Valerie Sawyerr is back with “Bird of The Night”; shreds Martin Amidu

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Controversial politician, Valerie Sawyerr, has taken  incoming Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, to the cleaners in her new epistle titled, “  Bird Of The Night”

Read on: 

BIRD OF THE NIGHT (Part I)

By Dr. Valerie E. Sawyerr
Vilified even in death, Professor Mills stands taller than the vilifier!
Lied about even in death, Professor Mills stands higher than the liar!!
Indeed, he who God has blessed, no man can curse!!!
In Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’, Casca said in Act 1 Scene III
‘And yesterday the bird of the night did sit
Even at noon-day upon the marketplace

Hooting and shrieking’.
On the evening of February 13, 2018, the day of Martin Amidu’s Parliamentary vetting, I lay down to sleep. I tossed and turned! Then I prayed:
“God, the Bible says you are no respecter of persons. I know that you allow mortals to get away with so many things because of your mercy and your grace. But I also know that when the time is right in your estimation, you mesmerise and confound us with your wisdom in exposing what should be exposed for the betterment of mankind. Your will is supreme Lord – may it be done according to your wisdom knowledge and judgment.

… Because you are a God of truth, I know you will not use ‘perceptions’ to judge us … because you are a God of truth, I know that you will not use information from ‘open-source methods’ to condemn us … because you are a God of truth, I know you will not use ‘unconfirmed intelligence’ to sentence us.”
I drifted into sleep, then I heard the voice of Professor Mills from far away – illusion or reality, I cannot say – “Remind Martin Amidu that God has mastery over his soul and that he will account for all evil. Encourage him to repent before it is too late because God is still a God of grace … but judgment day will come”.
I woke up seeking answers to questions:

a. Martin, for a while now you have been saying that you fell out with President John Evans Atta Mills because he tried to prevent you from pursuing the Woyome case. On Tuesday, I heard you say that you fell out with the good Professor because of a ‘breach of trust’. Which is the truth please?

b. Martin, on Tuesday I heard you say that you made allegations about the former Attorney-General Betty Mould Iddrisu to President Atta Mills. He then arranged a meeting where she was present for you to recount your allegations. This is what you considered ‘breach of trust’ because her husband was your ‘brother’, so he should not have called you to recount your allegations in her presence. Did the wise Professor arrange that meeting so that Betty would have a chance to respond to your allegations, please?

c. Martin, one of the basic tenets of Natural Justice is the audi alteram partem rule. I know you are very much aware that this Latin phrase means ‘listen to the other side’ or ‘let the other side be heard as well’. It is the principle that no person should be judged without a fair hearing in which each party is given the opportunity to respond to the evidence against them. As a self-proclaimed Citizen Vigilante and Defender of the Constitution, do you believe in application of the rules of Natural Justice please?

d. Martin, did you think you could make such strong allegations against a fellow Minister and the learned Professor would keep them secret and strike her a blow without giving her a chance to be heard? Kindly help me understand why? Are you above the law… or is it that when you speak no one else should speak? Are you the be all and end all… the beginning and the end?

Indeed, all who knew the astute Professor knew that he did not suffer bullies and cowards lightly. You could not get away with any backstabbing allegations without him arranging a meeting between accuser and the accused. He was a man who walked the talk.

Many a time, appointees had the shock of their lives when after making allegations against others, they would be in Prof’s office when the other party would be ushered in by his ADC, and Prof would ask them to recount their allegations in the presence of the person they had accused. That was one of Prof’s ‘fair-play’ tactics. It made him unique in a vicious political environment riddled with backstabbing, petty accusations, major allegations and ‘wizardry witchcraft’.
So Prof called Betty to respond to your allegations in your presence and all of a sudden hell broke loose? There was screaming like a barn owl (Tyto Alba), shrieking like a bobcat (Lynx Rufus), wailing like a banshee (some call it Ignis Faatus), prancing around like an orangutan (Pongo Abelii/Pongo Pygmaeus), use of language and gestures unbecoming of an appointee towards a sitting President, even attempts in chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes) style to physically assault a sitting President?
Why? Because it is against your custom for him to call the wife of your elder brother (Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu) in your presence to listen to your allegations and defend herself, even when the wife of that elder brother is the same person you were accusing of the most horrible crimes? So because of your ‘custom’ the rules of Natural Justice should be disregarded?

You are lucky that quintessential gentlemen like Mr. Bebaako Mensah and Mr. Martey Newman were the ones in the room and you know they are unwilling to break their silence. That is why you can provocatively brandish Bebaako’s name all over the place with bravado saying – ‘Ambassador to the Vatican, call him and ask him’. You are very lucky! But one day, even the quintessential gentlemen will speak. Do not push them too far!
What about the security men who had to be restrained by Mr. Newman because they burst into the room knowing the sitting President was under threat? Were they also hallucinating?

I don’t blame you Martin! You can afford to be brash and brazen when dealing with ‘nice democratic’ Presidents like Egya Atta and Baba JM. I dare you to do it to President Akufo-Addo and you will ‘see your how far’, since he has made it clear that he will ruthlessly devour anything in his path.
I will wait patiently for that day, because that day will surely come. Imagine the look of shock on your face when the President does not wait for his security personnel but he himself lands a solid punch on your ‘bofrot’… after all… All Dieeeee Be Dieeeee! Even Papa J will not be able to save you that day. Pardon me for laughing so hard. Visualising the scene tickles me pink – President AA lands solid punch on SP’s bofrot as JJ tries to separate the two. Saayooooo, onukpa bε dzεmε lo?
By the way did you know that Wikipedia lists Ghana’s ‘bofrot’ as an ‘imported doughnut product’. In Ghana, I guess we could describe it as a round ball of dough (flour, sugar, yeast, nutmeg, salt and water) deep-fried in hot oil to a golden-brown tint – crispy outside, full of dough and air inside.

So all hail the new Special Prosecutor designate! King of kings! Boss-less appointee! He who serves as deputy to an Attorney General and the Attorney-General is not his boss? He who serves as Attorney-General to a President and the President is not his boss? Even when he proclaimed himself the Shadow Vice-President he still did not have a boss?
If you are a ‘man’, tell J.J. Rawlings that he was never your boss. Please let me know the day and time so I will perch on the wall like a fly. I chuckle as I ponder whose defence I would come to. That’s a difficult one! Since I can’t make up my mind, maybe I will just ‘boot’ both sets of balls and run quickly before both turn on me, happily forgetting that they are the two wrestlers and I am simply a humble spectator… oops ‘citizen’.

The Bird of the Night is defined as a ‘nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and a large head with front-facing eyes’.
In Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Ceasar’, Casca speaks to Cicero on the eve of the Ides of March describing bad omens he had witnessed – hearing an owl hooting and screeching in the middle of the day – which he considered a bad omen. Cicero dismissed Casca’s omens, insisting that natural explanations exist even when things appear to be unnatural. Later Casca met Cassius and they discussed the omens. Cassius said that the bad omens meant trouble for Julius Caesar. The Bird of Night was a warning to prepare for a tragedy that would soon befall Caesar.

Did you know that the Flammulated Owl is also known as the Psiloscops Flammeolus and the Night Hawk, Chordeiles Minor?
Papa Alamisi, at your vetting, you dodged the question about your NDC membership with dexterity. Your answer seemed to be that as a nominee for the position of Special Prosecutor, the law enjoins that you must be neutral, so you will be neutral. What exactly does that mean please? Are you still a card-bearing member of the NDC or not? Are you a card-bearing member of the NPP or not? Who are you kidding? Does President Akuffo Addo think it is acceptable to appoint a Special Prosecutor who holds a Political Party membership card?

It is a reasonable and legitimate expectation of the citizenry that the Special Prosecutor is not a card-bearing member of any Political Party in the country. Indeed, it behoves on Parliament to ensure your resignation as Political Party member before your confirmation as Special Prosecutor, instead of hiding behind the skirt of Chairman Osei Wusu.
Please do not bring up the matter of the NDC Council of Elders’ directives that no member of the NDC should engage in any public or media tango. As far as I am concerned you are no longer in a position to be a member of the NDC so the directives of the Council of Elders no longer apply to you. Unless you are saying that since you have not given up your card or officially resigned, you are still a member of the NDC. Hehehe Hehehe!

Talking about our revered Council of Elders, I sent them a complaint last year September about some persons who had flouted their directives in relation to me. In October, I received a nice letter thanking me for the mature manner in presenting the matter to them and promising that they were looking into the matter. I have not heard from them after that. NDC! NDC! NDC! The disciplinary structures of the Party must work without fear or favour, if we intend to send Mr. Promise & Fail and Mr. Arrest the Cedi into retirement in 2020.

Bird of the Night! The Great Horned Owl is known as the Bubo Virginianus. It has a repertoire of sounds, ranging from deep booming hoots to shrill shrieks.
In Ghana we call the owl Patu, Petuo, Adzexe, Vigu, Vixu, Viuk!
Hahaha! We fear not!! Holy Ghost Fire dey!!!
Shalom! 
I am for peace!


Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Over 20,000 ghost names found under YEA sanitation module

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A review by the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has revealed over 20,000 ghost names under its sanitation module. 

Out of a total number of 62,825 beneficiaries on the YEA’s pay role, only 42,420 has been accounted for.

Speaking to pressmen in Accra Wednesday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the agency, Lawyer Justine Konduah Frimpong said the review was part of measures to ensure value for money and protecting the public purse.

The agency has therefore directed all companies interested in the sanitation module to reapply.

In the case of Zoomlion, one of Ghana’s most known figure in waste management, the YEA boss said, a total figure of 45,320 presented to the agency by Zoomlion Ghana as beneficiaries across the country, 38,884 was evidenced after a head count.

However, in a response to the discrepancy in the data, Zoomlion Ghana limited contended that, beneficiary apathy and short notice given to beneficiaries accounted for the discrepancy, Justine Konduah said.

The exercise according to him revealed that, most of the beneficiaries were recruited without recourse to the employment agency.

In addition, the review established that a beneficiary is paid GHC100 as monthly salary while GHC400 goes to the service provider as management fees.

“Zoomlion Ghana limited has till date been unable to furnish the agency with payment records of beneficiaries on their payroll,” he mentioned.

Per the findings, the CEO recounted that “all persons interested in working under the sanitation module are to reapply on a date soon to be communicated and will be subjected to competitive bidding in line with the YEA Act and Legal Instrument”.

As part of that, subsequent arrangements with the service providers will pay beneficiaries deservedly.

In the meantime, a total of 19,900 jobs have been created he said.

Atinkaonline.com|Simon Agbovi|[email protected]
 

GCB outdoors Brand Ambassadors to increase brand awareness, sales

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GCB, as part of its commitment to become a frontline banking institution in the country Wednesday outdoored over 200 Golden Eagle Ambassadors to represent the bank in a positive light to increase its brand awareness and sales.

They will be working across the ten regions as well as the districts and towns.

The Ambassadors who were chosen within the various branches of the Bank were selected based on the ability to lead, inspire, communicate, resolve problems, influence and network customers and citizenry about products and services of GCB.

The Head of Human Resource Department at GCB, Ishaque Kojo Essel, remarked that the Ambassadors are positive spokespersons, opinion leaders and community influencers appointed as internal agents to boost product or service sales and create brand awareness.

 “You are an embodiment of our great bank’s identity in appearance, demeanor, values and ethics and you should be able to use promotional strategies that will strengthen the customer-product-service relationship and influence a large audience to buy and consume the bank’s products and services more,” he said. 

Speaking under the theme: “Brand Ambassadors: Embodiment of GCB”, Ishaque Kojo Essel noted that organizations that approach branding from the inside out build a strong foundation for success. “This is where I want all of us to carry GCB,” he said.   

According to him, it is common for people to assume that branding is about a change in the brand mark without much emphasis on the human resources. However, the human aspect is key to the success of any branding project.

Therefore, strong brands are built by strong talents, and in admonishment, he asked that they (Ambassadors) should exhibit positive work attitudes and live the brand values of the Bank as reflected in the acronym STARS – meaning service, trust, action, relationship and smiles.

He cautioned them to build loyalty with their colleagues and not lord over them as acting as role model will help them feel more comfortable in sharing information about the Bank.

Ghana |Atinkaonline.com |Patrick Ofoe Nudzi   


 

Okuapeman youth warn Gloria Akuffo over chieftaincy crisis 

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A group calling itself the Concerned Youth of Okuapeman, has warned the Attorney General, Ms Gloria Akuffo, not to meddle in the Okuapeman chieftaincy issues. 

In a statement, the group accused the minister of scheming to have her preferred candidate selected as Okuapehene ever since she was appointed Attorney General.

 “As natives of Okuapeman we are aware of the submission of your choice of candidate Odihye Amaning to the Okuapehemaa which was not accepted,” the group said in a statement. 

The group said it is bewildered at the manner in which the Attorney’s General’s office has decided to also seek reliefs for contempt charges against the Okuapehemaa together with the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Kwakye-Darfuor through the Regional Coordinating Council to Nana Afua Nketia Obuo, Queen Mother of the Akuapem Traditional Area


Below is the full statement:

CONCERNED YOUTH OF OKUAPEMAN 

21st February, 2018

PETITION: ATTORNEY GENERAL MUST STAY AWAY FROM OKUAPEMAN CHIEFTANCY ISSUES  
AFTER YOUR CANDIDATE WAS REJECTED, IT’S ALLEDGED THAT YOU ARE NOW USING YOUR OFFICE TO FRUSTRATE EFFORTS THROUGH THE COURT.

I.    Hon Gloria Akuffo ever since you were appointed as the Attorney General of Ghana, you have used every means and effort to make sure the candidate of your choice becomes the next Okuapehene.  

II.    As natives of Okuapeman we are aware of the submission of your choice of candidate Odihye Amaning to the Okuapehemaa which was not accepted.

III.    We the natives of Okuapeman have a lot or respect for you and your high office and admire you courage as a woman of purpose, substance and stature. All we plead is for you to refrain from meddling in the processes leading to the swearing in Nana Oboubi Atiemo 11- Elect  as the  next Okuapehene.This petition has become imperative for the following reasons:

IV.    Last year in December a seven-member committee was set up by the Akuapem Traditional Council to resolve the crisis that has erupted over the enstoolment of a new Okuapehene. Various groups and contending interests are jostling for vantage positions ahead of the outdooring ceremony. 
V.    The Regional Minister together with your good office are seeking reliefs for at the  court for an injunction to be placed ahead of the outdooring ceremony of the enstoolment of the New Okuapehene Elect. 
VI.    Deep respect for leaders is a pillar of the culture of the Akwapim people, is one of Ghana’s decent ethnic groups. So we accord you such respect.
VII.    “We are today bewildered at the manner which your office has decided to also seek reliefs for contempt charges against  the Okuapehemaa together with the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Kwakye-Darfuor through the Regional Coordinating Council to Nana Afua Nketia Obuo Queen mother of the Akuapem Traditional Area.

VIII.    As Concerned Youth of Okuapeman, we want to alert you that the magnanimity and benevolence of the Okuapehemaa and the traditional council must not be taken for granted.


IX.    We also want to alert you, Madam Gloria Akuffo and the Regional Minister that the Okuapehemea is a first-class monarch. The most prominent woman in Okuapeman and is the leader of all the traditional Queen mothers on the Akwapim land. And doubles as the custodian of the authentic history of the race and installations in Okuapeman. 
X.    As the Queemother of Okuapeman she is a stranger to controversy and this behavior of the royal institution of the chieftaincy in Okuapeman.

XI.    This move, by you as a member of the committee that rejected Kojo Kesse portrays a bad blood to the people of Okuapeman and a bad faith with the traditional council. 


XII.    As an AG you should know that role of traditional institutions in building a harmonious society cannot be over emphasised, as traditional rulers they are the repository and custodians of cultural and traditional values.
XIII.    We see this latest move to seek relief for contempt charges by your good office and the Regional Minister as obnoxious and objectionable and is likely to create tension in Okuapeman. 
XIV.    Currently the injunction has had it purpose fulfilled as a ploy to scatter the work of the committee chaired by the Adontenhene of Akuapem and Aburihene and other respected chiefs. 
XV.    The committee was set up last during an end-of-year meeting of the Akuapem Traditional Council at Akropong in the Eastern region.
XVI.    The latest most obnoxious and objectionable plot is by some illegal king makers to use government in a bid to accord undue advantage to a preferred aspirant.

XVII.    This is contrary to the agreed arrangement of tradition which has at no time been changed. 

XVIII.    It will be a slap on the face and an insult on the face of Okuapeman where wrong Politicians/Leaders that few illegal Members can sit down and determine who to elect.


XIX.    We as a group pledge to support only a free and fair process where a new Okuapehene will be outdoored .This decision is to forestall a change in our history. 

XX.    The committee chaired by the Adontenhene of Akuapem and Aburihene, Nana Djan Kwesi II, has Odeefour Oteng Koranteng II, Berekusohene, Okatakyie Kusi Obuadum Amoyaw V, Aseseesohene as members.
XXI.    The rest  Osabarima Opese Konadu II, Awukuguahene and acting Nifahene, Nana Sakyi Amoako,Adawsohene, Osaberima Asiedu Okoo Ababioo III,Lartehene and Akuapem Berkumhene and Nana Ansa Sesreku II, Manfehene and Akuapem Kyidomhene have been  dissolved  because of the fear for their  lifes. Its unprecedented 
XXII.    The committee was set up last during an end-of-year meeting of the Akuapem Traditional Council at Akropong in the Eastern region. As the Attorney General with a lineage in Okuapeman we thought  it’s a good news to you  about the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) that has been adapted by the house ,since your office has a lot of pressures.
 
XXIII.    We have realized that unsatisfied with the choice of the Sakyiabea clan you are using your good office to aid reliefs of contempt charges and injunctions to frustrate the Okuapehemaa  from  performing her role traditional role.

.
XXIV.    We reecho that disputes have increased in the region and as concerned Youth of Okuapeman, we recognize that the role of the chieftaincy institution is relevant as ever. We would always want to see you as a role model, as we continue to seek and emulate you Madam .As the Attorney General of Ghana, we humbly advise you to stay away from Okuapeman chieftaincy issues.
 
XXV.    We are aware of your meetings and subsequent meeting with the Okuapehemaa and some of the Kingmakers to try and bring Odihye Amaning. 

XXVI.    These activities since the commencement of the process of installing the next Okuapehene have tended to instigate and fuel the litigation over by the same royal House that you belong to as a prelude to the installation of a new Okuapehene.

XXVII.    These tendencies have given some people the opportunity and are moving around as political cocks taking to the streets, strutting around with selfish ideas for sale in Okuapeman.

XXVIII.    From every available statistics and evidence, the Okuapehemaa has done what is right with 90 percent of the chiefs supporting her.

XXIX.    These actions have given ingredient to some political buccaneers like Victor Newman with no clear vision or mission for Okuapeman. Only interested in what they will garner from the Okuapeman issues while using coated vendetta and fake honesty as tools of playing to the gallery. 

XXX.    As Concerned Youth of Okuapeman, we know it’s unarguably an inalienable right of the people in many modern societies today, including Ghana, UK, and the USA, and should be constructive, not destructive, criticisms from the citizens, so that it would be part of the manure on which any nation is grown.

XXXI.    We should also know that Impatient, ignorant, ill-motivated, unbalanced national criticism is one of the potent factors that have led to the Short-sighted Ghanaian national politics.

XXXII.    I also know that President Nana Akuffo Addo wants Ghana to develop and grow as a nation and to this end, but not a pattern of sociopolitical agenda on chieftaincy issues made out of personal envy, out of ignorance, ethnicity, clannishness, and negative ulterior motives.

XXXIII.     We should remember that we are the followers, of the party the rest are the people are the base of the nation now and today, we need them .so we must be ready to mend our ways.

XXXIV.     Unless we are ready to change our individual character in truth and spirit for the better, we will not be able to correct the ills in  government tomorrow, and we will not get better as a country.

XXXV.     Strong political institutions, effective cannot install themselves in any society or traditional authority; they cannot fall from heaven or from the skies; they need strong, good leaders for them to be installed in the society that is what we seek from you madam.

XXXVI.    When President Nana Addo appointed you, we believed that he had consistently reiterated that he would always ensure that Ghanaian government offices are occupied by Ghanaian good men and women, Ghanaians who really love Ghana, so that leadership sagacity/vision would troop into Ghanaian politics and traditions. That is what has been done in all better democracies and politics. That is why we as concerned youth on Okuapeman are calling on you to advice yourself.

XXXVII.    We also want to state emphatically as the Concerned Youth of Okuapeman takes responsibilities on all congratulatory messages both print and indoor and outdoor messages on the New Okuapehene Elect  Nana Oboubi Atiemo 11, Something we did with pride.

Gloria Akuffos Report to Current Okuapehemae.
To avert what was considered a sacrilege and ensure fair play, a committee was set up, chaired by Dr. Obuobisa Newman, Abusuapayin of the Sakyiabea Royal Family of Akropong Akwapem, to discuss the suitability of the four short-listed candidates.

The committee was made of:

1.            Abrewatia Lily Agyeman

2.            Odehye Ohene Frimpong (Secretary)

3.            Nana Appiah Nti IV

4.            Late Dr. F. W. A. Akufo

5.             Attorney -General Gloria Afua Akufo

6.            Dr. Asare Akufo

7.            Nana Twumhene Yiadom

During the deliberation, the committee was initially informed that one of the candidates, Kojo Kesse Antwi, had substantial financial commitment and could not be available. However, the Abrewatia, Lily Agyeman – who is the direct aunt of Odehye Kesse Antwi – informed members of the committee at the meeting that the real reason for Kesse’s unavailability was that he had tattooed his body extensively.

She also told the committee that Kesse had disciplinary problems from his teenage years. They also found out that Kesse’s tattoo images were on Facebook and had become the subject of commentary on public radio and that, on a short visit to Accra from the US, he was invited and his body inspected by three members of the committee (made up of Abrewatia Lily Agyeman, Odehye Okoampa and Gloria Akuffo). They, indeed, confirmed Kesse had tattoo on his body.

The committee said, in view of this development, the more detailed research into Odehye Kesse’s character concluded that there were serious doubts about his suitability for the office of Okuapehene. In all these development went before the Okuapehemea and it’s on record.

We also want to use the opportunity to thank the Ghana Police Service in the Eastern Region for their good works in the area of peace, security and the protection of life’s and properties in Okuapeman. Ayekoo   
From your Children Concerned Youth of Okuapeman  

Billy Graham, ‘America’s pastor,’ dead at age 99

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Billy Graham, the charismatic North Carolina pastor who took his evangelizing crusades around the country and the globe, died on Wednesday, according to officials of his organization.

He was 99 years old.

Graham served as a counselor or minister to a dozen U.S. presidents, and he preached to an estimated 200 million people in 185 countries around the world during his life. His message reached millions more as he maintained a near-constant presence on radio, television and the internet.

The longtime evangelist appeared on Gallup’s list of most admired men and women 60 times since 1955 — every year the research company asked the question.

“America’s Pastor” came from modest means and grew up on a dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina. He found his spiritual path at 16, charmed by the traveling minister and temperance movement leader Mordecai Ham. Graham later moved to Florida and was ordained there in 1939.

He met his future wife, Ruth McCue Bell, while they attended Wheaton College, and they married in 1943. Together they would raise five children, and she would become a trusted adviser.

“When it comes to spiritual things, my wife has had the greatest influence on my ministry,” Graham said of Bell, who died in June 2007.

Graham was known for his sense of humor and for maintaining a nonpartisan Christian view, which earned him some criticism. But his dedication to ministry and unity is long evident and best remembered in his refusal to pay heed to segregation policies, forcing churches to integrate for his services.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. counted Graham as a close friend and ally, once remarking, “Had it not been for the ministry of my good friend Dr. Billy Graham, my work in the Civil Rights Movement would not have been as successful as it has been.”

His son, Franklin Graham, took over his ministries, while Graham returned to a quiet life in North Carolina — not far from the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte.
"My home is in Heaven," Graham habitually said. "I'm just traveling through this world."


nbcnews.com
 

First Lady’s foundation to build pediatric intensive care unit at Korle-Bu

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First Lady of the Republic, Rebecca Akufo Addo has revealed that the Rebecca Foundation in collaboration with some benevolent organizations are coordinating resources and efforts together to build a Pediatric Intensive Care unit for the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The First Lady who is committed to ending maternal and child mortality as well as some preventable diseases upon assuming office has commissioned some projects in that regard; notably, the new Maternity Unit as well as a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) for the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

According to her, the health of every nation is critical to its development. Speaking at the launch of Rotary Family Health Days – a free health screening services in about 50 communities, she mentioned that government alone can provide for the health needs of Ghanaians.

She also commended the Rotary Club Ghana for the herculean task of giving opportunities to over 60,000 people in about 50 communities across the country.

According to her, even though Ghana has made progress in the delivery of quality health care, there is still a litany of challenges that befall us and therefore, initiatives like these would help alleviate some of the challenges. 

The venues for screening are Accra, Tema, Koforidua, Ho, Hohoe, Cape Coast Swedru and Tarkwa. The rest are Winneba, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Sunyani, Berekum and Techiman amongst others.

Assistant Governor of Ghana Rotary, Dr. Nii Acquaye Addo who spoke with Atinka News, bemoaned the culture of most Ghanaians not availing themselves for checkups and health screening, sometimes due to factors like time, finance amongst others.

It is therefore imperative on the part of Rotary Ghana whose core mandate is to ensure that the populace has a healthy life, access to clean and portable water in order to meet the SDG Goal 6.

And that their vision is to help Ghanaians to go for checkup at least once a year. The screening starts from Thursday, 22nd to Saturday 24th.

Ghana |Atinkaonline.com |Patrick Ofoe Nudzi

    

Support women entrepreneurs -Samira tells Ghanaians

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Second lady, Samira Bawumia, has said the active participation of Ghanaian women in entrepreneurship, is an indication that they (Ghanaian women) are not lazy and that given the needed support, they will succeed.

According to her, women entrepreneurs are key to the development and growth of the economy adding, “it is necessary, therefore, to create a conducive environment to empower women and facilitate the establishment and growth of start-ups.”

Samira Bawumia was speaking at the Women Entrepreneurship Conference, organized by the Ministry of Business Development Tuesday.

The conference, under the theme: “Unleashing Women Entrepreneurship For Inclusive Growth,” is an initiative to create a sustainable and most business-friendly and business enabling environment which fosters private sector-led investment for job creation and livelihoods.
 
It also aims at promoting the entrepreneurial capacity of the youth as well as nurture, build and promote indigenous Ghanaian women businesses.

According to her, it is evidence based that the economic growth of the Sub Saharan Africa is largely based on women entrepreneurship but are likely to be small scale enterprises in the informal sector with low value activities that only reap marginal benefits.

She said, about 80% of women in Ghana engage in various economic activities indicating that “Ghanaian women are not lazy, and will work if we want to and if we have to and predominately operate in the small to medium scale sectors of the economy”.

“According to the Ghana Statistical Service women make up about 50.5% of the Ghanaian workforce, which per the Ghana living Standard survey in 2014 states that the formal sector employs only 6.2% of women and 3.3% in public sector and 2.9 in the private sector, “that tells us how woefully under represented we are”  the second lady said.

She said in spite of this, women are still faced with challenges and have to grapple with the many constraints in raising funds and mobilizing revenue that set them back in the pursuit of entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

According to the World Bank Only 47% of women globally have formal financial institutions and saving mechanism making access to credit a critical challenge for women in business. 

She said many studies have shown that investing in women has a multiple effect hence the need to focus on the contribution women’s make towards the acceleration of economic development and inclusive growth.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Farting passenger forces plane to make emergency landing

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A flight from Dubai to Amsterdam had to make an emergency landing in Vienna after a fight broke out because one of the passengers wouldn’t stop breaking wind.

The fart-induced fracas happened Feb. 11 aboard Transavia Airlines Flight HV6902 when two men sitting next to an apparently very flatulent man raised a stink about his repeated gas attacks, according to Fox News.

When the alleged perpetrator didn’t stop, his disgusted seatmates reportedly complained to the airline crew, who apparently did nothing.

Instead, the captain issued a warning to the two complainants, accusing them of noisy and aggressive behavior and making threats, according to the NL Times.

When the freedom-from-flatulence fighters wouldn’t stop griping about their fellow passenger, a fight broke out on the plane, according to the Dutch language newspaper De Telegraaf.

The pilots then made an emergency stop in Vienna and removed the complainants, but apparently not the farting man. Two women sitting in the same row as the angry men were also forced off the plane as well.

All four people reportedly shared Dutch and Moroccan ancestry, but the two women claim they were simply sitting in the same row as the men involved with the incident.

The women are now taking the Dutch budget airline to court, according to the Metro.

“We had nothing to do with the whole disturbance. We distance ourselves from that. Do they sometimes think that all Moroccans cause problems? That’s why we do not let it sit,” one of the women said, according to De Telegraaf. ”We had no idea who these boys were, we just had the bad luck to be in the same row and we didn’t do anything.”

“All I will say is that the crew were really provocative and stirred things up,” she added.

None of the passengers kicked off the plane were arrested because they had not broken any Austrian laws. However, they have been banned from flying Transavia Airlines in the future.

Huff Post
 

High Court quashes Olympics injunction, league set for March start

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An Accra High Court has dismissed the case involving Accra Great Olympics and the Ghana Football Association, giving the association the leeway to start the new Ghana Premier League season.

Great Olympics sought an interlocutory injunction on the commencement of the new Ghana Premier League season, the FA’s Ordinary Congress and the launch of the league season, which were all postponed indefinitely as a result of the suit.

Olympics has had a petition against fellow Ghana Premier League side, Bechem United, dismissed for “want of jurisdiction” but the ‘Dade’ lads believed they had a case that could possibly lead to the demotion of Bechem United and Olympics reinstated in their stead so file their case in court.

The two parties first appeared in court on February 13 before the case was adjourned to Wednesday, February 21. And after hearing from both sides, the trial judge has dismissed Olympics’ application and all of the FA’s activities are now set to go ahead, including the start of the 2017/2018 season.

Unconfirmed reports say Congress is now expected to begin next week with the new league season set to begin in the first week of March

Joy Sports

I don’t owe Metro Mass- John Jinapor 

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Former Deputy Energy Minister of Power under the erstwhile Mahama government, John  Abdulai Jinapor, has debunked reports that he owes the  Metro Mass company  a huge amount of  money.

A list of former government appointees allegedly owing the state owned company, has gone viral on social media.

One of the reports  alleged that, John Abdulai Jinapor owes  the  transport company  an amount of GHC800 after settling GHC 43,000  arrears

Other names on the alleged list inlude, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ras Mubarak, Dzifa Attivor , Mahama Ayariga  among others

However, John Jinapor has flatly denied the allegation, saying the move is a calculated attempt to intimidate him. .

Below is a statetment on his Facebook page:

Is it not interesting and funny? Last week I was listed amongst MPs who were supposed to have collected what was termed "double salary" (as MP and Minister). What my detractors failed to realise is that I was not an MP under President Mahama's administration let alone collect salary from Parliament.
Today I'm suppose to be on a list of so called politicians who are indebted to the Metro Mass Service, for some services rendered.
For the record, I have never used or contracted the services of Metro Mass Co. Ltd so I cannot be said to be indebted to same. Funny isn't it.
These machinations by misguided and self seeking elements as well as their pay masters will not deter nor intimidate me in any shape or form.
I'm resilient and so shall it be……..

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

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