Railways Development Minister Joe Ghartey on Wednesday sent a clear signal to staff of his abhorrent to lateness to work when he sent home 14 staff who reported to work late.
They comprise nine permanent staff and five national service personnel.
The action demonstrates that workers should be disciplined in the discharge of their duties.
The Minister did not take any further action against the workers and therefore, the affected workers reported to work yesterday very early.
“It was a wakeup call and I will monitor their response which I believe will be positive”, he stated.
Speaking to The Finder, the minister declined to reveal his next steps to instil discipline in staff of his ministry.
” I have to put on record that the staff have worked very hard last year but I am just asking them to work harder”, he added.
According to Joe Ghartey, one of the affected staff said she resides at Dodowa which is far from Accra and this is complicated by the bad traffic situation on her route.
The Minister said he suggested to worker to consider transfer to Tema which is a bit closer Dodowa.
The Railways Development Minister explained that he was waiting for the response of that staff
Accra based private radio station Hot 93.9fm has focused its lenses on lateness and other poor working culture in the public sector.
Some analysts have said the poor attitude of workers is the cause of low productivity in the country.
It said that most Ghanaians pretended to work for eight hours while they only worked for three hours at their work places.
The Finder
Rawlings: Pray for Martin Amidu as he restores the wheels of justice
Former President Rawlings has congratulated Mr. Martin Amidu on his appointment as the Special Prosecutor at the office of the Independent Prosecutor.
Mr. Rawlings who was hopeful that Parliament would approve the appointment said, “The President couldn’t have made a better choice”
“The president by this appointment has risen above partisanship and recognized a highly principled citizen.
“Mr. Amidu has proven to be a fearless anti-corruption crusader whose pursuit of truth and justice has won him national admiration.
“I call on all Ghanaians to offer the appointee the required support and information in pursuit of what will undoubtedly be a challenging role,” the former President said.
Flt Lt Rawlings urged Ghanaians to pray for God’s guidance and strength for Mr. Amidu as he works to restore the wheels of justice.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
Martin Amidu named Special Prosecutor
President Nana Akufo Addo has named Martin Amidu as Ghana’s first Special Prosecutor.
The President made the announcement on Thursday in a short ceremony at the Flagstaff House in Accra.
Profile of Martin Amidu
Amidu served as the Deputy Attorney-General for about the last four years of the Provisional National Defence Council military government. Amidu is a member of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) After civilian rule was established in the Fourth Republic in January 1993, he continued to serve in the government of Jerry Rawlings as Deputy Attorney-General. This he did for both terms lasting eight years until January 2001.
In the December 2000 presidential elections, he stood as the running mate of John Atta Mills. They both however lost to President John Kufuor that year.
In January 2010, following a cabinet reshuffle, President Mills replaced Cletus Avoka with Amidu as the Minister for Interior.
As Amidu is a Builsa, some people raised questions as to his neutrality in dealing with the Bawku conflict.
He however went successfully through vetting by the Parliament of Ghana and has since assumed his post.
Following the second major cabinet reshuffle by President Mills, Amidu became the Attorney general and Minister for Justice of Ghana.
Removal from Office
Martin Amidu was relieved of his post on Thursday January 19, 2012 by President John Evans Atta Mills under circumstances described by aids as ‘his misconduct’ at a meeting chaired by the president at the Osu Castle on January 18, 2012. He made allegations related to alleged financial impropriety on the part of another cabinet minister, allegations he was asked by the president to substantiate.
Martin Amidu, the former Attorney General, single-handedly challenged the legality of the payments after being relieved off his post at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court in 2014 ordered Mr. Woyome to pay back the money as Supreme Court judges unanimously granted the Attorney-General clearance to execute the court’s judgment, ordering Mr. Woyome to refund the cash to the state.
Following the delays in retrieving the money, Mr. Amidu in 2016, filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to examine Alfred Woyome, on how he would pay back the money, after the Attorney General’s office under the Mahama Administration, led by the former Minister for Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, discontinued a similar application.
In February 2017 however, Mr. Amidu withdrew his suit seeking an oral examination, explaining that the change of government under the New Patriotic Party under His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo and his Attorney General, Miss Gloria Akuffo’s assurance to retrieve all judgment debts wrongfully paid to individuals Mr. Woyome in response prayed the Supreme Court to stay proceedings on the oral examination since he had filed for a review on the case.
His lawyer, Ken Anku, argued that, his client will face an irreparable damage if the oral examination is allowed to take place but the deputy Attorney General, Godfred Dame, opposed the application, describing the reasons as incompetent and unmeritorious according citifmonline.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com |Additional files from Myjoyonline
Legon election survey bogus academic research- NPP Communicator
Member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) communication team, Nana Kwesi Bosompen, has said the survey done by the University Ghana’s Political Science Department on elections, is a bogus academic research.
According to the vociferous communicator, the survey done by the institution is half baked and lacked merit and that it (survey) should be treated with all the contempt it deserves.
The ardent NPP member was speaking on Atinka TV’s “Ghana Nie” hosted by Bismark Brown Thursday.
A survey conducted by the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana revealed that, out of some 5000 respondents interviewed in 250 electoral areas across the country, a total of 52.7% of Ghanaians said they would vote for the Akufo-Addo led government.
About 33.1% of Ghanaians said they would vote for the opposition National Democratic Congress.
Nana Kwesi Bosompen argued that, it was too early for anybody to evaluate the performance of the government and that Akufo Addo’s government with only a year in office.
He further criticized the methods deployed by the faculty in conducting the research, saying the 5000 respondents sampled for the interview was woefully inadequate. He pointed out that similar bogus reports conducted in the past could not stand the test of time.
He warned members of his party (NPP) not to be tickled by the report since it gives false hopes
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com Paul Norsah
10 signs he wants a serious relationship with you
Dying to know if he wants to take things to the next level? In this article, we take a look at 10 signs he wants a serious relationship with you.
Dating can be complicated and it can also be pretty exhausting. One of the hardest things about it is working out how interested the guy is. Does he want to get serious with us or is he just looking for a bit of flirty fun? There are red flags that should put us on our guard, but we don’t always notice them. Sometimes, we don’t want to notice them. Then, there are the signs and signals he’s giving out that we might totally miss! If you’re not sure what’s going on at the moment but want to find out, let’s take a look at 10 signs he wants a serious relationship with you.
He Shares His Goals With You
When a guy is serious about a woman, he’ll open up to her. Understand that this isn’t something that guys do lightly or easily. If a guy isn’t serious and doesn’t have strong feelings for you, he won’t open up. By talking about his goals with you, he’s letting you know that he wants to invite you into his life. He wants to share his ambitions with you and wants to let you know what his dreams are. Moreover, by doing this he’s able to se how on the level you two are; how your goals and dreams stack up with each other, and how compatible your aspirations and long-term visions are. On the other hand, if he doesn’t talk to you about your goals, it suggests that he doesn’t see a shared future between the two of you.
He Takes A Big Interest In You
Another one of clear signs he wants a serious relationship with you is when he’s moved on from the banter and the superficial questions onto deeper questions that probe some pretty personal stuff. He wants to hear about your past, learn about your passions and discover more about what makes you “you.” Moreover, he’s also been revealing personal stuff about himself. He’s opened up and talks freely about his past, his passions and the things that really mean something to him.
He’s Introduced You To His Family
This is a big one. If a guy isn’t serious about you and this relationship, he’s hardly going to introduce you to his family. It’s a big step, and if he’s taken it already, it’s a pretty strong sign that he likes you and wants to take this relationship further. Remember, his family is his world and being introduced to his world is a major deal. If you’ve been looking for a clear sign as to his interest, meeting his family is one of the biggest yet. He wouldn’t introduce you if he didn’t want to get serious with you.
He Doesn’t Hold Back
If he likes you and wants to take things further, he’ll probably have no problem expressing his feelings. He’ll drop hints about his attraction for you, tell you that he misses you and enjoys your company. Hey, it isn’t always so easy for guys to open up like this. If he’s being forward and expressing himself, it’s a huge indicator that he’s genuinely interested in you.
He’s Not Talking To Any Other Girls
We all get a bit worried that the guy were dating is talking to other girls. Hey, it’s only natural and until the two of you become an genuine thing, he can talk to whoever he likes. However, if he’s made it clear that he isn’t interested in anyone else at the moment and that you’re his sole concern, it’s a MASSIVE sign that he wants a serious relationship with you. It’s quite hard for some guys to commit to just one girl. If he’s not flirting with anyone else, take it as a given that he wants you and only you.
You Do Things As A Couple
He takes you to couple only events, such as weddings, exclusive parties, the racing and so on. This is one of clear signs he wants a serious relationship with you.
He Talks About The Future
Not only does he talk about the future, but he includes you in it. He makes plans out loud about where the two of you should go travelling to and what life might be like next year. He says things like: “I might go back to school, but don’t worry, I’ll still have time for you.” If a guy wasn’t interested in getting serious with you, he wouldn’t talk like this. He might not talk about the future at all, but if he did you wouldn’t be in it. It would be all: “I’m gonna do this and I’m gonna do that.” If he involves you in his future, it’s a huge sign that he genuinely likes you and wants to settle down.
He Works His Schedule Around You
Another one of good signs he wants a serious relationship with you is when he makes you a priority. Not only are you in his schedule, but he prioritises you and works his schedule around you. It takes a lot for a guy to do this. If he asks you what your plans are for the weekend before making his own plans, it’s a pretty big sign that he wants to keep you around.
He’s Told You He Loves You
Some girls STILL don’t take this as a sign that he’s keen on a serious relationship, despite its obvious implications. “Oh, he was just saying stuff. He was drunk. Besides, he only said it once. It didn’t mean anything.” Guys don’t say they love you casually. They know full well what its implications are. They know that if they tell you they love you, it means they want to get serious with you. They definitely wouldn’t say it lightly.
He Remembers The Small Things
If a guy genuinely didn’t care and just wanted a casual relationship, he wouldn’t make the time and effort to remember the details. He wouldn’t remember that red is your favourite colour or that your first car was a Ford or that you once dyed your hair green. If he remembers all this, he’s serious about you.
Do you want to share other signs he wants a serious relationship with you?
Stay happy!
Beauty and Tips
Human Ken doll has four ribs removed to get a slimmer waist
Human Ken Doll Rodrigo Alves said he feels like he has been “run over by a truck” after becoming the first man to have four ribs removed to leave him with a super slim waist.
And the plastic surgery addict — who has spent more than $670,000 transforming his body — even filmed his grisly 60th cosmetic procedure.
The London-based social media star had his groundbreaking operation at the Los Angeles clinic of Dr. Michael K. Obeng and live streamed the “experience” on the surgeon’s Instagram account.
Speaking to The Sun Online straight after the procedure, he said: “I am the only man in the world to have this operation.”
“I am able to stand up or lie down but I am in excruciating pain. I feel like I have been run over by a truck. I am on very strong medication.”
The clinic later posted: “Our first male #RibRemoval @rodrigoalvesuk the verdict is out if Alves is the first gentleman to have his #ribs removed! Watch our #Live #Feed to #Witness #History!!”
Another grisly image showed Alves’ bloody ribs laid out on a table in front of him while he casually takes a photo with his phone.
The 34-year-old Brazilian wanted to have six ribs removed to drop his waistline from 34 inches down to just 26 inches.
However, he was told by doctors that could affect the function of his lungs.
Before boarding his flight to the US for the op, he told The Sun Online: “On Sunday the ribs are coming out. Once they’ve been removed they’ll be sent off to a cartilage bank.”
Storing his removed body parts means that Alves will be able to use them in the future if he needs extra gristle for a procedure or reconstruction.
So far he has spent a fortune on procedures including nose jobs, silicone chest implants, eight pack abs and more.
Last year, he revealed he wanted to have three ribs removed from either side of his rib cage so he can have a thinner waist.
In November he told The Sun: “If I have my ribs removed I’m gonna have a classic figure. It’s going to make my waist tiny so I can wear elegant, nice blazers.”
“I have had friends that have done it before — it’s not a simple procedure but it can be done.”
His latest surgery comes after he revealed on Italian TV he will have a sex change to turn into a Human Barbie Doll.
But he says he would not go through with his biggest procedure to date until his late 50s.
And he says he has taken inspiration from “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star Caitlyn Jenner after she came out as a woman in 2015 and subsequently had gender reassignment surgery.
He added: “I am very happy to be a man for now but I don’t want to turn into an old saggy man.”
“I will do what Caitlyn Jenner did. When I reach my late 50s, I would rather be a sexy old lady then a saggy old man.”
New York Post
Akufo-Addo swears in High Commissioner to Malaysia
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has presented letters of credence to Ghana’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Akua Sakyiwa Ahenkorah, at a brief ceremony at the Flagstaff House, on Wednesday, 10th January, 2018.
In his remarks, after the swearing-in ceremony, President Akufo-Addo noted that Akua Sakyiwa Ahenkorah, a career diplomat, who becomes Ghana’s first female High Commissioner to Malaysia, is deserving of the appointment and eminently qualified to represent Ghana.
The President, thus, reminded the High Commissioner of the fact that “the image of our country is high in the comity of nations, and Ghana is a considered a beacon of stability and democracy on the continent of Africa and beyond. It is an image that you have to do everything possible to guard and uphold”.
It will be recalled that Ghana attained independence at the same time as Malaysia, however, Malaysia has chalked remarkable economic successes over the period.
The President recalled the historical account of Malaysia “procuring her first palm kennel seedlings from Ghana. But, today, this crop has become the main-stay of that country’s economy, producing millions of tons of palm oil annually”, whereas Ghana has not gained much from the cash crop.
It is in line with the President’s vision of a “Ghana Beyond Aid” that he urged Akua Sakyiwa Ahenkorah to be focused on her mandate, maintain a cordial working relationship with her staff and the Ghanaian community, as well as secure investment into Ghana.
In her acceptance remarks, Madam Afua Sakyiwa Ahenkora thanked the President for the great honour done her, and assured him of her “determination to justify the decision by Government to enhance the involvement of women in the development of this country”.
She promised to deliver on her “mandate in achieving the overall government objective of improving the well-being of the good people of Ghana”.
The High Commissioner assured the President of her “responsibility to drive private sector investments into Ghana to help in achieving the government’s flagship programmes of One-District-One-Factory, One-Village-One-Dam, Planting for Food and Jobs; and the overall objective of developing Ghana Beyond Aid”.
She further promised to “safeguard, protect and promote the image and interest of Ghana at all times”, adding that she will strengthen the already cordial relations not only between Ghana and Malaysia, but also with the countries of concurrent accreditations such as Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines; and also explore areas of effective cooperation”.
Akua Ahenkorah thanked the President for “the great honour” done her by “this appointment as High Commissioner of Ghana to Malaysia”, and expressed her gratitude for the confidence reposed in her, and assured the President of her “loyalty to the government and people of Ghana” in the discharge of her duties.
Present at the ceremony were the Chief of Staff, Hon. Akosua Frema Osei Opare; Minister for Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botwey; Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charles Owiredu; officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry, and family of the High Commissioner.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
Tunisia hit by new anti-austerity protests
Protesters across Tunisia have rallied for a third successive night, as anger over the government's austerity measures spilled over into unrest.
Police used tear gas against large crowds demonstrating against price rises affecting basic goods.
PM Youssef Chahed condemned acts of "vandalism" by the protesters, saying they were trying to weaken the state.
Nearly 240 people have been held, officials say. One person has died and 49 police officers have been injured.
Protests have taken place in at least 10 different areas, including the capital, Tunis, in the last few days.
The protests began peacefully last week, but escalated on Monday evening.
The government has accused demonstrators of torching police cars and attacking officials.
The defence ministry said the army was now protecting banks, post offices and other government buildings in Tunisia's main cities.
Demonstrators have also accused police of a violent crackdown.
"The protests are over the cost of living," one protester in Tunis told the BBC. "Prices of medicine have increased. Everything has, and salaries have not. I don't think this is the right time for price hikes."
Big rallies are planned for Friday.
The demonstrators are demanding the government drop the 2018 budget, which opposition groups describe as unfair. They also want to see better welfare payments for struggling families.
The protests come after the government announced an increase in value-added tax and social contributions in the budget.
The new financial year has also brought with it price hikes on some goods and increased taxes on imports.
Tunisia has been struggling with finances since the 2011 revolution, when Zine El Abidine Ben Ali – who ruled for more than 20 years – was forced to flee.
The revolution was sparked by the country's high unemployment rates and worries about corruption.
Seven years on, and nine governments later, some of those same problems remain – not helped by a number of terrorist attacks which have damaged Tunisia's tourism industry and foreign investment opportunities.
In December 2017, the International Monetary Fund told Tunisia it needed to take "urgent action" and "decisive measures" to reduce its deficit.
The IMF gave the country a $2.9bn (£2.2bn) loan in 2015.
Mr Chahed has said Tunisians can look forward to better times ahead.
"People have to understand that the situation is extraordinary and their country is having difficulties, but we believe that 2018 will be the last difficult year for the Tunisians," he said on Tuesday.
bbc
