5th All Africa Music Awards launched  in Accra

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Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Abelema Afeku, on Tuesday, September 18, joined hands with several stakeholders from the music industry on the Africa continent as well as iconic African musicians to launch the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) to be staged in Ghana.

The awards ceremony is the 5th edition and will be held on November 24  this year. Interestingly, Ghana will host the ceremony for three years running after taking the baton from Nigeria.

AFRIMA brings together musicians from all walks of life where legends and budding talents interact and perform to promote the spirit of Pan-Africanism.

Delivery the keynote address at the launch, Catherine Afeku stated that the opportunity to host the ceremony is a call for which Ghana needs to showcase its rich culture, tradition and that of Africa through music. 

The ceremony will be preceded by Africa Music Business Summit held annually to interrogate and strategies on the business of music in Africa while creating a synergy between business networking, development and economic empowerment for musical talents.

This will be two days before the main event where there will be a red carpet session and will be broadcast live on 24 local and international channels. 

Atinka news also spoke with Samini and King Promise about what they make of the awards ceremony, particularly the opportunities and mileage it would bring to the Ghanaian industry.

Notable amongst the celebrity musicians, sound engineers and producers were our own dancehalls icon, Samini, Livingston Etse Satekla, also known as Stonebwoy, Jupiter, Kuami Eugene, and King Promise.

Others are the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ziblim Iddi, President of AFRIMA, Mike Dada, Director of AFRIMA, Matlou Tsotetsi and several others from the Central, Eastern and Sothern Africa graced the occasion.

Ghana |Atinkaonline.com |Patrick Ofoe Nudzi

 

 

 

Politicians have widened inequality gap – Governance expert  

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Local Governance Expert at the Institute of Local Government, Dr. Eric Oduro Osae, has called for the awakening of the masses to hold politicians responsible and make them account for every little resource entrusted into their hands.

“We need to hold our politicians accountable for the management of the resources and vote them out if they fail,” he stressed.

Thus, governments are not the owners of our resources but trustees and we as people must benefit immensely from the trusteeship.

Government’s inability to do so has widened the poverty and inequality gap further.

And despite some progress in economic growth over the past two decades, recent trends suggest that the rich are capturing a greater share of benefits of growth per statistics available.

The politician, he mentioned has taken the Ghanaian people for a ride simply because we have as a people, been too relaxed in our demands. Hence we should ask questions about the budget at the national and district level.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

And that every Ghanaian ought to benefit from the policies successive governments have implemented, rather we only see the few rich and poor majority beneath the poverty ladder.

Speaking at a panel discussion at the launch of Inequality Research report by OXFAM, SEND-GHANA, and Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition in collaboration with UNICEF, Dr. Eric Oduro Osae questioned how leaders have not managed the abundant resources bestowed on us to our benefit. 

For instance, the report by OXFAM, SEND-GHANA, and Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition in collaboration with UNICEF reveals that Ghana’s Gini coefficient (a measure of inequality) grew by 3.3% points between 1992 and 20013.

It further stated that 60% of Ghanaians had a 35% share of total national income in 1998, but this has declined to 30% in 2012.

And that the wealthiest 10% 0f Ghanaians now share 32% of Ghana’s total consumption – more than is consumed by the bottom 60% of the population combined while the very poorest 10% of the population consumed only 2%.

However, Special Adviser to the President on the SDGs, Dr. Eugene Owusu, commended the research work and added that the government will quickly collaborate with CSOs to carry out the recommendations.

Ghana |Atinkaonline.com |Patrick Ofoe Nudzi

Liberia 'vanishing' cash: Travel ban imposed

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Liberia's government has banned 15 people, including the son of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, from leaving the country while it investigates the alleged disappearance of tens of millions of dollars intended for the central bank, the Ministry of Information has said in a statement.

Border posts have been informed that Charles Sirleaf, the deputy governor of the central bank, and Milton Weeks, the former governor of the bank, are among those barred from travelling abroad, the statement added.

Mr Sirleaf and Mr Weeks have not yet commented.

However, Mrs Sirleaf was quoted by the Front Page Africa news site as saying that the bank had given "full evidence and clarification" to refute allegations that the money had disappeared.

The government has ordered an investigation into the alleged disappearance of the newly printed bank notes that had reportedly come from abroad between November last year and August this year.

"The government… takes the ongoing investigation seriously because it has national security implications," the statement added.

The statement did not say how much had allegedly gone missing. Some reports put the number at around $60m (£45.6m) and others at around $100m.

The central bank had flatly denied that containers packed with the money had disappeared from the port in the capital, Monrovia, Liberia's Daily Observer news site reported.

Mrs Sirleaf, a former Nobel Peace Prize winner, stepped down as president in January after her two terms ended.

She was succeeded by former football star George Weah, following his stunning victory in elections a month earlier.


BBC

New York inmate's golf drawings lead to exoneration in murder

Daniel Opare
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A US convict whose talent for art caught the eye of a prison warden, ultimately leading to a review of his case, has been exonerated of murder.

Valentino Dixon's colour pencil drawings of golf courses were featured in Golf Digest – prompting advocates to uncover flawed evidence in the case.

Mr Dixon, 48, had maintained his innocence during 27 years behind bars for a shooting in Buffalo, New York.

He walked free after another man formally confessed to the murder.

Mr Dixon had served nearly two decades at a notorious prison in upstate New York when his artistic flair attracted the notice of correctional authorities.

The warden gave him a photograph of the famed Augusta National's 12th hole in the US state of Georgia, and asked if he would draw it for him.

"After 19 years in Attica Correctional Facility, the look of a golf hole spoke to me," said Mr Dixon.

"It seemed peaceful. I imagine playing it would be a lot like fishing."

Using colouring pencils, he began to create meticulous, lush drawings of various links and fairways.

"I didn't know anything about golf. I'm from the 'hood," he told local media.

His sketches impressed the editors at Golf Digest, which featured his artwork and a profile of the prisoner in 2012.

"Maybe one day I'll get to play the game I've only imagined," Mr Dixon said in the article, describing how he drew landscapes he has never seen.

The magazine's coverage spurred wrongful-conviction advocates to look into the matter. Georgetown University law students championed his case.

Mr Dixon was handed a minimum 38-year-to-life sentence for killing 17-year-old Torriano Jackson one night in August 1991, after an argument over a girl.

He acknowledged being at the crime scene, but said he was at a nearby shop buying beer when the gunshots rang out.

Mr Dixon said multiple witnesses could have testified he did not fire the gun.

But his trial lawyer did not call any of them as several had been accused of perjury.

Unusually, the investigating homicide detective did not testify during the trial either.

But a more serious flaw in the case was uncovered by Georgetown University's Prisons and Justice Initiative.

Prosecutors had omitted to reveal to Mr Dixon's defence attorney that a gunpowder test on his client's clothes had come back negative.

Perhaps even more egregiously, another man, Lamarr Scott, admitted to local media only days after the murder that he shot Torriano Jackson.

Scott told a WGRZ-TV reporter: "I don't want my friend [Mr Dixon] to take the rap for something that I did."

But he was never arrested. The victim's brother said he saw Mr Dixon open fire.

According to the Buffalo News, prosecutors conceded that Scott had been admitting his guilt in the case for a long time.

"Mr Scott has been confessing to this crime since 12 August 1991," Assistant District Attorney Sara Dee told the court.

"He has confessed to this crime in excess of 10 times."

Lamarr Scott – who is currently in jail for a separate attack – finally had the chance to formally confess to the crime on Wednesday.

Hours later, Mr Dixon was released.

"I grabbed the gun," Scott, now 46, told the courtroom in Erie, New York.

"I pulled the trigger and all the bullets came out. Unfortunately, Torriano ended up dying."

It was Erie County District Attorney John Flynn – in the job less than a year – who ordered a review of the case.

But despite Mr Dixon's exoneration, prosecutors say he did provide the murder weapon, which they described as a machine gun.

They also said he was an "up-and-coming drug dealer" in Buffalo at the time of his arrest.

"Mr Dixon is innocent of the shooting and of the murder for what he was found guilty of, but Mr Dixon brought the gun to the fight," said the district attorney.

"It's the greatest feeling in the world," he said as he walked a free man from court in Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday.

He was greeted outside by his daughter, who was a baby when he was jailed.

The 27-year-old brought along her own 14-month-old twins.

Mr Dixon says he hopes to keep up his illustrations, and even visit a golf course in real life someday.

"With his mind and body intact, Dixon hopefully has some good years ahead," Golf Digest wrote on Wednesday.

"Maybe he'll even take up golf."

BBC

 

Airline spells own name wrong on new plane

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An airline has had to send a new plane back to the paint shop after the company's name was spelled incorrectly on it.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific painted its name as "Cathay Paciic" on the side of the jet.

Eagle-eyed travellers spotted the mistake at Hong Kong International Airport and contacted the airline.

"Oops this special livery won't last long! She's going back to the shop!" the company joked on Twitter.

The airline said it was a genuine mistake, although some in the industry said it was inexplicable.

"The spacing is too on-point for a mishap," an engineer for Haeco, a sister company of the airline, told the South China Morning Post.

"There should be a blank gap in between letters if it was a real mistake I think."

Social media users saw the funny side, however.

BBC

Inflation rate for August down to 7% from 8.2%

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 The Producer Price Inflation rate for August 2018 is 7.0 % according to Acting government statistician, Baah Awadieh. 

He said the rate indicates that between August 2017 and August 2018 year-on-year, the producer price index (PPI) increased by 7.0%. This rate represents  1.2 % in producer inflation relative to the rate recorded in July 2018 8.2%. The month-on-month change in producer price index between July 2018 and August 2018 was -0.1%.

He added that the producer price inflation in the Mining and Quarrying sub-sector decreased by 5.6 % over the July 2018 rate of 7. % to record 1.9 % in August 2018. 

The producer inflation for manufacturing which constitutes more than two-thirds of total industry decreased by 0.4 % to record 10.0 percent. The utility sub-sector recorded inflation of -0.2 % in August 2018 indicating no change in inflation.

In August 2017, the producer price inflation rate for all industry was 6.6 percent. The rate increased consistently to record 8.3 % in October 2017 but declined to 7.1 % in November 2017. 

In December 2017, the rate increased to 8.7 % but decreased consistently to record 3.7 % in March 2018. It increased to 6.4 % in April 2018 and then to 7. % in May 2018. The rate increased again to record 7.7 % in June 2018. In July 2018, the rate increased further to record 8.2 % but declined to 7.0 percent in August 2018.

During the month of August 2018, three out of the sixteen major groups in the manufacturing sub-sector recorded inflation rates higher than the sector average of 10.0 %. Manufacture of coke, refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel recorded the highest inflation rate of 41.6 %, while Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products recorded the lowest producer price inflation rate of   -0.5%.

The producer inflation rate in the petroleum sub-sector was 23.2 % in August 2017. Subsequently, it increased consistently to record 36.9 % in October 2017 but declined to 27.7 % in November 2017. 

The rate increased to 36.4 % in December 2017 but declined consistently to record 15.9 % in March 2018. Subsequently, the rate consistently increased to record 44.2 % in June 2018. 

The rate decreased to 42.2 % in July 2018 and then to 41.6 % in August 2018.

The year-on-year producer inflation for all industry was 7.0 % in August 2018; the monthly change rate was -0.1 percent.

The Manufacturing sub-sector recorded the highest year-on-year producer price inflation rate of 10.0 %, followed by the Mining and Quarrying sub-sector with 1.9 %. 

The utility sub-sector recorded the lowest year-on-year producer inflation of -0.2 %.

With respect to the monthly changes, Manufacturing recorded the highest inflation rate of 0.2 % followed by the utility sub-sector with 0.1 % The Mining and quarrying sub-sector recorded -1.4 %

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
 

Football administrator under fire over sexist comments against female members of Normalization  Comm.

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Pressure is mounting on maverick football administrator Takyi Arhin, known in football circles as ‘Thunder’, to retract and apologise for his sexist comments against two members of the FIFA Normalization Committee.

The Techiman Eleven Wonders FC Chief Executive launched a brutal attack against former Airtel CEO MS Lucy Quist and Naa Odoforley Nortey, describing them as “beauty pageants” who have nothing to offer Ghana football.

Ms. Quist and  Naa Odoforley were named on FIFA’s Normalization Committee that is tasked to manage Ghana Football and return it to track following Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ expose detailing widespread corruption in the game.

Despite the two women boasting of illustrious backgrounds and passing FIFA’ integrity test, Arhin claims they lack the requisite knowledge and experience for the positions, and only got appointments to serve a political interest.

Arhin further described Naa Odoforley, a board member of the Attorney General’s Department as a “young innocent girl who has nothing to offer”.

The comments have incensed some prominent members of the football family, calling on the former Berekum Arsenal CEO to retract and render an unqualified apology. Key amongst them is former Ghana Football Association Vice President Fred Pappoe, who describes Takyi Arhin’s comments as unfortunate and immature.

In an interview with Saddick Adams on Atinka FM’s Total Sports Show, Pappoe descended heavily on Arhin, saying such comments will go a long way to hurt the image of football especially at a critical time the game is battling credibility crisis.

“I call on him (Takyi Arhin) to retract the comments and apologise unreservedly to the members.

“I’m very sure his comments do not represent the views of even 2% of people in football,” he said.

Meanwhile, experienced sports journalist Veronica Commey, speaking on the same programme, feels apology would not be enough to undo the damage caused the reputation of the two women and wants a stiffer punishment for Takyi Arhin for such sexist comments.

“It is very unfortunate to make these comments just because they are women. It is unfair to make these derogatory remarks to discredit and discourage women from undertaking such high positions.

“It is a loose talk and I think he should apologise and retract. An apology won’t be enough; he needs to be punished severely,” she added.

Takyi Arhin, who has been critical of the composition of the Normalization Committee, has even suggested that the two women are on the committee just as beauty contestants and potential candidates for extracurricular activities.

It is understood that the Normalization Committee will not take such remarks lightly and the football administrator could be set for tough punishment.

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Fuel hike: GPRTU to meet transport unions over possible fare increment

Daniel Opare
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The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has announced a meeting with the other transport unions over the increase in fuel prices.

According to the Greater Accra Chairman of the GPRTU, Robert Sabah, although the increase is less than 10% and therefore, does not call for an increment in fares, the unions will meet over a likely increase in transport fares because the 5% fuel increment will to a large extent trigger increases in the prices of other commodities.

Greater Accra Chairman of the GPRTU, Robert Sabah, made this statement in an interview with Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive Wednesday.

He noted that the GPRTU will have no option than to increase public transport fares if the accumulated increase in the prices of other commodities exceeds 10%.

“Cost of vehicle spare parts, inflation, the cedi-dollar rate, the cost of vehicle etc will be taken into consideration and the outcome will determine whether there will be an increase in transport fares or not,” he added.

He, however, asked passengers to resist any attempt by individual public transport owners to impose a new fare, adding that the GPRTU has not released a statement to that effect.

According to him, the GPRTU will release a statement on the fuel hike and public transport fares in due course.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa  

Mahama embarks on four -day tour of Central Region

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Former President John Dramani Mahama is embarking on a four-day tour of the Central Region.

The tour forms part of his preparations to canvass for votes to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as its flagbearer for the 2020 elections.

The tour dubbed, “Itinerary for JM’s Campaign Tour in CR”, is expected to touch base with all the districts in the Region.

Mahama who officially declared his intention on Thursday, August 23, 2018, to contest his party’s flagbearership brought to an end, months of speculation in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Ghana as a whole as to whether the former President would seek the leadership of the party one more time.

The Central regional tour will see  Mahama visit  Awutu/Senya East, Gomoa East, Ajumako/Enyan/Esiam, Mfantseman, Cape Coast Nort, Upper Denkyira East.
 

Ghana | Atinkaonline

Double track: The best way to go – Kufour

Daniel Opare
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Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, says the  Double Track system is a good initiative.

Speaking to a group of students from the Doxa Open University at his residence Tuesday, Mr. Kufour suggested that with the current trend of the world's evolvement, it is imperative that the minimum educational level should be the 2nd cycle.

In his view, in as much government wants to improve the educational level of  Ghanaian youth through the double track system, the policy is not an everlasting one.

According to him, the policy will go a long way to help curb the increasing number of teenage pregnancy and Juvenile delinquency.

“The good thing about this effort [double track] is that the government has come out to say that it is not a permanent solution and that it is a transitional program government is perusing and that in six years’ time, government would have put in place adequate infrastructure so we would not have to live on the double track system,” he said.

 Former Chief of Staff in the Kufour-led government, Mr. Kojo Mpiani,  said the fact that students are in excess compared to infrastructure, does not mean that others should be left behind.

According to him, persons with better alternatives and suggestions on how to effectively manage the double track program, should be brought to the fore.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

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