Dogboe, Partey to battle for SWAG ultimate award

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January 7, 2019

Dethroned World Boxing Organisation (WBO) super bantamweight champion, Isaac Dogboe, will battle with Black Stars and Athletico Madrid’s ace Thomas Partey for the coveted MTN Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Sports Personality of the Year Award to be held later this year.

The annual awards ceremony to honour the nation’s illustrious athletes will see the two top contenders of the highest award on the night being given a run for their money by football administrator Anthony Baffoe who is also gunning for the enviable honour for the second time after winning the 2016 top prize.

The list of the over 40 nominees who are to be rewarded in their various disciplines was released last Saturday in Accra.

Partey will also challenge four others, namely John Antwi, a loanee from Egyptian club Al Ahly; Kotoko goalie Felix Annan, Kassim Nuhu of German club, Hoffenheim, and Joseph Aidoo of Genk in the Belgian First Division for the Male Footballer of the Year award.

For her superb performance at the recently held Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay, Black Maiden’s striker Mukarama Abdulai will contend with Black Queen’s Faustina Ampah and Black Princesses’ Grace Asantewaa for the Female Footballer of the Year award.

The stakes will be high for Coach of the Year award as hockey takes centre stage, with Ebenezer Frimpong of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Boakye Danquah (Exchequers) and Richmond Attipoe also of Exchequers vying for the award on the night.

Two teams will compete for the national team of the year award: The Ghana Rugby Men’s team, The Ghana Eagles, and national wrestling team, The Golden Arms.

The president of the Ghana Armwrestling Association, Charles Osei Assibey, will compete against Evans Kojo Yeboah, president of the Ghana Badminton Association, for the president of the year award.

Lightweight world title hopeful, Richard Oblitey Commey, will have a straight fight with Isaac Dogboe for the professional boxer of the year award, while Janet Amponsah and Jesse Lartey will scoop the athlete of the year and amateur boxer of the year, respectively.

National ping pong top seed Derek Abrefa and female ace player Celia Baah Danso will be rewarded with the male and female table tennis players of the year award, respectively.

Alberta Ampomah and Haruna Tahiru will take home the Armwrestler of the year award in both the female and male categories, respectively, while Michael Arko and Rafatu Inusah take awards in male and female rugby players of the year.

In para-athletics, Frederick Assor and Haruna Tahiru will go home with respective awards and golfer Kojo Barni takes home the professional golfer of the year award.

Female athlete Hor Halutie is expected to be rewarded the prospect of the year, while ping-pong player Samuel Akayade and hockey ace Dennis Ababio will receive awards for dedication and valour.

Boxing promotion outfit, Cabic Promotions will take the award for promoter of the year. There will be eight special awards for individuals, corporate entities and persons on the night.

They are the Binatone Ghana Limited, Greater Accra Handball Association and kickboxer Jonathan Euro.

The rest are Casely Hayford Hall, Ghana Revenue Authority, Akwasi Frimpong, Kofikrom Pharmacy and Albert K Frimpong.

Graphic

Someone bought this dead fish for $3 million

By

Daniel Opare

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January 7, 2019

A 612-pound (278-kilogram) bluefin tuna sold for a record 333.6 million yen ($3 million) in the first auction of 2019, after Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji market was moved to a new site on the city’s waterfront.

The winning bid for the prized but threatened species at the predawn auction Saturday was more than double the 2013 annual New Year auction.

It was paid by Kiyomura Corp., whose owner Kiyoshi Kimura runs the Sushi Zanmai chain. Kimura has often won the annual auction in the past.

Japanese broadcaster NHK showed a beaming Kimura saying that he was surprised by the high price of tuna this year. But he added: “The quality of the tuna I bought is the best.”

The auction prices are way above usual for bluefin tuna. The fish normally sells for up to $40 a pound ($88 a kilogram) but the price rises to over $200 a pound near the year’s end, especially for prized catches from Oma in northern Japan.

Last year’s auction was the last at Tsukiji before the market shifted to a new facility on a former gas plant site on Tokyo Bay. The move was delayed repeatedly due to concerns over soil contamination.

Japanese are the biggest consumers of the torpedo-shaped bluefin tuna, and surging consumption here and overseas has led to overfishing of the species. Experts warn it faces possible extinction, with stocks of Pacific bluefin depleted by 96 percent from their pre-industrial levels.

“The celebration surrounding the annual Pacific bluefin auction hides how deeply in trouble this species really is,” said Jamie Gibbon, associate manager for global tuna conservation at The Pew Charitable Trusts.

There are signs of progress toward protecting the bluefin, and Japan and other governments have backed plans to rebuild Pacific bluefin stocks, with a target of 20 percent of historic levels by 2034.

Decades-old Tsukiji was one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations as well as the world’s biggest fish market. The new market opened in October. A few businesses stayed in Tsukiji but nearly all of the 500-plus wholesalers and other businesses shifted to Toyosu.

Tsukiji is due to be redeveloped, though for now it’s being turned into a parking lot for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Huffpost

Gabon military seizes power

By

Daniel Opare

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January 7, 2019

The military says it has seized power in oil-rich Gabon, where the ailing leader's family has ruled for 50 years.

Soldiers in the west African country say they launched a coup "to restore democracy".

They took control of the national radio station at 04:00 local time (03:00 GMT) to read a short statement announcing a "National Restoration Council".

President Ali Bongo took over power in 2009 and has been out of the country for more than two months.

Tanks and armed vehicles can be seen on the streets of the capital Libreville.

President Bongo reportedly suffered a stroke in October and received treatment in Morocco.

He sought to put an end to the rumours about his health with a televised New Year message in which he said he was feeling fine.

Soldiers said they had been disappointed by the message, calling it "a pitiful sight" and a "relentless attempt to cling onto power."

The insurgents called on soldiers to take control of the transport system, ammunition reserves and airports "for the good of the country" reports Radio France Internationale.

BBC

Eschew violence; it only retards our progress – Bawumia

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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January 6, 2019

The Vice President of the Republic, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has bemoaned the negative impact of violence, especially violence fuelled by religious misunderstandings, on national development.

He has therefore called for religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence between persons of different religious persuasions.

Vice President Bawumia made the call when he addressed participants at the 87th Annual National Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana at Pomadze in the Central Region on Saturday 5th January, 2019.

The three-day Convention is under the theme "Building a Violence-Free Society – The Role of The Citizen" and is being attended by persons from all over Ghana, as well as Ahmadis from across the world, including the Ameers-in-Charge of Trinidad and Tobago, Kenya and Uganda.

Quoting the Holy Quran, Vice President Bawumia stressed that all true Muslims must adhere to the teachings of Prophet Muhammed (SAW) and emulate his lifestyle.

“Islam as a religion means peace and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has taught that a true Muslim is the one from whose tongues and hands all other peaceful people are safe and who is at peace with his neighbours.

“I repeat: …a true Muslim is one from whose tongues and hands all other peaceful people are safe and who is at peace with his neighbours.

“Allah has admonished mankind, particularly Muslims in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 verse 12 that we should not create disorder on the earth.

“These beautiful teachings are what we need as a developing nation and that requires every citizen, particularly those of us who call ourselves Muslims, to put them into practice to show to the rest of the world that violence is an enemy to progress and that our true nature as human beings is to be at peace with one another.”

Muslims and Christians have been living in peace, and Ghana is an oasis of peace in the sub-region, probably among the most peaceful countries in the world today, because of the peace and tolerance that exists between Christians and Muslims in Ghana, Vice President Bawumia pointed out.

“This peace is anchored by the peace and tolerance that exists between Muslims and Christians in Ghana, and we should cherish one another, we should tolerate one another. After all the Prophet Muhammed (SAW) told us Muslims that in the areas of faith, the people that we should be closest to are the Christians. That is exactly what he said. They should be our closest brothers and sisters,” Vice President Bawumia reminded the Ahmadiyya Convention.

“A peaceful Ghana will lead to a prosperous Ghana,” Vice President Bawumia emphasised. “Violence is an enemy of progress. It is an enemy for all of us regardless of which tribe you are, religion, or which part of the country you live in. Violence is our collective enemy and we should do all we can to prevent it, and appreciate all the clergy – Muslim, Christian – the National Peace Council, Civil Society, the security services for all the work they do to maintain the peace of this country. It is something we should never take for granted.

“Let’s all come together in the spirit of oneness, in the spirit of togetherness, to keep this nation that God has given us, a very peaceful one.”

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Ghana establishes Fiscal Council and Financial Stability Council

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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January 6, 2019

The government of Ghana, is in no doubt demonstrating its commitment and determination to avoid the ‘sins’ of the past in the management of her economy. In order to avert the possibilities of getting back to the path of the fiscal slippages that caused the country to seek policy credibility from the IMF in the year 2015 through the Extended Credit Facility (EFC), the government of President Akufo-Addo has passed the historic Fiscal Responsibility Act, to anchor fiscal discipline and ensure prudence in the management of the economy. The Act establishes both the Fiscal Council and Financial Stability Council.

The Fiscal Council will amongst other responsibilities develop and recommend policies for the maintenance of prudent and sustainable levels of public debt, ensuring that the fiscal balance is maintained at a sustainable level and the management of fiscal risks in a prudent manner, to achieve efficiency, effectiveness and value for money in public expenditure.

The Fiscal Council will also monitor the performance of the government budget with regards to compliance with fiscal rules and targets. These include:

• a budget deficit of not more than 5% of GDP (as provided by law)
• a positive primary balance (as provided by law) and
• a debt to GDP ratio of not more than 65% of GDP

Ghana becomes the only country in sub-Saharan Africa to establish a Fiscal Council. The Fiscal Council will be chaired by Dr. Paul Acquah, former Governor of the Bank of Ghana and former Deputy Director of the Africa Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Other members of Ghana’s Fiscal Council are Professor Eugenia Amporfu, Dr. Nii Noi Ashong, Professor Augustine Fosu, Dr. Nii Kwaku Sowa, Professor Robert Osei, and Mr. Ali Nakyea.

Additionally, to enhance the stability and soundness of the financial system, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has by Executive Instrument, established a Financial Stability Council. The role of the Financial Stability council is to amongst others: strengthen and reinforce the stability of the financial sector, acting as an inter-institutional consultative coordination body; Coordinate regulation and supervision at the micro-level by focusing on matters of common concern for the various financial regulators involved in the regulation and supervision of financial entities in Ghana, namely Bank of Ghana (BoG), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Insurance Commission (NIC) and the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA); and Evaluate and mitigate financial stability risks by focusing on the timely detection and mitigation of risks to the stability of Ghana’s financial system.

It will comprise the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (Chairman), Deputy Governor, Deputy Minister of Finance, CEO of the National Insurance Commission, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, CEO of the National Pensions Regulatory Commission, and CEO of the Ghana Deposit Protection Corporation. Ghana also becomes the second country in sub-Saharan Africa to establish a Financial Stability Council after Mauritius.

Historically, Ghana has persistently had a problem with politicians pursuing fiscal policy that is inconsistent with macroeconomic stability (especially during election years). The establishment of the Fiscal Council and Financial Stability Council is therefore to help tie the hands of politicians in ensuring prudent macroeconomic management.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Medical Drones will take pictures of your naked wives – Hannah Bissiw to men

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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January 6, 2019

The National Women Organiser of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Hannah Bissiw has told men in rural communities the controversial Medical Drones introduced by government to dispense blood during emergencies, will also take naked pictures of their wives when they are bathing.
According to her, it is well known that every drone has high power pixel camera capable of taken pictures and so she suspects that government wants to clandestinely use the drones to take naked pictures of women in rural areas when bathing in their uncovered bathrooms.
“Those drones have videos in them. So I am telling Nana-Addo and Bawumia that the drone they are bringing, which can take pictures, and has someone sitting behind computer and directing it in villages in the name of supplying blood, we know CHPS compounds do not offer blood.
“That thing can take pictures and they can take pictures. So when it passes by your village and your bathroom, it will take pictures. So the men listening to me, those drones can take pictures of your naked wives when they are bathing because in the villages our bathrooms are not covered. So they can take pictures of your naked breasts and other things. We know those drones can take pictures but we don’t want the drones, we want those vans that John Mahama was using to supply blood, those vans were effective and helpful,” Bissiw said this Saturday at Asamankese in the Eastern Region during a Party for Constituency Women Organisers and widows in the region by the Regional Women Organiser Shirley Naana Osei Ampem.
Madam Bissiw also took a swipe at the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensah, over what she described as the irregularity-riddled Referendum which was recently held.
According to her, the alleged fraudulent activities that happened during the referendum was a dressed rehearsal of conspiracy by the government and the EC to rig the 2020 election which she said the NDC is fully prepared and ready to ensure that nobody circumvents the will of the people.
The Eastern Regional Women’s Organizer, Shirley Naana Ampem, said the program was to energize the Women Organizers for the task ahead. According to her, other economic empowerment programs have been planned for them to help them diversify for financial sustainability.
All the Women organisers and Widows who attended the program were offered gifts.

Starrfmonline

Former President Mahama begins final flagbearership campaign

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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January 5, 2019

Former President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday arrived in Sefwi Bekwai in the Bibiani constituency of the Western Region to begin a five-day campaign tour of the Western Region.

Mr. Mahama will visit all constituencies in the region to meet with delegates and seek their mandate to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to victory in the 2020 elections.

The visit, which marks the final phase of Mr. Mahama’s campaign, will also take him to the Eastern and Volta Regions ahead of the flagbearership election on January 26, 2019.

Already, the former president has met with delegates in every constituency in the Central, Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Bono-Ahafo, Ashanti, and Greater Accra Regions.

Ghana | Atinkaoanline.com | Ishmael Atiemo

Video: Kidi, Kuami Eugene appreciate Atinka Media Village with cake

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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January 5, 2019

Two artistes from the camp of Lynx Entertainment, Kidi and Kuami Eugene have shown appreciation to Atinka Media Village for supporting thier career in the year 2018.

According to the two, the gesture is to appreciate the media for being part of their 2018 success as musicians.

The two decided to appreciate selected media houses with a surprise cake and Atinka Media Village happens to be part of the few.

"This is a small token from us to show appreciation for playing our songs," Kidi said.

Watch full video below:

https://youtu.be/kgHk-XRb0NQ

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Sheriff Firang Yusssiff

42 million people died from abortion in 2018 – Research says

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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January 5, 2019

More people died from abortions in 2018 than any other cause of death in the world.
According to LifeNews, data compiled by Worldometers reveal that approximately 42 million abortions occurred around the world last year, making it the leading cause of death. Deaths from abortion exceeded those from cancer, HIV/Aids, suicide, and car accidents.

Worldometers is an independent site that collects official data from governments, scientific journals, and other reputable groups like the World Health Organization.

Those 42 million abortion deaths are not included in the total death count worldwide, which was 59 million. Therefore, the correct total number of deaths worldwide in 2018 is approximately 101 million.

In the United States, abortion rates have been declining for several years but it is still one of the leading causes of death in the US. An estimated 1 million babies are aborted each year in the US.

Pro-life advocates are working tirelessly to end abortion. Thousands of activists will descend on Washington D.C. from Jan. 17-Jan. 20 for the 46th annual March for Life rally. This year’s theme is “Unique from Day One” which sends the message that each life begins at conception.

“When life begins and the stages of prenatal development are scientific facts. Humanity – and our uniqueness as individuals – begins at day one, at fertilization. Life, in its most vulnerable form, should be protected,” the group says in a statement on its website. “That, in essence, is why we march. We march to end abortion, with the vision of a world where the beauty, dignity, and uniqueness of every human life are valued and protected.”

The Trump administration has also taken efforts to keep abortion from being seen as a legitimate form of family planning overseas.
The US delegation told the World Health Assembly in Geneva last May that abortion is not a method of population control.

“We remind our fellow delegates,” the statement said, “that the International Conference on Population and Development forged international consensus that abortion should in no case be promoted as a method of family planning.”

The US statement added: “The United States remains a stalwart defender and donor to maternal and children’s health, life, and wellbeing. And we will never waiver on that support.”

In the US, pro-life advocates continue to urge President Donald Trump to fulfill his campaign promise and defund Planned Parenthood.

“It’s very simple. Abortion is not health care,” Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, told CBN News last year in an interview. “Planned Parenthood is not an institution where women go to get a flu shot or a check-up. Planned Parenthood is an institution where women go when they feel like they have no other choice. When they have to choose to pay someone to kill the very life they helped to create.”

“This is outrageous. And so, we’re asking President Trump to pull a hard line here and tell Congress, ‘I’m going to veto anything that funds Planned Parenthood,’ and that’s what we expect from him,” she said.

Source: CNBC

Hajia Humu Foundation donates Hearse to Wa Central Mosque

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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January 4, 2019

A leading member of the youth wing of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hajia Humu Awudu, CEO of Hajia Humu Foundation put smiles on the faces of the people of Wa over the weekend, by donating a branded hearse to the Wa Central Mosque.

The Foundation has been supporting various projects in the region but extended their gesture beyond imagination with the massive donation at the premises of the Wa Central Mosque. Prior to the donation of the ambulance, HHF donated some examination reference materials to 34 Schools in the Wa Municipality at an event held at the Upper West Regional Library organised by Muslim Intellectuals Network. Hajia Humu Awudu was also on this occasion honoured by the Network with a citation.

The foundation seeks to empower the poor, women, persons with disability, the youth and make them agents of their own development. HHF believes that the key to building a responsible and secured society is to empower especially the youth and women groups. It has as its mission to work in partnership with the government, NGOs and individuals towards building a responsible society that recognises the less privileged and disadvantage groups.

HHF was established with an objective to extend educational opportunities and access to the youth through scholarships, empower the youth through skills development and access to job, help improve the health needs of the society and improve the environment and sanitation needs of the society.
Hajia Humu Awudu also took the opportunity to launch Foundation as well as the “Tungsuuhi Fund”, a project under Humu’s Start-up and SME Support Program at the Wa Naa Sidiki Bomi Park.

Present at the ceremony was Mr. Alhassan Sulemana (Upper West Regional Minister), Mr. Amidu Chinnia Ishaq, (Deputy Regional Minister), Alhaji Issahaku Moomen Tahiru (Hon Municipal Chief Executive), Dr Suleman (Wa Central Imam) Naa Kadir Ibrahim (Wa-Naa Representative), Alhaji Issahaku (Yeri-Naa Representative), , Sheikh Umar Shaban (ASWAG Imam Representative), Issahaku Nuhu Putieha (Regional Organiser, NDC), Madam Cecilia Salmat Hamza (Regional Womens Organiser, NDC), Ali Karim Kamara (Constituency Chairman, NPP), Suleman (First Vice Chairman), Osman Abdul-Hamid (Constituency Secretary) and others such as Saaka Salia (NPP Communications Team), Haadi Bawa and many more.

At the launch of the Foundation, The CEO, Hajia Humu Awudu remarked that her motive of giving was to encourage others who have to share with the less privileged to make the society a better place for everyone.

The “Tungsuuhi Fund” is expected to provide capital support to the poor, especially women, with a set aside seed capital of GHc 50,000. For the purposes of efficiency and effectiveness, beneficiaries will be supported with the necessary items that are needed to boost their businesses.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

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