Top NDC lawyer drags Martin Amidu to court over retirement age

adminbackup
-
0

 

A former  Deputy Attorney General in the Mahama government, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine,  has dragged Special Prosecutor nominee, Martin Amidu, to court  for allegedly exceeding  the retirement age for public officials.

The anti- corruption crusader appears before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on 13th February 2018 for his vetting.

However, Dr Ayine believes Mr Amidu is unfit for  the job due to his  current age of 66.

He is therefore seeking a declaration that by a true and proper interpretation of Articles 190(1)(d), 199(1), 199(4), and 295 of the 1992 Constitution, the retirement 
age of all holders of public office created pursuant to Article(1)(d) is sixty years, anyhow not beyond (65).”

He added that “any other interpretation would result in an unlawful amendment of Article 199 of the Constitution by legislation,” according to one of reliefs.

According to Dr Ayine, Mr Amidu “is not qualified or eligible to be nominated as the Special Prosecutor under Section 13(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959).”

Making reference to the constitution, the former Deputy Attorney said  “no person above the age of 65 years is eligible for employment in any public office created under Article 190(1)(d).”
 

 Amissah –Arthur calls on Finance Minister to assume ethical, moral leadership

adminbackup
-
0

 

 

 

 

 

By Maxwell Okamafo Addo

Former Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah -Arthur, has called on the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, to as a matter of urgency assume "an ethical  and moral leadership of the country".

Speaking to some pressmen in his office on his views of the President’s State of the Nation address last Thursday the former vice president said the Finance Minister told Ghanaians last year that he had assumed a certain ethical moral leadership in the country when he quoted the Bible during last year’s budget statement in Parliament.

“So, Ghanaians expect a moral leader to stand up to the demands of moral leadership, so that when the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice report raised administrative issues and other issues such as the timing and the announcement of the bond issuance, it’s a concern for Ghanaians,” the former vice president said.  

Mr Amissah Arthur said issues about potential conflict of interest is a concern for Ghanaians, “issues on the report about the asset declaration is a concern, then about family members who are directors in companies that have benefitted from  it, is  a concern. When issues are raised about the cost of the bond to Ghanaians in the future. it’s a concern,” he added.

The former Governor of the Bank of Ghana thought all after all these accusations and investigations, Mr Ofori Atta would rather stand up and save his name and say that he’s the moral leader who cannot justify these wrong behaviours.

Mr Amissah Arthur said   the actions of the Minister and the obvious attempt by the president to cover up these allegations, send wrong signals to the world.

According to him, the use of technicalities and legalities to discredit CHRAJ findings against the minister is not the best and it defies moral leadership.

“it’s about a certain leadership of morality for our country. That’s in respect of the President White washing the CHRAJ report.”

He also said he expected the finance minister to be more truthful about the country’s debt profile and not the deliberate attempt to throw dust into the eyes of the public.

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

 

 

Refuse to reduce the rim!

adminbackup
-
0

 

Today, doing right almost seems wrong. As adults, it sometimes seems almost impossible to hold on to the same values we held in high esteem when we were younger. It’s great to have values but it is even greater when we dutifully stick to these values.

Everyone needs a standard in their life… and these standards should be standard. They shouldn’t vary according to where we find ourselves. Our standards should be same whether in our closets or in public. Society’s standards fall when our standards fall.

We all need a yardstick in our life that shouldn’t be lowered no matter the circumstances. Living in times where morality has become subjective, it is no surprise that corruption keeps eating deeper into our society.  Where there are no standards to keep, morality takes a vacation!

Standards bring development. Where there are standards to keep, integrity is not sacrificed. In a society where standards can be compromised at the least opportunity, everything else is compromised. When you live a compromised life, you compromise your future.

Let me share with you this simple story on keeping standards. Back in JHS, our teachers decided to erect a basketball court for us. We somewhat wanted to be at par with the "dadabee" schools. Thing is, the standard height of a basketball hoop/rim (from which the net suspends) is 10ft from the ground. However, most of us were vertically challenged. 10ft seemed too much a chore for us.

Soon, we all gave up on our newfound love of a sport. Our ball could never find the rim no matter how hard we tried. To make the game enjoyable for us, the height was reduced to a whopping 5ft. Whoops! That was the first time I dunked!

Truth is, we enjoyed the game not because we were exceptionally skilled… but the standard had been exceptionally reduced. We could try all manner of stunts not because we were some Jordans… but the rim was only above our heads. When standards are lowered, anybody looks like an exceptionally great player!

In this life, others appear to be doing so well not because they are working any exceptionally harder. Their standards have been exceptionally reduced. They seem to have it all not because they earned it. They compromised their values for such. It is better to have little with our values than a lot with no values.

Lowering the standard of one's life opens the door for everyone and everything to enter. A life which has no standards to keep soon becomes the den of all substandard goods. It becomes the final destination of all trash. When we compromise on our values, our lives become like a public property; anyone can enter, abuse it and walk away freely!

You don’t need to compromise on your values for a man to stay. It is possible to get a job without giving in to someone’s libido. Getting a promotion at work for how skilled you’re in bed and not how skilled you’re at work… is not a norm. What you lower your standards to get, you obviously need to lower your standards to keep. If you compromise to earn one thing, you’d sadly need to make several other compromises to keep that same thing.

Today, many are reducing the height of the hoop in their life just to allow others in. At the least opportunity, they give in to pressure. Little do they know that the standards people keep sets them apart from the masses. The standards we set and keep in our life cuts us from others who will unnecessarily stress us out.    

We couldn’t dunk when the rim was 10ft from the ground because we were not professional players. The 10ft standard height set professionals and amateurs apart. When we set standards in our lives, we set ourselves apart from others who will give in to anything that walks into their life. If our lives are tied to strictly-adhered-to values, we earn deep respect from others whose lives are not.

Our standards should be standard. They shouldn't vary according to who comes knocking. Our "Yes" should be our "Yes" and our "No" should remain so. If we refuse to reduce the rims in our lives, eventually our nation will be rid of every canker. The corruption in our individual lives collectively becomes the corruption sitting on the destiny of this nation.

Despite the indecency spat in our face every day, we can dare to be different. We can challenge ourselves to initiate the change we want to see. If we want to see a society where nothing is compromised on, we can start with our own lives.

Keeping to our standards means doing right even when others are offended. Sticking to our values will mean not lowering our standards even if it may hurt us. It is always better to remain steadfast in our values even if it makes us uncomfortable. That’s discipline!

For instance, we are living in a generation where we're afraid to offend our boy/girlfriends more than God; a generation where we're afraid to lose our boy/girlfriends over premarital sex… and hope that God understands. For how long will we come to know that it is better to lose man than God!?

Every bit of our lives should have a standard. When there's a standard, there's a cut-off requirement for those who want to enter. When our nation has standards, no one can dump substandard goods here. A nation that has standards to keep cuts itself from others who are not ready to keep those standards.

Where there are no standards, everything fits in. When we lower our standards, all manner of people walk into our lives, try all stunts… and even dunk. When we have no standards, we are undeservedly given what we actually deserve. If our standards are too far for others to reach, let them walk away. Don’t adjust your standards to fit theirs. Don't reduce the hoop!

The writer is a playwright and Chief Scribe of Scribe Communications (www.scribecommltd.com), an Accra-based writing company which provides all writing services.

Philippines President tells soldiers to shoot female rebels in their vaginas

adminbackup
-
0

 


BEIJING — President Rodrigo Duterte last week told soldiers to shoot female rebels in their genitals, the latest in a series of violent, misogynistic remarks. 

Addressing a group of former communist rebels on Feb. 7, Duterte, who served as a city mayor before becoming president, appeared to encourage Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to target women in conflict. 

“Tell the soldiers. ‘There’s a new order coming from the mayor. We won’t kill you. We will just shoot your vagina,’” he said.

“If there is no vagina, it would be useless,” he continued, appearing to imply that women are useless without their genitals, according to local media reports. 

The Presidential Communications Office included the comment in the official transcript from the event, but replaced the word “vagina” with a dash. 

Duterte’s presidency has thus far been defined by violence — and often violently misogynistic language. 

Since he came to power on a promise to kill all the country’s drug users and dealers, thousands of Filipinos have been shot dead, prompting the international criminal court to open a preliminary examination.

Duterte regularly denigrates and threatens women, but when challenged, insists it was all just a joke. Just last week his spokesman, Harry Roque, accused women of “overreacting” to the president’s comments. “I mean, that’s funny. Come on. Just laugh,” he said. 

According to the official transcript from the Feb. 7 event, the crowd did, in fact, laugh.

Duterte has made headlines for “joking” about the rape of a kidnapped Australian, lamenting he hadn’t been first, and for telling troops to rape women in conflict. He often shares his unsolicited opinions on the sexual attractiveness of various women, particularly female politicians who question his policies, in an apparent effort to demean, shame and silence them.

As Duterte’s translated remarks began to circulate over the weekend, feminist and human writes groups expressed their anger and dismay. 

“Duterte (sic) latest nasty remark openly encourages violence against women, contributes to the impunity on such, and further confirms himself as the most dangerous macho-fascist in the government right now,” said a representative for Gabriela, a feminist organization, in a statement.

“He is pushing the fascist AFP to commit more bloody human rights violations and grave abuses of international humanitarian law, and takes state terrorism against women and the people to a whole new level.”

In a statement, Carlos Conde, a researcher for Human Rights Watch, called it “the latest in a series of misogynist, derogatory and demeaning statements he has made about women.”

“It encourages state forces to commit sexual violence during armed conflict, which is a violation of international humanitarian law,” the statement added.

Source: Washington Post

Elderly woman trapped in bath for three days rescued by police

adminbackup
-
0

 

An elderly woman was trapped in her bath for up to three days before police broke into her Essex home to rescue her.

Officers were alerted on Wednesday afternoon by a concerned neighbour who noticed the woman in her 80s was not answering her door for post and still had her curtains drawn.

PC Tom Matthews and student officer Tom Currin forced their way into the property in Aveley and heard the woman calling for help.

"The woman sadly has no nearby family or friends that are able to make regular visits to check on her," said PC Matthews.

"When we found the woman she told us that she'd been trapped in the bath for up to three days.

"This incident is an example on why it's essential to check on your elderly and vulnerable neighbours."

He added: "In this case a neighbour spotted a few minor things that were out of character and she rightly called for help.

"We would like to praise her for taking the time to consider the welfare of an elderly person within her community.

"When we arrived we could tell that something was wrong and we had no option to force entry to the property in order to help the woman, who was quickly assessed and taken to hospital."

The condition of the woman is not known.


Source: Sky News

Rats are major ‘carriers’ of Lassa fever – GHS

adminbackup
-
0

 

The Ghana Health Services (GHS) has cautioned Ghanaians to deist from consuming rats since the rodents contain germs that cause Lassa Fever.

GHS in a statement, cautioned all Divisional Directors, Regional Deputy Directors of the Service and public health care facilities of the likelihood of outbreaks of Lassa Fever in the country.

According to the statement, the disease has already affected several countries in West Africa with over 300 cases and 31 deaths in Nigeria. This has necessitated urgent spontaneous national response actions among all neighboring countries.

Speaking to Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive, Director of Public Health at Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Badu Sarkodie said rats are special delicacies in Ghana hence the urgent need to sensitize the general public.

He added that the rats themselves are not suffering from the fever, he however explained that the germs live in the blood and urine of the rats which can be passed on to humans when consumed.

He hinted that two Lassa cases were reported in 2011 in Amansie West in the Ashanti Region and Kwa- Bibirem in the Eastern Region respectively by the Ghana Health Service where a lady lost her life as a result.

He asked Ghanaians to report to take precautionary measures by refraining from consuming rat meat and other related causative agents.

Lassa fever is an Acute Viral Haemorrhagic Fever illness which is endemic in the West Africa. The incubation period is 6-21 days. The onset of LF illness is often gradual, with non-specific signs and symptoms and commonly presents with fever, general weakness and malaise at the early onset.

After a few days, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain may follow. Severe cases may progress to show facial swelling, and bleeding tendencies (from mouth, nose, vagina or gastrointestinal tract, and low blood pressure.

Shock, seizures, disorientation, and coma may be seen in the late stages. Complications include: deafness, transient hair loss and gait disturbance may occur during recovery.

About 80 % of Lassa Fever infections are mild or asymptomatic.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

Not all prophecies are meant for ‘public consumption’- Opoku Onyinah cautions prophets

adminbackup
-
0

 

Chairman for the Church of Pentecost and President of  the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, has cautioned prophets to pay attention to prophecies since not all prophecies are supposed to be publicly announced.

According to the man of God, some prophecies require that the message is delivered to the person connected to the prophecy only and not the masses.

Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah’s statement follows claims by some prophets that, they predicted the demise of Dancehall star, Priscilla Opoku Kwarteng aka Ebony.

Ebony  died in a gory road accident late Thursday evening at Mankranso on the Sunyani-Kumasi road. 

After her demise, some prophets have come out to announce that, they prophesized the death of the 20-year-old  hit maker.

Prophet Badu Kobi, leader of Glorious Wave Church International in an interview, said he told Okay FM’s Kwabena Marfo in a personal conversation that Ebony had “a short life”.

Another Prophet, Nigel Gaisie, in a video which has gone viral on social media, reportedly stated that Ebony would  “die through a road accident if she does not change her ways”.

Speaking to Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive, Chairman for the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, explained that when prophecies are revealed, men of God have the power to either say the prophecy to the congregation or either call the person who the prophecy is directed to.

“Although God reveals to redeem, some prophecies are decreed by God to serve as a lesson to others. This means prophecies are bound to happen and that nothing can be done about it”, he added.

He urged Christians to be more concerned with salvation which is the most important in our existence.

Ebony who would have turned 21 on February 16th, died with a military officer and her personal assistant.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

 

Kenyan pilots threaten strike over kidnap ordeal

adminbackup
-
0


Kenya's pilots' association is hoping to force the release of two colleagues who have been held hostage for more than a month after crashing their plane in South Sudan.

Captain Frank Njoroge and his co-pilot Kennedy Shamalla are being held by rebels in Akobo, in the Greater Upper Nile region.

The Kenya Airline Pilots Association say rebels are demanding a reported 20 million shillings (£140,000; $200,000) in compensation for the family of a local woman killed in the accident on 9 January.

Eleven cows also died in the accident.

The amount, the association says, is over what would normally be offered in such circumstances, while the treatment of the captured pilots is "in total contravention of their human rights and poses a potential risk to their health and well-being".

As a result, they were calling for fellow pilots to refuse to fly in or out of the area.

"We urge all Kenya commercial and charted flights operators to withhold flights into and within the North-Eastern Upper Nile State until such a time as our Kenyan colleagues are released, and the security of Kenyan pilots, as well as Kenyan-registered aircraft within the region is guaranteed," the association's acting General Secretary Captain Murithi Nyagah said.

The pilots' families said at the weekend they were going to start fundraising to pay the compensation after becoming disheartened with government action, Kenya's NTV reported.

BBC

Amidu grateful for support ahead of Tuesday’s vetting

adminbackup
-
0

 

Citizen Vigilante, Martin A. B. K. Amidu, says he will forever remain grateful for the outpouring of support across the country following President Akufo-Addo’s announcement of his nomination for approval as Special Prosecutor.

The anti- corruption crusader appears before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on 13th February 2018 for his vetting.

In a statement released Sunday ahead of his public vetting, the former Attorney General under the Mills administration, said,  “I will forever remain grateful for the outpouring of support across the country on the occasion of the President’s announcement of my nomination for approval as Special Prosecutor,”

 

Below is the full statement:

THE NOMINEE FOR SPECIAL PROSECUTOR IS SORRY THAT ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAN BE INVITED TO THE PUBLIC HEARING

As the days to the public hearing of my nomination approval by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on 13th February 2018 as the Special Public Prosecutor approaches, I have been inundated with endless calls from chiefs, friends and well-wishers from all over the country wishing to attend my nomination approval hearing.

Unfortunately, the letter written from the Parliamentary Service inviting me “to appear before the Committee at its public hearing on Tuesday, 13th February, 2018 at 10:00a.m. in Committee Rooms 1-3, New Parliamentary Office Complex, Parliament House, Accra” with an attached Notes for Nominees, which limits the number of “supporters of the Nominee that will be allowed at the venue for the Public Hearing.”

Consequently, only a limited number of invitation cards were given to me for the purpose which I have already distributed on a first call basis whether or not I knew the caller personally. The notes also prohibit drummers and dancers from entering the venue for the public hearing.

Accordingly, I wish to appeal to all Ghanaians who would have wished to attend the public hearing of my nomination approval in person whom I have been unable to send or give an invitation card, to instead participate in my nomination hearing by viewing the event on television should it be telecast live or replayed after the public hearing. This will enable me to comply with the Notes for Nominees attached to my invitation for the public hearing. I am sorry I have no control over the number of well-wishers or spectators allowed to personally attend such public nomination hearings. I hope the members of the public who have contacted me for invitation cards will forgive my inability to invite more than the permissible number allowed me.

One thing I know from the outpouring of support for the President’s nomination of my humble self as the Special Public Prosecutor is that if the President’s wishes were put to a national referendum, all the 275 constituencies of the country will return an overwhelmingly positive endorsement for his choice. But the Office of the Special Public Prosecutor Act (Act 959) gives the power of approval to the Parliament and it is important that everyone complies with the Act and the instructions issued by the Committee for the public hearing. Only two outcomes are possible after the public hearing – to approve or disapprove the President’s nominee. Whatever the outcome, I will have nothing personally to win or lose. I accordingly urge every Ghanaian unable to attend the hearing personally to stay calm and await the outcome. I will forever remain grateful for the outpouring of support across the country on the occasion of the President’s announcement of my nomination for approval as Special Prosecutor.
Martin A. B. K. Amidu
11th February 2018

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

 

God healed me; pray for gov’t officials – Bawumia

adminbackup
-
0

 

Vice president Dr Mahamudu Bawumia believes God had a huge hand in his return from the sick bed a few weeks ago and will continue to thank Him for his mercies.

“I know and I believe that the hand of God healed me and I came back,” Dr Bawumia declared when he joined the congregants of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Christ Temple at Abossey Okai, on Sunday, 11 February 2018 to praise God for healing him and the support he had from the Christian fraternity.

“On my return I believe that as God says that for all things we have to be thankful and I came here to thank God for my successful healing and also ask you to pray for my boss Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the first lady, the chief of staff and the ministers,” an elated Dr Bawumia appealed to the church.

The former deputy Governor of the Central Bank expressed gratitude to the entire government machinery for their support, especially his wife Samira Bawumia for the unflinching support during the trying times.

“They all stood by me. I also want to thank my lovely wife Samira. Even though there were nurses she was the chief nurse, and she seized all my phones and made sure I was resting,” Dr. Bawumia told the congregation.

He said he was also deeply touched by the unity exhibited by Ghanaians when news broke of his ill-health and the prayers they offered to get him back on his feet.

He added: “In all humility, I’m here to say a big thank you to God for bringing me back and healthy. We are really a one nation and one people. I was so moved by the prayers all across the country and the churches and that made me realised that with God all things are possible and I’m so thankful to you for everything and please continue to pray for me.”

Dr. Bawumia was also full of praise to the leader of ICGC Pastor Mensa Otabil. Describing the preacher and teacher as “a gift from Ghana to Ghana,” he pointed out that he speaks “a lot of sense”.


“He’s a great man of God. You just have to feel what he does to know he is really a gift from God to Ghana,” the vice president opined.

Dr Bawumia recalled how his late father was an ardent listener of Otabil albeit a Muslim.

“For my house even though my father as strong as a Muslim as he was, Sunday with Mensa Otabil on, you don’t disturb him until he finishes,” he stated.

The Vice President was accompanied by his wife, Samira Bawumia, the Chief of Staff, Madam Frema Osei Opare, Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo and several other State officials to register his sincere thanks to God and the Christian Community for their support for him during his health crisis.

“He’s a great man of God. You just have to feel what he does to know he is really a gift from God to Ghana,” the vice president opined.

Dr Bawumia recalled how his late father was an ardent listener of Otabil albeit a Muslim.

“For my house even though my father as strong as a Muslim as he was, Sunday with Mensa Otabil on, you don’t disturb him until he finishes,” he stated.

The Vice President was accompanied by his wife, Samira Bawumia, the Chief of Staff, Madam Frema Osei Opare, Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo and several other State officials to register his sincere thanks to God and the Christian Community for their support for him during his health crisis.


Starrfmonline
 

1...1,9251,9261,927...1,966Page 1,926 of 1,966