatters and dying by the day, and very soon nobody would even want to listen to the NPP again because they fail to see the good side of what we (NDC) are doing. In fact, NPP and Dr. Bawumia have lots to learn” he indicated.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi left Arsenal spellbound as the Barcelona striker's clinical double sealed a 2-0 last 16, first leg victory on Tuesday that put the Champions League holders firmly on course for the quarterfinals.

Barca coach Luis Enrique joked this week that all he needed to do was shout 'Abracadabra' for Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez to deliver the kind of magic display that would bewilder the Gunners.

On this occasion, it was Messi who answered his coach's call with a second-half brace as the Spanish champions survived a stern examination from Arsene Wenger's side to escape the Emirates Stadium with a result likely to condemn the hosts to a sixth successive last-16 exit.

Agogo youth

The youth of Agogo have self imposed a ban on all political activities in the town with immediate effect, following protest over activities of nomadic Fulani herdsmen in the area.

The Agogo residents have since 2007 been engaged in violence with the Fulani herdsmen for allegedly destroying the crops and killing farmers and relatives of Agogo.

RELATED: Irate youth slaughter over 80 Fulani cattle

Kofi Annan

Drugs are dangerous, but current narcotics policies are an even bigger threat because punishment is given a greater priority than health and human rights. It’s time for regulations that put lives and safety first, argues former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

In my experience, good public policy is best shaped by the dispassionate analysis of what in practice has worked, or not. Policy based on common assumptions and popular sentiments can become a recipe for mistaken prescriptions and misguided interventions.

Nowhere is this divorce between rhetoric and reality more evident than in the formulation of global drug policies, where too often emotions and ideology rather than evidence have prevailed.

Champions League Fixtures

Bawumia

Running mate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has outlined six reasons why Ghanaians should vote out the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2016 elections.

Dr. Bawumia outlined these in a lecture on the topic "The Role of Financial Discipline and Investment In National Development", at a National Financial Literacy and Investment Summit organised by the University Students Association of Ghana (USAG), at the University for Development Studies, Wa Campus.

He has also rubbished claims by the government that it has transformed the country by undertaking a number of projects.
Where is the rest of the money and what could it have done? Bawumia asks and answers

Man Utd

Manchester United cruised into the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 3-0 win at Shrewsbury on Monday that at least temporarily eased the mounting pressure on Louis van Gaal.

Chris Smalling, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard netted the goals as United wrapped up a businesslike victory against their third tier hosts to secure a last eight date with West Ham United at Old Trafford.

Following speculation that an embarrassing defeat would be fatal to Van Gaal's hopes of avoiding the sack, the United manager was relieved to see his side easily navigate their way through a one-sided fifth round tie.

Johnson Aseidu Nketia

General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia has debunked claims that the Electoral Commission has disbanded its Steering Committee.

According to him, there are reports circulating in the media that the Steering Committee has been dissolved but it's not true because the Commission is rather going to review the Committee.

Speaking in an interview on Kokrokoo on Peace FM, Johnson Asiedu Nketia however expressed concerns over the constitution of the EC's Elections Steering Committee.

Nana Addo

The flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party Nana Akufo-Addo has charged Ghanaians to vote for him in the November elections to rule Ghana.

According to him, he has now decided to aggressively campaign in all settler communities across the country, so as to dispel this false notion, with barely 8 months to holding of the November election

Addressing Moslem clerics and Chiefs of Settler communities in Derma, in the Tano South constituency, in the Brong Ahafo Region, on Sunday, February 21, 2016, Nana Akufo-Addo explained that the NPP, traditionally, has not done well electorally in settler communities across the country, largely because of the deliberate tagging of the NPP as an “anti-Northern” party by political opponents.

Jackson Owusu suffers horrific leg injury

Jackson Owusu

Asante Kotoko have been hit by a major blow ahead of the Ghana premier league as their influential midfielder Jackson Owusu suffered a broken left leg in a community friendly game on Sunday.

Owusu who risk spending sometime on the sidelines was rushed to the Akomfo Anokye Teaching hospital in his private car.

Sunderland

Louis van Gaal conceded that Manchester United may need to win the Europa League to qualify for next season's Champions League after a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland on Saturday.

Bidding to close the six-point gap separating them from the Champions League places, United fell behind in the third minute when Wahbi Khazri's free-kick from wide on the Sunderland left crept in.

Anthony Martial levelled before half-time, but an unfortunate 82nd-minute own goal by United goalkeeper David de Gea gifted Sunderland the points and increased the pressure on embattled United manager Van Gaal.

"It will be very difficult now (to finish in the top four) because we give five points away, Chelsea and now," Van Gaal said, referencing last weekend's 1-1 draw at Chelsea. "It's too much at this time."

Curfew hours reduced at Old Tafo

The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has reduced the curfew hours imposed on the community of Old Tafo, a suburb of Kumasi.

The curfew hours which began from 6pm to 6am will now begin from 8pm to 4am.

On Wednesday, some Muslim youth and loyalists of the Old Tafo Traditional Council clashed over a piece of land at the community’s cemetery.
The clashes claimed one life and injured several others and the situation forced REGSEC to impose a curfew on the area.

Ghana Police and BNI are ‘sloppy’ - Matthew Opoku Prempeh

Police

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has accused the Ghana Police Service and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) of being sloppy.

According to him, the political class in the country has over the years “given the Ghana Police Service and the BNI too much leeway in their sloppiness.”

The Manhyia South Legislator made these remarks during a panel discussion on Joy FM over the murder of his colleague MP, Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu.

He questioned why the security operatives have been unable to resolve the numerous high profile murders which have hit the nation over the years.

Stan Dogbe

The Ghana Police Service has denied allegation that Stan Dogbe has been mentioned in connection with the murder of the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, Hon J.B. Danquah-Adu.

According to the police, the suspect in custody over the matter has not mentioned Mr. Dogbe’s name as is being circulated on social media.

In a statement signed by Superintendent Cephas Arthur, “the attention of the Police has been drawn to stories circulating in the Public domain that the name of Mr. Stan Dogbe and other political personalities have been mentioned in connection with the murder of the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North. The police can state on authority that the suspect has never mentioned Mr Stan Dogbe’s name or any politician's name as at now...”

Gen Mosquito - Aftermath Of JB Danquah's Death Shows NPP Ain't Ready For Power

Johnson Asiedu Nketia

General Secretary of the ruling NDC, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia aka General Mosquito has advised Ghanaians especially politicians to refrain from causing fear and panic among the public by not engaging in childish, false and baseless discourse.

“If members of the NPP have decided to kill themselves there is nothing a police protection can do to stop them from such a decision taken, so until they change from making uncalled for statements they would always have internal problems in their party,” he said.

Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ morning show to host Kwame Nkrumah, the NDC Chief Scribe alluded to a witless remark by an NPP MP who allegedly said people now urinate at the back of his house ever since John Mahama became President.

Fight Broke-out In Tafo

There have been violent clashes between Moslem youth and residents at Tafo, a predominantly Muslim community in the Ashanti Region over a cemetery.

Some Moslem youth reportedly attacked the Chief of Tafo after he questioned them about a fencing project being put up by the Muslims, who are laying claim to a portion of the cemetery.

The clash is said to be a revenge act by the residents to appease their Chief, who reportedly pulled down the fence.

Kwesi Pratt - Gov't communicators exaggerate level of dev't

Kwesi Pratt

Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has criticized government communicators for exaggerating the amount of developmental projects the Mahama administration is undertaking nationwide.

“There is this talk about transformation; so much talk about transformation and sometimes I just wonder. Sometimes also, government communicators have the tendency to exaggerate and when you exaggerate, you give your opponent to you use it against you,” he remarked.

During the week, the President commissioned a community day Senior High School at Kwaobaah Nyanoa in the Eastern Region.

Sunday 07 February 2016

An Islamic cleric, numerologist and philosopher has hinted who the loser will be in the upcoming November 7 election.

Sheikh Ustaz Sham-una Jibril who is known globally for his accurate predictions on both local and international issues has noted that the incumbent president will lose his seat – perhaps to the largest opposition party.

“If Almighty Allah makes election 2016 possible in Ghana, per my spiritual calculation and research, President Mahama and the NDC will lose the election half touch (thus halfway through collations before declaration)”

Leicester

Leicester City's fairytale season scaled new heights on Saturday as they opened up a five-point lead at the Premier League summit by winning 3-1 at title rivals Manchester City.

Centre-back Robert Huth scored twice, either side of a brilliant Riyad Mahrez goal, as Leicester recorded the finest win of their sensational 12-month rise from bottom to top of the English top flight.

Tottenham Hotspur leapfrogged City into second place by beating Watford 1-0. Arsenal can also move above Manuel Pellegrini's side if they win at Bournemouth on Sunday.

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Monday, February 29, 2016

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Monday, February 22, 2016

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Saturday, February 6, 2016