“I don’t have to explain my team selection” – Kwesi Appiah

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September 17, 2018

I owe no one explanations for my national team call-ups, according to Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah.

The 58-year old gaffer has been faced with opprobium from the public following his last call-up for the West African powerhouse’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya.

The likes of captain Asamoah Gyan and the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, were all dropped from the squad as they lost 1-0 to the Harambee Stars last Saturday.

However, Kwesi Appiah disagrees and believes every player he calls deserves a place in his team.

“I hear some of my colleagues all the time saying I need to explain my call-ups. Ghana has got thousands of players,” he told Ghanaweb.

“There are so many players on my data, so much so that I can sit here and call about five different teams. And that is excluding the local based players.

“There are so many players, so if I’m going to explain why a player is not playing every time we have a match, how can I explain that?

“I believe that if I should even explain, then it should be to fellow technical people who will understand.”

The Black Stars’ next game is a 2019 AFCON qualifying doubleheader against Sierra Leone in October.

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Zoomlion starts massive fumigation & pest control exercise in Senior High Schools

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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September 17, 2018

The vector control unit of Zoomlion Ghana limited has started massive vector control activities in all public senior high schools in the Eastern, Ashanti and the Northern Regions.

The exercise, which is under the auspices of Ministry of Education (MOE) seeks to rid-off bedbugs, mosquitoes, cockroaches, flies, ants, reptiles, rodents among others which normally distracts the effective learning environments of students.

Some Senior High Schools visited in the Eastern, Ashanti and Northern regions witnessed Spraying Gangs of Zoomlion’s vector control team busily fumigating school dormitories, classrooms, laboratories, offices, staff bungalows, drains, mattresses, chop boxes among others.

The Headmaster of Ghana Senior High School (Ghanass) in the Eastern region, Very Rev. Abraham Osei Donkor expressed his utmost appreciation to the Ministry of Education and Zoomlion for undertaking this important health service.

He said the exercise was timely especially as students are about to start serious academic works and there is the need to ensure that anything that disrupts smooth academic learning is taken care of.

The National Vector Control Coordinator of Zoomlion, Rev. Kwame Addae in an interview explained that the vector control exercise is being executed by Zoomlion in all public Senior High Schools in the Eastern, Ashanti and the Northern Regions.

He said the two-weeks exercise which is under the auspices of the Ministry of Education is to ensure the successful implementation of its Free SHS Programme which includes a conducive learning environment for students.

Some of the students interviewed from the campuses in the Ashanti, Eastern and northern regions respectively expressed their joy for the fumigation exercise.

They lamented their daily interferences with bedbugs in their mattresses, dormitories and classrooms making it difficult for them to learn. “Our bodies even itch us and cockroaches sometime enters our chop boxes and our foods”, they added.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Ada: Chief’s mortal remains set ablaze, one shot dead over ‘burial space’

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Porcia Oforiwaa

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September 17, 2018

One person was shot dead and the mortal remains of a chief burnt after rival groups clashed on Saturday over a burial space for the dead body at Tehey in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Region.

Several others who got injured in the confrontation are receiving treatment at the Ada East District Hospital.

Members of the rival faction who were opposed to burial of the late Chief, Nene Mensah Zotorvi V in his residence at the Tehey community, attacked the family and mourners with machetes, clubs and other offensive weapons.

The lifeless body of a 40-year-old Ofotsu Sabbah, a mourner with bruises, bullet wounds and pieces of cement blocks all over his body, was found in an uncompleted building Sunday morning. The body of the late chief was also found still burning in a burnt ambulance when the police arrived.

The Ada Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent George Kumah, speaking to Atinka News, explained that a rival faction last Tuesday, 11 September 2018 secured a court injunction restraining the family from burying the late Chief in his house at Tehey.

However, the writ could not be served until late Saturday when the body was ready for conveyance to the burial site. They were served with the writ at the funeral grounds at Tamatoku in the Ada East District.

According to the police chief, the organizers agreed to bury the late chief at a different place as the police who stood by till around 6 pm before leaving were convinced that the people would comply.

The people, however, sent the corpse to the disputed land resulting in the deadly clash.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Edward Sebbie

Storm Florence: Heavy flooding cuts off Wilmington

By

Daniel Opare

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September 17, 2018

The coastal city of Wilmington, North Carolina, has been completely cut off from the rest of the state because of deepening flood waters.

Officials say all roads in and out are now impassable and have warned evacuated residents to stay away.

Reports describe the city, which has a population of about 120,000, as an island within the state.

About 400 people there have been rescued from flood waters, and most of the city remains without power.

The National Weather Service has warned of at least two further days of possible flash flooding in the area before conditions are forecast to improve.

"Do not come here," New Hanover County Commission Chairman Woody White said.

"Our roads are flooded, there is no access into Wilmington…We want you home, but you can't come yet."

Two of the first known fatalities – that of a mother and her seven-month son – were reported in the city on Friday morning.

The area is usually best known as a filming location for US dramas One Tree Hill and Dawson's Creek.

US basketball legend Michael Jordan – who is fundraising to help residents affected by the storm – also grew up in the city.

Many roads inside Wilmington are still passable for residents who defied evacuation orders to ride the storm out.

But a city-wide curfew has been extended after five people were arrested on suspicion of looting from a store in the city on Saturday.

At least 17 people are now reported to have died in storm-related incidents in North and South Carolina since Florence made landfall as a category one hurricane on Thursday.

It has now weakened into a tropical depression with winds of 35mph (55km/h), according to the National Hurricane Centre.

At least 17 people are now reported to have died in storm-related incidents in North and South Carolina since Florence made landfall as a category one hurricane on Thursday.

It has now weakened into a tropical depression with winds of 35mph (55km/h), according to the National Hurricane Centre.

The governor also warned of the potential danger of landslides once the weather system reached more mountainous areas.

The US coast guard and volunteer boats have been helping people left stricken by rising flood waters across the states.

Officials in North Carolina have said about 900 people have been rescued from floodwaters there, and about 15,000 people are still in emergency shelters.

US President Donald Trump has declared a disaster in several North Carolina counties – a move that frees up federal funding for recovery efforts.

He has praised federal and local law enforcement response to the storm on Twitter several times and the White House has indicated he may visit the affected area in coming days.

Power companies are working to restore power to the almost 650,000 homes and businesses that are still without electricity.

The centre of the storm is still over North Carolina but is expected to accelerate north on Sunday night local time before turning to head toward New England on Tuesday.

Eleven deaths were reported in North Carolina, and at least six have been reported in South Carolina.

A mother and her seven-month child who died when a tree fell on their house in Wilmington were the first known deaths reported.

Among the other fatalities were two men in their 70s who died in Lenoir County – one had been connecting extension cords and another was blown by high winds when checking on his dogs.

Four road deaths in South Carolina have been blamed on the storm, and two people died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a generator inside their home.

BBC

S&P Ratings: Bawumia vindicated again over economic fundamentals

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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September 16, 2018

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s recent comments that Ghana’s economy is built on strong fundamentals have received vindication from Standard and Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings.

Dr. Bawumia while speaking at a Student’s Entrepreneurship Initiative programme in Tamale dismissed the minority’s concerns that the recent marginal depreciation of the cedi was occasioned by weak economic fundamentals.

Examining economic data of the recent past, the Vice President argued that low inflation, reduction of debt to GDP ratio, declining interest rates, increased growth rate, increased manufacturing and agricultural growth among other economic indicators showed that the Ghanaian economy was doing relatively well.

Dr. Bawumia asserted that the 7% depreciation of the cedi was the second lowest since 2012 and that this cannot be evidence of weak economic fundamentals.

The minority NDC was adamant in accepting Vice President Dr. Bawumia’s analysis. Deputy Minority leader James Avedzi and MP for Ketu North rejected Dr. Bawumia’s argument that the economy was doing well.

However, a 12-page report by the credit rating agency, S&P Global Ratings, published on 14th September, 2018, showed Ghana’s economic performance improved which resulted in Ghana being upgraded from B- to B.

It is stated in the report that “S&P Global Ratings raised its long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Ghana to ‘B’ from ‘B-‘”.

The reputable credit rating agency added that Ghana’s “outlook is stable”.

“We could lower our ratings if Ghana’s economic growth is significantly lower than we expect and if its policymaking effectiveness were to weaken, for example if fiscal deficits were to be materially larger than our expectations. We could consider raising our ratings if Ghana implements and adheres to measures that materially alleviate pressures on public finances and reduce public debt levels beyond our expectations. We could also see prospects for an upgrade if the current account deficit narrows faster than we expect and external debt and gross external financing needs are significantly reduced,” the report indicated.

In justifying the rational for the new upgrade, the report mentions among others that “the upgrade reflects our assessment that Ghana’s monetary policy effectiveness has improved, albeit from a low base, and will support the credibility of the inflation-targeting framework over the period.

“Having peaked at a seven-year high of 19.2% (year-on-year) in March 2016, headline inflation has continued to decline to 10% by mid-year 2018, supported by a relatively tight monetary policy stance. In our view, the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) policy rate has also been fairly effectively transmitted through the financial system to market participants. The government’s recapitalization of the banking system in 2018 is a fiscal expense weighing on our fiscal assessment, but should ultimately strengthen the banks and allow them to support financial intermediation in the economy.

“The ratings are supported by our monetary policy assessment and our view of Ghana’s fairly robust economic growth prospects. The ratings remain constrained by weak public finances from both a stock and flow perspective, sizable contingent liabilities, the country’s low GDP per capita, and high external debt levels”.

The verdict by S&P Global ratings seem to have settled the debate on the economy in favor of the ruling New Patriotic Party Government. It is a vindication of Vice President Bawumia, who has maintained that the economy is better managed today than two years ago.

Source: Denis Kwakwa, NPP youth activist in Ashanti Region

Akufo-Addo commissions 20MW solar plant, inspects 1D1F project in Gomoa West

By

Daniel Opare

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September 16, 2018

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Saturday, 15th September 2018, commissioned a 20-megawatt solar plant and inspected ongoing works at the Casa de-Ropa Ltd, a “1-district-1-factory” initiative, all in the Gomoa West constituency.

Speaking at the commissioning of the 20-megawatt solar plant at Gomoa Onyaadze, President Akufo-Addo noted that the facility, constructed and operated by Meinergy Ghana Ltd., represents a significant a contribution to Government’s policy of having environmentally friendly technology in the country’s energy generation mix.

With Government having committed itself to having, by 2020, 10% of its energy generation mix coming from renewable energy, the President indicated that his administration has put in place measures “that will help us, within a decade from there, to have renewable energy as the majority of the generation mix of our country.”

This, he stressed, is to help Ghana fulfill its commitments, under the Paris Agreement, of using environmentally friendly technology to help address the issues of climate change.

In addition to this, President Akufo-Addo indicated that his government is in the process of rationalising the contribution of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to the country’s energy development.

“When we came into office, we inherited a plethora of IPP agreements, all of whom were contracted at the time of our crisis and, therefore, left us in a weak position, and got us accepting tariff rates of 18 cents per kilowatt hour and over. In an area in the world where 10 cents per kilowatt hour is the maximum, we are producing IPP agreements at 18 cents per kilowatt hour,” he said.

The President added, “Those are not acceptable arrangements. So, in future, we are going to insist that IPP arrangements are created out of competitive bidding, because it is only by that process that we will be able to get the competitive rates that both our domestic consumers as well as our industrial users need and can work with.”

These directives, he stressed, have gone to the Ministry of Energy, Electricity Company of Ghana, for enforcement.

He assured that future agreements with IPPs will only be consented to and operationalized through competitive bidding.

“And then, we are in an age where renewable energy facilities are being produced domestically. So, we want to get to a situation here in Ghana whereby these solar panels are produced domestically. And it can be done within the confines of the one district one factory initiative,” he added.

In total, Meinergy Ghana Ltd., has installed 64,400 solar panels, 400 smart inverters and laid 15,000 DC cables, in order to set-up the 20-megawatt plant

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Government provides support to over 250 Northern sector businesses

By

Daniel Opare

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September 16, 2018

Government has provided financial support to over 250 businesses selected from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions under the Presidential Business Support Programme (PBSP).

The Presidential Business Support Programme is designed to provide funding, technical support, training, mentorship and business advisory services to Ghanaian start-ups, as well as small and medium size businesses which constitute over 80% of businesses in the country.

At a brief but colourful ceremony in Tamale on Friday 14th September, 2018 the Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, assisted by corporate, business and religious leaders, presented cheques ranging between Ghs10,000 and Ghs100,000 to the leaders of businesses which had successfully gone through the rigorous selection process undertaken by the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan, which is under the Ministry for Business Development.

The beneficiary businesses were competitively selected through the recommendations of the Private Incubation Hubs in a transparent, efficient and equitable manner to increase the likelihood of their success and sustainability.

Reports indicate the merrymaking and media announcements, the Youth Enterprise Support programme set up under the NDC provided support to just 67 businesses, while over 2000 businesses have received support in the 19-month administration of the NPP

Speaking after the presentation, Vice President Bawumia underscored that this was yet another sign of Government’s commitment to supporting the growth of Ghanaian businesses, particularly start-ups, with about $100 million committed to supporting entrepreneurial activities in Ghana, particularly those led by women entrepreneurs.

“Today marks a very important and exciting milestone in the life of our dear Country. We have gathered here to celebrate and award financial support to the young men and women who have braced the odds to venture into the world of entrepreneurship.”

He continued,“ Through the Ministry for Business Development, government has made it a priority to create a favourable atmosphere to enable the Private Sector, including start-ups to flourish. In addition, we are working on the fundamentals of the economy, to stimulate the needed investments for significant expansion and growth of the national economy and the generation of wealth and jobs.”

Vice President Bawumia reiterated President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision and primary objective of building the most entrepreneurial, business-friendly economy in Africa, which will create jobs and prosperity for all Ghanaians.

“This vision is clearly articulated in the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Policies (2017-2024) of His Excellency the President. The Government strongly believes that the private sector is a key partner and the main driver of our economic development agenda and we are therefore committed to the development of a thriving private sector in the country.”

Vice President Bawumia urged the beneficiaries to work and justify their selection by reaching beyond the shores of Ghana.

“Entrepreneurship is not an easy journey, so be courageous, take the bold steps to build your businesses and be competitive.

I would like to urge you to look beyond Ghana and set your sights towards neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger etc. These are potential markets for your products. Also pay attention to product design and product differentiation, packaging, and marketing so that your products will meet both local requirements and global standards.”

A delighted Minister for Business Development, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, expressed delight at the success of the programme so far, and urged the beneficiaries to work hard and create more opportunities and jobs for others.

According to officials of the NEIP, over 1,000 micro, small and medium-size businesses in the three Northern regions applied for support under the PBSP. All the businesses were given the opportunity to go through a well-structured training programme to build their capacities to manage their various businesses. The trainings were conducted by six (6) Private Incubation Hubs across the 3 regions of the North.

The businesses selected for funding cover many sectors of the economy including Agri-Business and agro-processing; Smock weaving; Information communication technology; Animal and livestock rearing; Health; Food and beverages; Fashion (Clothing & accessories) and Beauty.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Electrician gets four years for pouring acid on woman

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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September 16, 2018

An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced an electrician to four years’ imprisonment in hard labour for pouring acid on a food vendor, which caused her to suffer severe acid burns all over her body.

Benjamin Atobrah was, in addition, ordered to pay GH¢20,000.00 as a compensation to Melody Sworddol, the victim.

He pleaded guilty to causing harm and was convicted on his own plea.

Sentence was deferred in May, this year, by the Court to await a medical report on the condition of the victim, who was on admission at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Burns Centre, while Atobrah remained in police custody.

Police Chief Inspector Emmanuel Ohene-Agyei told the Court, presided over by Mrs. Marian Affoh, that the victim was a food vendor whilst convict was an electrician.

They both lived at La, a suburb of Accra, and had their work places close to each other.

On April 20, this year, at about 2000 hours, a misunderstanding ensued between Atobrah and one of his apprentices.

Being peeved by the situation, he took some acid from a car battery and attempted to pour it on his apprentice but he escaped.

Atobrah later said he overheard Melody gossiping about him and rather poured the acid on her.

Melody, who suffered various injuries, was rushed to the Hospital for treatment.

Atobrah was arrested and after investigations, he was arraigned.

Mayweather announces rematch with Pacquiao in 'nine-figure payday'

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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September 16, 2018

Floyd Mayweather has said he is coming out of retirement for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao.

The undefeated American boxer posted an Instagram video of the pair meeting informally at what appeared to be a music event.

They exchange words but it is hard to hear exactly what is said.

Mayweather posted: "I'm coming back to fight Manny Pacquiao this year. Another 9 figure pay day on the way @mayweatherpromotions."

Filipino fighter Pacquiao has so far not commented, and there has been no official confirmation or other details released.

Mayweather, 41, won on points when the pair fought each other in May 2015, but the fight was widely considered to have fallen well short of the hype.

Both boxers earned tens of millions after record-breaking pay-per-view sales.

Mayweather – whose nickname is "money" – showed off a $100m (£76m) cheque he said was payment for the Pacquiao showdown.

The American was last in the ring in August 2017 for another bumper payday against UFC star Conor McGregor.

He "retired" again after winning the fight which was rumoured to have earned him around $300m.

Pacquiao, 39, is now a senator in his home country but remains the current WBA welterweight champion.

Sky News

Alvarez beats Gennady Golovkin on points to take WBC and WBA middleweight titles

By

Porcia Oforiwaa

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September 16, 2018

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez claimed the WBC and WBA world middleweight titles by inflicting a first career defeat on Gennady Golovkin with a gripping points win in their Las Vegas rematch.

The Mexican claimed a frenetic final round on the scorecards which proved critical in preventing a repeat of the draw both men shared, 364 days earlier at the same T-Mobile Arena venue.

At the end of a contest which showcased the expert skill level of two of the sport's finest practitioners, Alvarez scored a 114-114 115-113 115-113 majority decision.

Golovkin, whose first defeat comes in his 40th bout – left the ring immediately without conducting an interview as his rival – fighting for the first time since serving a six-month drugs ban – celebrated.

"My corner told me that I needed to win the final round and that what's I did," said Alvarez. "I'm very emotional."

A battle to justify the hype
Alvarez looked close to tears after a decision which will again prompt controversy as, for spells in the fight, Golovkin seemed to be edging the physical side of a tactical battle, with his jab proving key early on.

But with scoring already criticised in their first bout before Alvarez's two failed doping tests in February, it is perhaps not surprising that once again controversy will remain and talk of a rematch is almost certain.

Few could argue the hype surrounding their second meeting was not justified as the bout ebbed and flowed. Celebrities including actors Will Smith and Denzel Washington, and sports stars such as Mike Tyson and LeBron James sat ringside as the capacity 20,000 inside the arena were taken in by a bout in which neither man looked like capitulating at any stage.

After Golovkin's poised jab clearly won the opening three minutes, Alvarez's response in the second – including a solid right uppercut – pointed to the back-and-forth contest that was to come.

BBC

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