Communication on Bawumia’s health "sloppy, offensive" – Kwesi Pratt

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The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has described the communication on Bawumia’s health status sloppy and offensive.

Dr. Bawumia left Ghana to the United Kingdom (UK) Friday January 19 for advanced medical attention after reporting of ill health.

A statement signed by the Chief Of Staff, Frema Opare Saturday January 20, said he was flown to the UK on the advice of his doctors.

However, speaking to Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive Monday, Kwesi Pratt Jnr expressed his displeasure with  the release of pictures of the Vice President to suggest that he is fit.

“Even if the pictures and videos were true, it is not the best. Why would a Vice President be left to walk all alone without security in the streets of London. We all Know  Oxford street in London”, he said.

According to Kwesi Pratt, the handlers of the Vice President should find a better explanation if there is, adding that the mere fact the Vice President needs rest is not enough.

Ghana | atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

Lack of water hits Kenya slum firefight

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Thousands of people have reportedly been left homeless after fire swept through a Kenyan slum on Sunday evening, killing at least four.

Residents used sewage water in a desperate attempt to douse the flames which had engulfed their homes in the Lang'ata area of the capital, Nairobi.

The MP for the area, Nixon Korir, said fire engines which turned up to help did not have enough water.

The fire was finally out by 06:00 local time (03:00 GMT) on Monday.

Police have begun an investigation into the blaze, which began at 20:00 local time on Sunday and continued for 10 hours.

It is feared, as they comb through the wreckage of the homes, more bodies may be found.

Meanwhile, anger over the perceived failings of the fire service has spilled over from the settlement itself to social media, where people are questioning where the government's priorities lie.

Just three months ago, the picture of a beaming President Uhuru Kenyatta , testing the hosepipe of a new fire engine, flanked by Nairobi Governor Mike "Sonko" Mbuvi, was shared widely as Kenyans hoped the days of the country's inadequate disaster preparedness were finally over.

The governor shared the picture on Twitter last October, when he said the newly-elected Nairobi County government had acquired 24 new fire engines. Mr Mbuvi tweeted: "This equipment will go a long way in curbing fire situations that have been witnessed in the recent past."

But in Nairobi's first major fire since then, the fire department failed terribly. But why?

Not for the first time, the fire engines ran out of water. And when they needed to refill, they had to make a 20km (12 mile) round trip from the Kijiji settlement back to the city centre.

Pius Masai, chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee, said the area has no fire hydrants. Residents desperately scooped up any liquids they could lay their hands on, including a sewer, but they could only do so much.

Only four or fire engines were deployed. That was too small a number for the inferno, which reportedly left nearly 6,000 people homeless.

Questions will be raised about why the authorities did not send more engines to the scene. Mr Masai was caught on camera appealing for more engines.

The military did not help, even though the Langata Barracks is located barely a kilometre from the area. The Kenyan military usually helps civilians out in times of disaster. It is unclear why they could not deploy this time, when they could literally see the fire from their gate.

bbc

Ekumfi Pineapple Juice to hit market January 2019 – MP

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The Member of Parliament for Ekumfi, Kinsley Ato Cudjoe, says the first fruit juice from the Ekumfi Fruits and Juices Limited factory will be ready  on  the Ghanaian market in  Januray 2019.

President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo on August 25, 2017 commissioned a pineapple processing factory in the Ekumfi District of the Central Region.

Disappointed residents of Ekumfi in an interview with Atinka FM’s Central Regional Correspondent, Jerry Asare, in November 2017 expressed displeasure with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration for failing to commence work on the Ekumfi Fruits and Juices Limited factory immediately after commissioning the project.

According to them, just as the NPP government promised Ghanaians jobs, they should expedite work on the project to ensure that the youth of Ekumfi get employed.

Speaking to Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive, Member of Parliament for Ekumfi, Kinsley Ato Cudjoe explained that the factory will be ready by the end of 2018.

According to him,  processing of the pineapple into juice will commence as soon as the factory is completed.

“All resources have been made available and the first fruit juice from the Ekumfi Fruits and Juices Limited factory will be ready for consumption soon, ”he reiterated.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

Water rationing : NGO accuses GWCL of sleeping on the job

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An NGO, Friends of Rivers and Water  Bodies haS accused the management of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) of not putting measures in place to curb shortage of water hence the frequent rationing of water.

The Ghana Water Company Limited announced the rationing of water in Accra, Tema and parts of the Western region.

According to GWCL, the rationing of water will continue until the rainy season.

Speaking to Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive, Executive Director for the Friends of Rivers and Water bodies, Nana Dwomoh Sarpong explained that GWCL haS done a little or nothing with respect to the conservation of water bodies and rivers in Ghana.

According to him, water is the raw material for GWCL and everything water should be their topmost priority.

However, the Corporate Affairs Director for GWCL also in an interview with Ekourba Gyasi, Stanley Martey, attributed the water shortage to the indiscriminate felling of trees along water banks and illegal mining (galamsey).

He urged the general public to help in the fight against galamsey in order save Ghana’s water bodies.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

 

I disowned my children for a demon – TT

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Veteran actor, Psalm Adjetefio popularly known as TT, has revealed he abandoned his children and moved in with a woman in Cape Coast.

Recounting the story in tears, ‘TT’ said the mistress maltreated his children whenever he was not at home.

This led to a break in communication between him and his children which he said was now stable. Although he said he had apologized several times to his children, he apologized yet again repeatedly on the Delay show, asking his children for forgiveness.

He remarked that "if I had known of the maltreatment earlier, I would have been serving a life sentence because I would have murdered the lady" since he was made aware later

“I pray that no man will forsake their children and go after a demon” he stated in an interview.

When questioned about his health, he said: "Now that I am sick [and] it is those same children who are taking care of me" while shedding in tears.

Adomonline

“Ratify 2003 Maputo Protocol” – Akufo-Addo appeals to 17 AU member states

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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged the 17 member states of the African Union, to ratify the 2003 Maputo Protocol, which is the “Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.”

As co-Chair of the Eminent Group of Advocates on the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and as the African Union Gender Champion, the President stated that SDG 5, which defines the goal of gender equality and full female empowerment, is at the heart of the structure of the SDGs.

“We do ourselves and future generations a great disservice if we leave women out of the agenda for development,” he said.

Whilst acknowledging the cultural and religious sensibilities of some to the teachings of the Maputo Protocol, President Akufo-Addo stated that “having regard to the unfolding nature of the 21st century, with its accent on gender equality and the promotion of women’s rights as central to prospects for progress and prosperity, I would, respectfully, entreat the 17 countries on the continent, which are yet to ratify the Protocol, to do so by the year 2020, the target date set by the AU.”

The President made this known on Monday, 29th January, 2018, when he opened a forum on the discussion of the Maputo Protocol, which took place on the side-lines of the ongoing African Union Summit, which is being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

President Akufo-Addo stressed that the Maputo Protocol “is the blueprint for empowering our women and young girls, who constitute 51% of Africa’s population. In the words of my illustrious compatriot, Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary General: ‘Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance’.”

He, therefore, invited decision-makers from all sectors of life on the continent to support the Maputo Protocol.

“I invite you all to become champions of women’s rights, and agents of change, in and out of your respective borders. Let us remind ourselves that inequality has an unbearable impact and cost on our economy, society and the development of our nations. Today, I join the millions of people around the world in urging us all to stand together to create a bold, visible force for gender equality in Africa,” he added.


Atinkaonline.com

Grammys: The photos you need to see

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The best looks, backstage shots and performances from the 60th annual Grammy awards.

 

 

 

 

BBC

Grammys: Bruno Mars Wins Record of the Year

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The musician beat out nominees Childish Gambino, Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee, Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar.
Bruno Mars took home one of the Grammys' biggest awards, record of the year, for "24K Magic" on Sunday night.

The musician beat out nominees Childish Gambino with "Redbone"; Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber for "Despacito"; Jay-Z for "The Story of O.J."; and Kendrick Lamar with "HUMBLE."

The win was Mars' fifth of the night: The artist also won song of the year for "24K Magic," best R&B performance for "That's What I Like," best R&B album for 24K Magic and best engineered album for 24K Magic.

Record of the year honors the performer(s), producer(s), recording engineer(s) and/or mixer(s) and mastering engineer(s) of a single breakout song from that year, whereas album of the year honors a whole album and song of the year honors the writer of a single.

In Mars' acceptance speech, the artist thanked his girlfriend Jessica, his fans and his father, "Look at me, Pop, I'm at the Grammys right now!" he said.

Artists including Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Kesha performed as Corden hosted the 60th annual Grammys at Madison Square Garden in New York City on CBS Sunday night.

Family’s Fabulous Pet Chicken Gets Own Obituary In Local Newspaper

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A Texas chicken has received an honor few, if any, other birds get — a formal obituary.

A paid death notice for Big Mama, a 6-year-old Rhode Island Red, appeared on Tuesday in The Eagle newspaper, which is based in Bryan, Texas.

“Not many chickens deserve an obituary, but she does,” wrote Big Mama’s human family.

The obit said Big Mama initially had been raised in an apartment in Houston. Her previous owners took her to be euthanized in 2013, but a compassionate veterinarian instead had them relinquish their rights to the chicken so she could find a new home.

She was adopted by Stephanie and Gregory Sword and their two sons, who live in College Station.

The family says in the obit they were “hooked instantly” after seeing a photo of the bird.

Big Mama soon “discovered how beautiful life could be walking in the grass, being a member of a flock, and having 24-7 love,” the obit reads.

The chicken died in her sleep Sunday, at her favorite spot in the chicken coop, the Swords told local media.

Stephanie Sword told KBTX-TV that they never expected the obit to get so much attention.

“We’re just hoping that the story of Big Mama will remind others that every life, even that of a chicken, is valuable and worth saving,” she said.

Though many people write off chickens as just food animals, the birds are more intelligent and emotionally complex than some people give them credit for. Research over the past few years suggests that chickens can experience empathy, plan for the short-term future, and even perform very basic arithmetic, the BBC reported in January. Plus, sometimes they even purr like cats

Huffpost.com

Mahama regime changed names of Gitmo 2 to give them travel documents – Baako

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The Mahama regime changed the names of two former Gitmo detainees being hosted in Ghana and secured them travel documents, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has revealed.

Although Abdul Malik Kweku Baako did not disclose the new names given to the 'Gitmo 2' as they have become known prominently in the country, he said decision to issue the conventional travel document was done "covertly” without recourse to the proper procedure adding, not the entirety of the Ghana Refugee Board was not aware of it.

“It was processed in a very different way in collaboration with the National Security…not the entirety of the [Refugee] Board was aware of it,” the experienced journalist disclosed Saturday on weekly news analysis programme on JoyNews TV, Newsfile.

The new twist came to light following comments by Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, suggesting that the "refugee passports" granted Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, were retrieved immediately they used them to register onto the National Health Insurance Scheme and opened bank accounts in order to access certain basic social services.

It followed the revelation by the current administration that it could not repatriate the two former terror suspects after the expiration of an agreement with the US government because, its predecessor under John Mahama, granted them refugee status and procured passports for them.

“There is no way the two detainees will be deported because they are now refugees in the country. When we took over power, it was revealed that the Mahama administration wanted to change their names so they can be part of us. They have secured them Ghanaian passports,” Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu revealed.

Justifying why the Mahama administration had to issue the passports, Mr Fuseini explained, the government needed to facilitate their integration into Ghanaian society after the agreement with the US government for them to be hosted in the country for two years, expired on January 6, 2018.

“Integration meant that we have to give them an opportunity to open bank accounts so they needed identification…so they applied to the Ghana Refugee Board [which] gave them a refugee document,” the former Lands Minister said.

But the US government raised concerns about the decision by Ghana to issue travel documents to the duo because, in the agreement, they were not to travel outside of the host country.

The government then retrieved the passports after they were used to access their NHIS cards and opened bank accounts and handed them over to the national security, Inusah Fuseini stated.

myjoyonline.com