Welcome to Owusu Ansah's Blog: August 2016

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

What happened to Shatta Wale Fan Awards?

Shatta Wale and former manager Bulldog

Since the days of Bandana, the Shatta Movement Family has been a strong force behind the multiple award-winning reggae/dancehall musician. They have always been there for him. When Charterhouse Ghana, the organisers of the annual Ghana Music Awards rejected him, they were there for him. When Samini, Iwan, Kaakie, and other colleagues beefed with him, they were there for him. When Samini, Iwan , D-Sherif and other dancehall artistes’ fans trolled him on social media and even on stage, they were there for him. When some showbiz critics mutinied him, they were there for him.

His fan army, according to him, are his 'god'.

The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the policies and programmes outlined by him so far are indicative of the fact that a future NPP government, God-willing from January 2017, will employ the “bottom-up” approach to national development.

The bottom-up approach, according to Nana Akufo-Addo, means that local actors will participate in decision-making, and in the selection of the priorities to be pursued in their communities. This, he noted, will achieve balanced national development, creating wealth and prosperity for all Ghanaians, without discrimination.

A member of the NDC Communications team, Eric Ametor Quarmyne has questioned the feasibility of Nana Addo’s campaign promise of “1 Village, 1 Dam”.

Nana Addo, during his tour of the Upper East Region, pledged that his government will ensure that every village in the Northern Region has a dam should Ghanaians elect him as Head of State.

He believed the dam will help improve the irrigation systems in the villages and boost the agricultural sector of the economy.

Commenting on the “1 Village, 1 Dam” promise by Nana Addo, Ametor Quarmyne held a strong view that it is not possible for Nana Addo to bring his promise to fruition.

Kevin Prince Boateng

It is familiar territory for Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng after getting a one-match ban and fined $3,000.

The Spanish Football Federation hit him with the punitive measures after he displayed a message following his goal in Las Palmas' 5-1 victory over Granada. Boateng, 29, got his second goal for the side this season and showed a message of solidarity to the affected victims of the earthquake in Italy while celebrating.

The action, however, was against the rules. Article 91 of La Liga rules say: "The player who, during achievements or any other cause resulting from the vicissitudes of the game, showing a jersey that makes visible advertising, slogans, acronyms, anagrams or drawings, whatever they are and whatever the content or purpose of action will be punished as the perpetrator of a serious offence against co fined up to 3,000 Euros and a warning."

Rev Prof Martey

Security agencies must as a matter of urgency invite Rev Prof Emmanuel Martey for interrogation, Anti-corruption campaigner Vitus Azeem, has said.

This follows comments by the outgoing Presby Moderator that a political party attempted to bribe him with $100,000 to silence him.

“Politicians have tried all means to muzzle me, to get me but they can’t, they come with bribes, fat envelopes, $100, 000 … I want everybody to listen that politicians came to my house with $100, 000 and also with the promises that if you keep quiet, we will give you a house at Trasaaco with [a] swimming pool,” Rev Prof Martey said at a news conference on Tuesday.

One of the health training institutions in the Central Region, St. Andrew College of Healthcare, has taken a swipe at the Nurses and Midwifery Council (NMC) for labelling the school as “fake.”

And as a result of that, the school has started a legal action against the NMC to stop it from categorising the school as a fake institution.

The school, which is situated at the Assin Central constituency, according to the authorities of the school, is bent on dealing legally with the NMC unless it renders an unqualified apology to them.

Joseph Ade Coker - Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC

Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Ade Coker has said that Freddy Blay as a responsible Acting Chairman of the NPP shouldn’t have allowed his newspaper [Daily Guide] to publish a damaging story about his flagbearer’s health.

“We are not God to call for Nana Addo’s death. In fact New Patriotic Party (NPP) should give us a break and also stop putting words in our mouth. Nobody in the NDC can ever make such a comment against Nana Addo. Members of the NPP fabricated their own story, which they want to use as a yardstick of sympathy to be voted for come December 7,” he said.

Kwesi Pratt Slams Mahama's Critics

Kwesi Pratt Jn

Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr says he does not understand why President John Mahama is being criticised for remitting the sentence of the Montie 3 contemnors when he is not the first President to have done so.

According to him, other Heads of State have granted pardons in the past yet were hardly castigated; but “President Mahama does the same thing and he is challenged…what is it about President Mahama that brings about these things? The president has not under any circumstance supported what the Montie 3 did…the remorse being showed by the montie 3 is clear, yet President Mahama’s decision to grant remission of sentence to the montie 3 is being challenged…very strange".

Montie 3 (Mugabe, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn), were released from prison on Friday following the remission of their four-month sentence after they were convicted of contempt and jailed by the Supreme Court.

Manchester City

Manchester City were left top of the Premier League heading into the international break, following a 3-1 win at home to West Ham United on Sunday.

While there was plenty of excitement at Eastlands, the same could not be said of Sunday's earlier clash between two of the league's lesser lights as West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough played out a dispiriting goalless draw at The Hawthorns.

Raheem Sterling may have become the poster boy for England's woeful Euro 2016 campaign, which culminated in the embarrassment of a defeat by Iceland, but there was no denying the City forward's class as he scored twice against the Hammers at Eastlands.

Sterling finished off a slick move in the seventh minute to put City 1-0 up before Fernandinho doubled their lead when he headed in a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick 11 minutes later from seven yards out.

Ghana’s vice president, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has narrowly escaped an accident, which has left four persons, including journalists and presidential bodyguards injured.

A saloon car which failed to heed to the signal of the veep’s motorcade, crashed into one of the black SUV V8 vehicles causing it to somersault about four times before it rolled and landed upside down in a bush, TV3’s Komla Klutse reports.

The vehicle is the emergency car for the vice president, and is said to contain the guns and ammunitions of his security detail. It directly follows the one in which the veep sits.

The accident happened at Gomoa Adams, near Nsakyire junction on the Winneba – Cape Coast highway.

Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, Mr. Koku Anyidoho, has asked Ghanaians to ignore what he calls fake promises by the NPP flagbearer ahead of the 2016 elections.

Anyidoho’s call comes on the back of a latest promise by Nana Akufo-Addo that he will set up an irrigation dam in every village in the northern part of Ghana should he win the 7 December polls.

According to him, his ‘1 village, 1 dam’ policy is to help Ghana produce more food for its citizens and for export to the sub-region.

Hajj Pilgrims

Some thirty-nine female pilgrims from Ghana have been repatriated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“The Pilgrims Affairs Office, Ghana (PAOG), regret to announce the repatriation of some 39 female pilgrims from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” a statement from the Pilgrims office said.

According to the statement, those repatriated comprised of 9 minors and 30 others categorised as being “without guardians because they are less than 40 years.”

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requires that an adult male relative accompany all ladies less than 40 years old.

Mahama Govt Tops Corrupt List – Konadu

Nana Konadu Agyeman

Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has described the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government as the most corrupt administration under the 4th Republic.

She indicated that “at first we thought ex-President Kufuor’s administration was topping the list but with the rise in corrupt practices which have led to severe poverty, there is no doubt that this government tops the list.

“Businesses have collapsed and there is total hardship and poverty all over the place which has come about due to corrupt practices on the part of the present NDC government, Nana Konadu said.

Bombshell

She threatened to expose the mind-blowing corrupt practices under the NDC government especially as the general elections draw closer.

Anthony Karbo

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has shrugged off demands from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to apologise to President John Mahama for calling him incompetent, saying the president has run down the economy which is a mark of incompetence.

The NDC's flagbearer, President Mahama, has come under criticisms for attacking the character of Akufo-Addo during his tour of the Western and Northern Regions to solicit for votes.

Reacting to the criticisms, the spokesperson for the NDC campaign team, Joyce Bawa-Mogtari, said the NPP flagbearer drew the first blood by labelling the president as incompetent, demanding an apology from the NPP if it wants a truce.

Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah,

Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Head of University of Professional Studies’ Centre for Public Accountability, has raised concerns over poor revenue collection practice by authorities, culminating in government losing millions of income to entities every year.

He said, last year, six million registered taxpayers were supposed to pay income tax to government but only two million honoured – leaving a whopping four million go without paying levy – a situation that is largely attributed to being responsible for gross fiscal irresponsibility in the country.

These concerns were expressed when Mr Kan-Dapaah addressed participants on “the New Public financial management law: a comprehensive law on fiscal responsibility”, at the national forum on open governance.

The forum was organised by Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), a local chapter of Transparency International, on the topic: “Building an Open Government in Ghana, Why Open Governance Matters?”

Maurice Ampaw

A private legal practitioner, Maurice Ampaw began a 10-day hunger strike in protest of the release of the Montie 3.

Maurice Ampaw said as part of the protest, he will also go on a nationwide anti-Mahama campaign to thwart his (President Mahama's) second term bid in the upcoming elections.

Reacting to this, the Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper Kwesi Pratt Jnr said he is disappointed it is only one week.

Contributing to a panel discussion on Radio Gold's Alhaji and Alhaji, Pratt sarcastically asked: "why one week?"

"…if you want to go on hunger strike; one week?…more and more people who want to go on hunger strike should go…I am only disappointed it is only one week. I have been on hunger strike before for three weeks and being on hunger strike is not an easy matter…after the first six hours you go see something".

PPP Flagbearer, Papa Kwesi Nduom

Flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has urged the people in the Volta region to vote out the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) for its failure to improve their living conditions.

According to him, the people of the Volta region must vote not based on allegiance to the NDC, but for someone who will offer them jobs and strengthen the cedi.

‘’The Volta region is one region I hold dearly to my heart. The people of the Volta region are a hardworking people who will do wonders when given the opportunity, that is why this year everywhere I go the people tell me they are voting for jobs and not on allegiance’’.

‘’Everywhere I go, people say they are seeking for jobs, most people have identified Edwumawura as the solution, why don’t you join them in delivering the jobs the Ghanaians need?” he asked.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas was on Saturday crowned the overall best journalist of the year 2015 at the 21st Ghana Journalist Awards (GJA).

For his prize he took home a brand new Hyundai SUV.

Anas’ award was due to his recent exposé on corruption in the judiciary.

He captured 34 judges on video allegedly taking bribes to compromise justice.

So far, 26 of the judges have been sacked after being found guilty of the charges proffered against them.

The 21st GJA awards was on the theme: “Media for Undisputed and Peaceful 2016 Election: The Support of Civil Society.”

Chelsea swept to the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Burnley, while Arsenal won 3-1 at Watford to ease the pressure on Arsene Wenger on Saturday.

After a dismal title defence last season, Chelsea look revitalised under new manager Antonio Conte and the Italian was able to celebrate his third successive win after the most emphatic display of his brief reign.

Second-placed Manchester United are behind Chelsea only on goals scored after Marcus Rashford struck deep into second-half stoppage time to snatch a 1-0 win at Hull City.

So disappointing last term, Eden Hazard has made a vibrant start to the new campaign and the Belgium midfielder put Chelsea ahead with a superb run and clinical finish from the edge of the penalty area in the ninth minute at Stamford Bridge.

Man United meet Fenerbahce, Feyenoord

Manchester United

Manchester United will come up against their former striker Robin van Persie after being drawn in a tough Europa League group on Friday alongside Fenerbahce, Feyenoord and Zorya Luhansk.

Three-time European champions United must negotiate a competitive group if they are to win one of the few titles that has eluded them.

The Premier League side will face 19-times Turkish champions Fenerbahce, who missed out on the Champions League group stage after a 4-3 aggregate defeat by AS Monaco in the third qualifying round.

They are managed by former Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat and include ex-United forward Van Persie who began his career with Feyenoord.

The Dutch Cup holders finished third in the Eredivisie last season. Zorya qualified as Ukraine's fourth-placed team.

Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom

Flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has urged the people in the Volta region to vote for jobs and not based on allegiance.

According to Dr Nduom the Volta region has not been rewarded for their unflinching support to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) so they should endeavour to vote for someone who has the ability to create jobs and strengthen the cedi.

‘’The Volta region is one region I hold dearly to my heart. The people of the Volta region are a hardworking people who will do wonders when given the opportunity, that is why this year everywhere I go the people tell me they are voting for jobs and not on allegiance’’.

Bayern Munich draw Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid paired Dortmund

Pep Guardiola will return to Barcelona with Manchester City after his new club were paired with the Catalan giants in the Champions League.

They have been drawn in group C alongside Mönchengladbach and Celtic.

While, holders, Real Madrid, have been pitched against Borussia Dortmund in group F, the pair are in the same group with Sporting Lisbon and Legia Warsaw.

English Champions Leicester City have been drawn against two times champions of the European Cup, FC Porto with Club Brugge and Kobenhavn completing group G.

Juventus, the top seed in group H, have drawn with the five times champions of the Europa League, Sevilla, with Olympic Lyon and Dinamo ZagrebDinamo Zagreb.

Aggrieved ECG staff in Kumasi

Workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) are courting support from Ghanaians in protest of government’s decision to cede the company to a private investor.

Staff of the company who on are on a three-day sit-down strike across the country says they will persist until the citizenry joins them in the fight.
They say the proposed deal amounts to selling the company at the expense of their jobs and attendant bad impact on consumers.

ECG staff in the Ashanti Region spotting red outfits massed up at the regional office amid drumming, dancing and chants of disagreement on Friday.

John Boadu

Acting General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has indicated that the party will not leave any 'attack' from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) "unreplied".

He claims there are Ghanaian some electorates who can be induced with money as low as 5 cedis to change their minds and vote for a particular political party.

Due to this, the NPP will counter every criticisms from the ruling party directed at the party's flagbearer, Nana Addo.

“In Ghana, 10 cedis can change somebody’s mind to vote. Ghc 10 is even huge. Sometimes, 5 cedis; so if you leave it this way, you create problems for yourself," he said.

Uefa announced significant changes to the Champions League on Friday with the top four European leagues each guaranteed four places in the group stage from the 2018/19 season.

Under the present system, the top three leagues -- currently Spain, Germany and England -- have three places each while their fourth-placed teams must play off over two legs for a place in the group stage.

The fourth ranked league, currently Italy, have only two guaranteed places plus one in the playoff round.

Uefa uses a complicated coefficient to determine the rankings of the national leagues.

The changes came after Europe's top clubs had discussed the possibility of forming a Super League, possibly even without Uefa's authorisation.

Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, popularly known as 'Montie 3' have been released from prison after President John Mahama remitted the rest of their sentence.

One of the lawyers for the three, Edudzi Tamakloe confirmed this on his Facebook page with a post saying
"Happy seeing our clients after they were released from the Akuse Prison.
They were initially at Nsawam prison.
God bless President Mahama.
God bless Ghana.”

The three were given a four month sentence in July for criminal contempt of court after they threatened the lives of Supreme Court Justices on a live Montie FM radio programme.

After the three were sentenced, President John Mahama was petitioned to exercise his prerogative of mercy powers per Article 72 of the constitution to free them. According to the petitioners, the three have shown remorse for their comments hence the four month sentence was too harsh. The petition was subsequently forwarded to the Council of State according to the Constitution.

Daniel Obinim with some church members

Bishop Daniel Obinim, General Overseer of International God’s Way Church has recounted the ordeal he went through during his arrest and subsequent detention by the Police.

The preacher told his church members, family and friends that he felt very uncomfortable in handcuffs and at a point in time begged the men and women in black uniform to remove it but his plea fell on death ears.

“I went through hell. I tried to twist and turn my hands while in handcuffs but any time I try, the space in between my wrist and the handcuff closes. It was so painful”, he narrated to his people some few hours after he was granted Police inquiry bail.

The Sports Minister will fail if he doesn’t change

Kwasi Nyantakyi

Kwesi Nyantakyi has indicated that the Sports Minister, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye is bound to fail if he doesn’t change his leadership style.

The Sports Minister has made several comments about the GFA on radio, which didn’t go well with them and had also hit back at the Minister through the Communication Director of the Association.

Kwesi Nyantakyi, the GFA President in his first public utterances about the relation between and the Sports Minister has stated that the Sports Minister is bound to fail if he doesn’t change his style of leadership," he told Starr FM.

“The Minister has chosen to address the GFA through the media: I heard on air that there was going to be a meeting between the Ministry and the GFA on one Monday, and there was another time we heard of a meeting from a WhatsApp platform. I called the GFA Secretariat to confirm it and they told me they hadn’t received any communication from the Ministry,” Kwesi Nyantakyi.

Prof. Cephas Omenyo Elected New Moderator of Presby Church of Ghana

Professor Cephas Narh Omenyo

The bank has been the Financial Operator in four out of the five phases of the Rubber Outgrower Plantation Project (ROPP). The Phase I of the project was launched in 1995 and was co-financed by the Government of Ghana, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the World Bank.

This saw the development of 1,200 ha of rubber plantations for 400 Outgrower farmers within the Western Region. Phase II of the Project involved 500 new Outgrower farmers cultivating 2,855 ha of rubber and was co-financed by the Government of Ghana and AFD from year 2000 to 2003 with the Agricultural Development Bank as the Financial Operator.

Whilst many plant species produce natural rubber, quality and economics considerations limit the major source of natural rubber to one specie, Hevea brasiliensis. Rubber is a native of the Amazon basin and introduced to countries in the tropical belts of Asia and Africa during late 19th century.

It can be termed as the most far reaching and successful of introductions in plant history resulting in plantations over 9.3 million hectares.

The crop also known as the Para rubber tree after the Brazilian port of Para, is a quick growing, fairly sturdy, perennial tree of a height of 25 to 30 meters. The rubber tree may live for a hundred years or even more. But its economic life period in plantations averages 32 years – 7 years of immature phase and 25 years of productive phase.

President Mahama

The People’s National Convention expresses its shock and disappointment at the decision of the President to reduce the sentence of the Montie three.

Although the party does not dispute the fact that, the President is clothed with powers under the constitution to exercise prerogative of mercy on convicted persons, we hold the view that such power must always be exercised in a manner that advances national cohesion and progress.

To this end, we find the decision by the President to grant remission to these the Montie trio reprehensible, as it clearly undermines our collective efforts at deepening democracy and promoting national cohesion.

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, NDC General Secretary

General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia says it is a waste of time to engage in any debate over the reasons for which President John Dramani Mahama pardoned the infamous ‘Montie 3’.

“The President has acted within the remit of his powers; that is all. I don’t think it deserves the level of debate that is going on at all because this has nothing to do with the law but the power given to him in the constitution,” Asiedu Nketia stated on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show.

He stressed that President Mahama "under Article 72 has been given that power as all Presidents in Ghana have had occasion to exercise it, thus it is called a prerogative of mercy which can be exercised to free even a murderer if the President so desires."

Dr. Sulley Ali-Gabass

Following the remission of the sentence of the Montie three by president John Mahama on Monday, the family of Dr. Sulley Ali-Gabass have also initiated an online petition seeking a presidential pardon.

An Accra circuit sentenced the medical doctor to 25 years imprisonment for defiling a child under 16 years in 2015.

The petition said imprisonment of Dr Gabass "thus far, has served the purpose of not only correcting him, but will also deter others from committing a similar offense."

Samuel Ofosu Ampofo

National Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress [NDC], Samuel Ofosu Ampofo has stated that one would definitely be reformed after being in prison custody for a month.

“One cannot be in prison custody for a month and not change from the style of life that led him/her there,” he stressed.

Based on his comments concerning the decision of President Mahama in consultation with the Council of State to remit the sentences of the ‘Montie 3’, he noted “they would have themselves to blame should they come out of prison and yet behave in the manner that led to their four months imprisonment and a fine of GHȻ10,000.00 each for contempt of court.”

West Ham considering Ayew surgery

Andre Ayew

West Ham manager, Slaven Bilic, has now said the club will now consider whether to allow their Ghana international, Andre Ayew, have a surgery or not.

The 26-year-old had to leave the pitch in the first half at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea following a thigh injury, and could now face lesser number of months sidelined after the West Ham chairman confirmed that the Ghanaian could be out for four months.

Bilic thinks otherwise and says it will all depend on if the player goes under the knife, which could extend his time on the sidelines or lesser if he has no need for surgery.

The Hammers manager is, however, happy to see that Ayew is "very optimistic" despite the prospect of facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

"For Andre Ayew, there are two solutions, one with surgery and one without. We are going to decide which one soon.

Germany

Germany won women's Olympic football gold for the first time with a 2-1 victory over Sweden in the final in Rio.

Dzsenifer Marozsan put Germany ahead at the Maracana with a curling finish, and Sweden's Linda Sembrant gifted them a second by scoring an own goal after Marozsan's free-kick hit a post.

Stina Blackstenius pulled a goal back from Kosovare Asslani's low cross.

Germany face Brazil in the men's final on Saturday at 21:30 BST.

The oil and gas sector has so far provided 7,000 jobs in Ghana, President John Dramani Mahama has stated.

He said compliance with the local content policy regulations of the country had resulted in local companies getting $1 billion worth of contracts.

The Local Content Policy has been developed to provide opportunities for the local industry.

Tullow Oil Ghana Limited, the lead producer of the TEN oilfield, has achieved a remarkable record of providing more opportunities for the local industry compared to other offshore projects in the past.

Kwesi Pratt Jnr.

Kwesi Pratt has castigated Bishop Daniel Obinim for his insensitive public flogging of his amorous adopted children.

The Founder and Leader of the International God's Way Church, Bishop Obinim sparked public outrage after being seen in a video whipping his 14-year old adopted pregnant girl and her boyfriend in front of his congregation.

Bishop Obinim flogged the youngsters mercilessly with a belt as he persistently rained insults on them for having sex at that young age.

The unashamed man of God further asked his associate Pastors to take the baton and continue the public flogging on his behalf.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

The flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has urged the people of the Western Region to see beyond the “falsehoods” the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, President John Mahama is peddling on his campaign tour.

Nana Addo was speaking in response to President Mahama saying the NPP flagbearer’s recent observation on poor roads in the Western Region, was because he was sleeping on his five-day tour of that region.

Nana Addo had bemoaned the poor state of roads in the region criticizing the government for failing to honour its promise to fix the roads.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck twice and Paul Pogba, the world's most expensive player, shone on his return as Manchester United beat Southampton 2-0 on Friday to make it two wins from two Premier League games.

Ibrahimovic, playing his first home game for the club since leaving Paris St Germain in the close season, opened the scoring in the 36th minute when he produced a towering leap to power a header into the net from a cross by Wayne Rooney.

The 34-year-old Swede added a second from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after substitute Jordy Clasie fouled defender Luke Shaw as he drove into the box.

It was Ibrahimovic's third goal in two league games and guaranteed maximum points for manager Jose Mourinho on his first appearance in the home dugout.

NPP accuses First Lady of vote-buying

John Mahama and wife

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the First Lady, Lordina Mahama, of using millions of Ghanaian taxpayers’ money to share gifts across the country in exchange for votes come December elections.

Addressing a news conference in Accra on Wednesday, the acting General Secretary, John Boadu, said “the lavish gifts” being dished out by Mrs Mahama is worrying.

He said: “The wife of the President of the Republic is going around the country, with a fleet of trucks load of goodies, which she is sharing for votes. These run into millions of dollars."

Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom

The presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) for the December polls, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has thrown more light on his idea of trimming down the number of ministers to a maximum of 40 to reduce the cost of governance and set the tone for an effective restructuring of the public services.

In his opinion on ATV's 'Asem Yi Di Ka program', the number of ministers required at the centre should not be more than 13, including the Finance, Public Service, Foreign Affairs, Transportation (including roads, railways, aviation), Defence, Health and Education portfolios.

Baba Jamal

The Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Baba Jamal has called on President John Mahama not to pardon the infamous 'Montie 3' even though he has signed the petition book.

Following the sentencing of the three including Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, to four months in jail, after being found guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court, for threatening the lives of the judges who were presiding over a case on the credibility of the voters’ register, a petition book was opened calling on the president to pardon them.

Bishop Dag Heward - Mills

Bishop Dag Heward - Mills, the Founder and Bishop of the Lighthouse Chapel International, has noted that most African leaders are highly educated and products of world class universities, but lack wisdom.

He these leaders lack the ability to implement the knowledge acquired for the development of their countries.

“Even though most of these leaders are highly educated having received knowledge from these prestigious universities abroad, they lack the ability and wisdom to apply the knowledge for the benefit of their people,” he stressed.

He explained that it is lack of wisdom, that has culminated in developing countries to resort to borrowing and depending on the Western countries for aid and assistance, when the continent is well - endowed with natural resources, which could be harnessed its total development.

Bishop Heward – Mills was speaking on the first day of the Give Thyself Wholly Conference in organised in Accra at the Qodesh, the Headquarters of the Church for pastors and church workers across the globe.

The Progressive People’s Party’s (PPP) petition book, which is taking signatures to compel President John Mahama not to pardon the Montie 3 contemnors, has been stolen by unknown thugs.

The book, with about 1,700 signatures yet to be handed over to the President, is believed to have been stolen at the party headquarters after three young men had walked into the building in a pretence of signing the petition.

The party has since reported the incident to the Nima Police station for investigations.

READ ALSO:

Keep Montie FM trio in jail - Nduom signs petition

The party’s counter petition follows a petition spearheaded by a pro-governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) group called Research and Advocacy Platform (RAPS) that is seeking to compel the President to pardon a presenter, Salifu Maase, popularly known as Mugabe, and two panellists, Alistair Tairo Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn of an Accra-based Montie FM, who have been convicted by the Supreme Court.

NPP Suspended National Chairman, Paul Afoko

Spokesperson for the suspended National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko has opined that his boss will proceed all the way to the Supreme Court if they are still not satisfied with the outcome of the Appeals Court.

According to Nana Yaw Osei, since the law allows suspended Paul Afoko to go for an appeal after the High Court has given its verdict on his suspension case, Afoko’s team will resort to the Appeals Court to see how the three judges will decide on the case presided over by one judge.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Nana Yaw Osei averred the decision to go to the Appeals Court has nothing to do with the ruling of the High Court as it had been planned by the team to proceed to the Appeals Court if the outcome of the verdict at the High Court was not satisfactory.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has released its July language monitoring report showing the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) tops political parties that use indecent language on radio.

In the June, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) beat the NPP in the use of indecent expressions on radio.

During the month, a total of 44 indecent expressions were recorded on a total of 1,474 radio programmes monitored on 60 radio stations across the country.

Officials, supporters and members of the NPP made a total of 17 indecent expressions followed by officials, supporters and affiliates of the ruling NDC who made a total of 7 indecent expressions, said MFWA.

Veteran actor Kofi Middleton Mends has been reported dead.

Information available to NYDJLive.com indicates that the veteran Ghanaian actor Kofi Middleton Mends well known for his catch phrase, "Sarah, my socks" and TVC for 'Key Soap' passed away on Tuesday evening (August 16, 2016).
The accomplished actor, is also known for his role in "Grey Dawn" as Kweku Yanka and "No Tears for Ananse" (1968).

He played a major role in a 1988 drama film "Heritage...Africa". The movie which talks about a successful black civil servant's quest for increased power and status precipitates an identity crisis boasted his career.

Kofi Bentil

Legal practitioner Kofi Bentil has raised questions about the Supreme Court’s majority ruling on the 2012 election petition.

According to him, the court’s judgment failed to bring clarity or certainty in how Ghana’s elections must be conducted.

Speaking at a Public Forum on credible elections organised by pressure group, Let My Vote Count Alliance, Kofi Bentil argued that the election petition ruling totally put away the process used in conducting the elections, a move he said breaches every procedural justice principle.

The Supreme Court on August 29, 2013, upheld President John Mahama’s victory in the 2012 elections, following a petition filed by the opposition New Patriotic Party’s 2012 presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, together with his two-time Running Mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and party Chairman at the time, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.

Martin Amidu

One of Ghana’s most respected legal luminaries, and a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, Martin A. B. K Amidu, has described as unconstitutional, the procedure adopted by the Supreme Court in jailing the Montie FM trio.

The man, whose pursuit of justice for the state earned him the title ‘citizen vigilante,’thus becomes one of the first lawyers to boldly speak to the issue with such depth of explanations.

According to the outspoken lawyer, although the Supreme Court has the power to commit for contempt, it erred in this instance because the act in question occurred outside court.

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