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Steven Seagal denies Bond girl sexual assault

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Actor and producer Steven Seagal has denied an allegation of sexual assault at a film rehearsal in Sofia 2002, made against him by Bond girl Rachel Grant.

Mr Seagal's lawyers also deny another allegation by the actress that he attempted to indecently expose himself.

She later lost her job on the film, Out For A Kill.

Ms Grant, speaking exclusively to the BBC, said: "I want to share what happened to me, so people will hear it and others might come forward."

These claims follow other allegations made against the Hollywood actor, some of which he has denied.

Lawyers for Mr Seagal say that he unequivocally denies Ms Grant's allegations in their entirety: "Our client denies having such contact with Ms Grant and further vehemently denies any alleged assault at all, in particular, the alleged assault occurring in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2002."

At the weekend, CBS News reported that the Los Angeles Police Department was investigating a separate sexual assault claim against the actor.

The 65-year-old, who was given Russian citizenship by President Vladimir Putin in 2016, is best known for his action roles in the 1980s and 1990s, including the Under Siege films.

Ms Grant, who played the character Peaceful in James Bond film Die Another Day in 2002, says she was emboldened by women sharing their stories of sexual harassment as part of the #MeToo campaign.

The British actress, who was 26 at the time, claims she was flown to Sofia to rehearse lines in September 2002 after auditioning for a role in Out For A Kill. She says she was excited to meet Mr Seagal, who had been a childhood hero.

She claims she met the actor in a hotel suite with the film's director, but when left alone in the room with Mr Seagal, she alleges he asked her to take her top off several times, which she refused.

"I stood up to try to distract him. But he was able to tug down my top, which was strapless. My breasts were completely exposed and I was forced to cover myself," she claims.

"He pushed me on to the bed with force. Then he said, 'I suppose you want to see my private parts' – though he used a different word.

"I was looking up and he started to pull down his zip," she alleges.

Ms Grant then "burst into tears", at which point Mr Seagal stopped and began to apologise, she says.

She says Mr Seagal told her that he liked to date actresses he worked with to improve the "on-screen chemistry".

"It was horrible – I was upset, embarrassed and hurt.

"What actress should be brought to someone's bedroom on the first meeting and then be told to take their top off?"

Ms Grant says she has been the victim of sexual harassment on other occasions but that she has refused to let the incidents affect her career.

"I lost a job and I cried a lot but I'm a positive person – I tried to take it with a pinch of salt," she explains, acknowledging that not all victims of sexual assault are able to recover.

She wants to end the culture of questioning why many victims of sexual harassment only share their experiences years after the event.

"When it happens to you, you're ashamed, you're embarrassed, nobody needs to know, nobody. You hope it gets covered in dust and no one will ever know.

"I want people to know that it actually makes more sense for people to talk about it a long time after it happens – you get over it and then you can talk about it."

She says she hopes campaigns like Time's Up and #MeToo will help bring an end to sexual harassment in the industry.

BBC

EOCO officers invade EC; sack interdicted Deputy EC boss

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Officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) have invaded the offices of the Electoral Commission with an objective to force the Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission Georgina Opoku Amankwa out of her office.

Mrs Amankwaa is said to have defied an order of interdiction by the EOCO and reported to work, Monday.

She has been the subject of an investigation after several allegations of financial impropriety were made against her.

But she is not the only one. Two others, the chairperson of the EC, Mrs Charlotte Osei and Deputy in charge of Operations Amadu Sulley are all subjects of investigation and possible impeachment.

Mrs Amankwaa who has been on interdiction for several months now started work, Monday claiming she cannot be singled out for interdiction.

Three operatives from EOCO made their way into the premises of the EC to force her out of office.

But she has resisted, insisting, the action by the EOCO is unconstitutional.

She said only the president has the power to interdict her. Mrs Georgina Opoku Amankwa locked herself up in her office daring the EOCO officials to break in.

She has vowed to break into her own office on Tuesday even if the EOCO officials decide to put it under lock and key.

Myjoyonline

Akufo-Addo announces electricity tariff reduction for non-residential users

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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has announced that, as from January this year, non-residential users of electricity in the country would enjoy an average of 14% reduction in electricity tariffs.

According to President Akufo-Addo, not only has Government succeeded in normalising the power situation in the country, “we now want to boost private business in our country.”

Thus, the President indicated that “from January this year, the non-residential tariff rate, which is the rate which includes all of you here, is being reduced by an average of 14%. For barbers, it is being reduced by 18%; for hairdressers and beauticians, 15.7%, and for tailors, 9.8%.”

President Akufo-Addo continued, “An average bill last year was GH¢562 a month. With this reduction from January, it is coming down to GH¢473 a month, which means GH¢88 has been taken from the electricity tariff that you pay. We want to encourage private business, and make business stand on its feet.”

The President made this known on Monday, 15th January, 2017, at the opening of the 8th Salon Academy of the National Association of Beauticians and Hairdressers, held at the Mensah Sarbah Hall, University of Ghana, Legon.

Expressing his appreciation to the Association for their support of his candidature in the run-up to the 2016 elections, President Akufo-Addo noted that one of the pledges he made to them, the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy, is now a reality.

“By the grace of God, Free SHS, which some said was not possible or would be possible only after 20 years, is now a reality in our country. Free SHS has come to stay. It is going to be a central feature of the education architecture of our country. We are not going to go back on it. By 2020, all students in form 1, form 2 and form 3, would enjoy the free SHS policy,” he said.

This statement was met with a rapturous round of approval from the hundreds and hundreds of beauticians and hair dressers at the packed Mensah Sarbah Hall.

In response to the request by the President of the Association, Mrs Joyce Lamptey, for tax exemptions for start-up businesses, the President stated that in the 2018 budget, there is a provision which ensures that young entrepreneurs, up to the age of 35, will enjoy a tax holiday for the first five years of operation, before being taxed in the subsequent years.

Touching on the provision of skills training, he revealed that, up until now, all the institutions responsible for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country, were under so many organisations.

“My government has made the decision to centralise all of them (TVET) under the Ministry of Education, so we can scale up TVET training, and make it better and more robust for you. The demand for an industrial park in every region is part of the NPP manifesto, and you know that all the pledges I have made to the Ghanaian people, I am going to fulfil each and every one of them,” he said.

In conclusion, President Akufo-Addo appealed for the continued support of the Association, stressing that “this government is your government; it is the government of the private sector. Whatever we can do to strengthen the private sector, we will do it. We have come to do a job to raise Ghana up, and, with your support, we will raise Ghana up. The Black Star is going to shine and shine and shine again.”

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 

Woman marries ghost after getting fed up with dating humans

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Are you sick of dating humans, only for your romantic escapades to end in inevitable, crushing heartbreak? Well, maybe you should follow Amanda Teague’s lead by ditching living, breathing people and getting hitched to a ghost instead.

In some ways, the relationship between the 45-year-old and her husband Jack is fairly normal. After all, they go on dates together, sometimes have arguments, and have a healthy sex life. The fact that Jack died almost 300 years ago barely affects their marriage at all.

Amanda, a female Jack Sparrow impersonator, had five children with her human ex-husband, but said she has never been able to connect with anyone like her husband Jack. Although she has never seen Jack’s physical form, Amanda said he was a Haitian pirate, who told her he is black with jet black hair, and was executed for his crimes in the 1700s.

Amanda, from Downpatrick in Northern Ireland, believes their pirate connection is what brought them together – first as friends before she developed ‘strong loving feelings’ towards him. She said: ‘We became really close, the more I learnt about him, the more I liked him. ‘One day he said to me ‘We can actually be together you know’ but I had never heard of an intimate relationship between a spirit and a human before.

‘I did some research and found out that it is a real thing and there are lots of people in spiritual relationships, but not many people like to talk about it.’ Jack, who never married during his life according to Amanda, is a powerful spirit who can turn steroes and lights on and off, and move things.

Amanda claimed her family has been entirely supportive of their relationship, which took the next step when Jack proposed, she said. She added: ‘I told him I wasn’t really cool with having casual sex with a spirit and I wanted us to make a proper commitment to each other. ‘If I am going to be in a long-term relationship with somebody I have the right to be married.

‘I wanted the big traditional wedding with the white dress, it was very important to me.’ For their wedding, the couple ventured into international waters where their union would be legal, on a boat that allowed 12 of their closest friends and family on board for the ceremony.

They used a medium to allow Jack to say ‘I do’, and used a skull and crossbones flag to represent him. And if you’re still on the fence about finding a ghost lover, Amanda explained that sex with a spirit is surprisingly similar to sex with a human. She added: ‘It is well known that people often feel a spirit touch their hands, their face or their hair. ‘The only difference with having a sexual relationship with a spirit is obviously that sense of touch goes a lot deeper. ‘You can literally feel the physical act of what the spirit is doing to you, and the spirit can feel it too.’


Metro

 Two granted bail for allegedly stealing dead body

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Two men who allegedly stole the dead body of an old man at the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital mortuary have been granted bail in the sum of 30,000 Ghana cedis each, with two sureties each by the Tarkwa circuit court.

The accused persons, John Asante, 37, a mortuary attendant at the Tarkwa municipal hospital and Seth Owusu, 48, fridge mechanic at Atonsu-Bokro, a suburb of Kumasi and the third suspect Efo Kwesi is on the run.

They pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit crime and stealing.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Faustina Celestina Anaman, told the court, presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Bart-Plange Brew, that the complainant, John Kofi Tenge, farmer resides at Wassa Tintinum, near Aboso.

She said on May 22, last year, the complainant's father, John Kwaku Tenge aged 112 passed away and the family members deposited the body at the Tarkwa Municipal hospital's mortuary for preservation. 

According to the trusty records, Inspector Anaman said the body was given C-217 as its identification number and the complainant paid regular visit at the mortuary to check on his late father’s body.

The prosecutor said on November 22, the complainant saw his late father's body and paid all the bills incurred for it to be prepared and buried on November 25.

Chief Inspector Anaman said on November 24 at 1300 hours, the complainant and other family members went to the mortuary to retrieve the deceased body but it was missing. 

She said authorities of the hospital were informed immediately and a search was conducted at the mortuary but the body was not found. 

Chief Inspector Anaman said the complainant and hospital authorities reported the case at the Tarkwa police station on the same day and the police proceeded to the morgue with both parties but the missing body was still not available.

She said that the police then arrested John and five of his colleagues who were workers at the same hospitals morgue for questioning.

During interrogation, the prosecutor said John admitted to the offense and mentioned Seth and Efo as his accomplices. 

According to Chief Inspector Anaman, John claimed on November 15, 2017, that Seth promised to give him an ambulance if he provided an old or elderly man's body.


Chief Inspector Anaman said Seth was arrested on November 28 at Asafo market in Kumasi and brought to Tarkwa police station to assist in investigation.


Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Arsenal optimistic of signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January

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Arsenal are optimistic of signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for 60m euros (£53.4m) in the January window, according to Guillem Balague.

Aubameyang is Arsenal's first choice to replace Alexis Sanchez if the Chile international leaves, Sky in Italy reported earlier this month, and the 28-year-old was left out of the Dortmund squad for their match against Wolfsburg on Sunday for disciplinary reasons.

Dortmund boss Peter Stoger confirmed the striker missed a pre-game meeting after training on Saturday and was subsequently dropped, and Sky Sports' Balague says Arsenal are working hard on a deal for Aubayemang, along with other January reinforcements

"Arsenal have a few signings they want to confirm in the next few days," Balague said. "One of them they want to close and finalise is Aubameyang.

"They are willing to pay 60m euros. So they hope Dortmund accepts, and are very optimistic that this could be the case. There are other clubs interested but right now Arsenal is ahead of them, but nothing has been finalised yet.

"It would take perhaps longer than Alexis' sale, but they're putting all their efforts on it. They think he would be a perfect replacement to Alexis, and would work really well with Alexandre Lacazette.

"Aubameyang wants a deal, Arsenal want a deal, but we'll have to see what Dortmund say about it. It won't be the only signing Arsenal make, as they are after two more to strengthen this month to reinforce the side. As we saw at the weekend, they need it."

Aubameyang, who has scored 21 goals in 23 appearances for Dortmund in all competitions this season, has routinely been linked with a move to the Premier League after topping the goalscoring table in the Bundesliga last season.

According to Sky in Germany, Aubameyang is not trying to engineer a move away from the club, although his behaviour is understood to have angered some of his team-mates.

Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc revealed the Gabon striker's repeated lateness is a problem and the club are working with the player to improve it.

"Auba is a special player," said Zorc. "He is extravagant and a colourful character. That does a city like Dortmund a lot of good.

"We have only one problem with him – that is punctuality. We have to be very clear about that."


Sky Sports
 

 10 toxic relationship habits you need to avoid

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If you’ve ever been in a long-term relationship, you must have found out that it’s not all about great chemistry and romantic love. Relationships can be tough and most of us make them even tougher by behaving in a toxic way or enduring the toxic behaviour of the partner. Here are ten habits that you should quit, if you want the relationship to last. 

1. Taking everything personally

Sometimes we tend to feel that every single thing our partner says or does has an implication for our relationship. He may be just tired from work but you think he’s angry with you for some reason. The truth is that not everything he does is about you. Remember this, remind yourself that there are other factors that can influence someone’s mood and behaviour and your life will be easier.

2. Getting your way. Always!

We’ve said it more than once but we’ll say it again. A happy, balanced relationship is about compromise, not about you getting your way every time because your needs and wants are more important than his, and because controlling every situation is so important for you, you’ve come to think of it as equal to a happy relationship.

3. Letting him get his way

The other extreme, of always conceding to your partner’s needs and desires, is equally toxic. You may think you’re being more reasonable than him, when you end an argument by accepting his opinion and sacrificing yours, but over time this can start weighing on you. Balance, remember.

4. Exaggerating 

When we’re in love we often make mountains out of molehills. That’s a dangerous habit – it can ruin the happiness you deserve. Every time you start fretting about some little thing, stop and try to think logically about the situation. Nine times out of ten there will be a logical reason for your partner’s behaviour. 

5. Mistrust 

Trust is something we earn, it’s not a given. But turning a blind eye to everything that tells you you can trust your partner is one of the most toxic habits you can have in your relationship. Maybe you’re just feeling insecure and that’s why you secretly check the log on his phone? Give this some thought.

6. Comparing with other couples

Every relationship is different, because relationships involve different individuals. Don’t think that yours is worse than your best friend’s, just because they look like they never argue and are always happy together. No couple is permanently happy.

7. Comparing with past relationships

Arguably, this is even worse than comparisons with other couples. Whenever you catch yourself sighing about a past relationship that you think made you feel happier than your current one, think of the reasons why that relationship ended. Chances are, you’ll get back to your senses. Unless, of course, that relationship was indeed more fulfilling than the current one.

8. Avoiding confrontation 

Some people are really scared of open confrontation and would do everything they can to avoid it, even if it means neglecting their own needs and desires. That doesn’t sound very healthy, does it? Confrontations don’t necessarily mean an all-out scandal, you can express disagreement in a calm, reasonable way. 

9. Mission: teaching

You might think that if you put enough effort into it, you will be able to change your partner for the better. That if you refuse him something, he’ll learn to be more caring. That if you hint about what you want instead of saying it directly – will make him more intuitive. Give it up, adults can seldom be changed so radically and, besides, why did you get together with this person if you think he’s so imperfect in the first place? 

10. Loving the drama


Yes, some of us have a heightened sense of the dramatic and wouldn’t miss a chance to stage a three-act play. This love for drama has to do with about three of the bad habits listed so far, but it’s more complex than them. Threatening to leave him because he forgot your anniversary is a bit over the top, don’t you think? Especially if you’re clearly aware that he’s been having problems at work or with his family.

Stay happy, love and be loved!

Beauty and Tips

2018 looks good for Ghanaians – Bawumia

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Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is highly optimistic Ghanaians will feel real transformation in their lives from this year as the government rolls out a number of programmes to boost the economy.

Opening the 69th edition of the Annual New Year School at the University of Ghana on Monday, January 15, 2018, Dr. Bawumia stated the government used its first year in office to lay a solid foundation, adding all is set for a positive outlook in 2018.

He served notice a number of programmes will be rolled out this year including the establishment of the Integrated Bauxite and Aluminium Development Authority to spearhead the exploitation along the full value chain of Ghana’s consumable bauxite resources.

According to him, the government will ensure “transparent accounting for our natural resources exported such as gold, oil and introduce a new financing model for development: leveraging our natural resources.”

He added Ghana will witness the largest investment in infrastructure under the Akufo-Addo Plan for Economic Transformation which will focus on “Railways – Eastern, Line, Western Line, Central Spine – Private sector driven; the completed Sekondi to Takoradi (10km) line, Roads and interchanges, Bridges, Water, Rural Electrification among others.”

Also, the Legislative Instrument for the National ID cards, which is popularly known as the Ghana Card, is expected to be passed by Parliament soon for mass nationwide registration to begin, the Vice President said.

In the banking sector, Dr Bawumia has no doubt the inter-operability of payment system will streamline the industry and make it more attractive to Ghanaians.

“Having an interoperable payments system between banks, mobile operators and other financial sector players enables people to make payments to anyone else in a convenient, affordable, fast, seamless and secure way with one account,” the former deputy governor of the Central Bank remarked.

He mentioned that the Zongo Development Fund, Development Authorities,  One District One Factory, Nation Builders Corps – 100,000 graduates, Land Digitalization, E-Passports and E-Visas and many others will all take off this year.

“Much of the focus of the Digital Address System drive in 2018 will be to integrate it with key government agencies such as ECG, Ghana Water Company, SSNIT, etc,” the economist stressed.

“I would like to stress that at the heart of the government of His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo is the vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid. In short, government and the people of Ghana must take full ownership and responsibility for the nation’s economic growth and transformation, in a new partnership with our development partners. 
“We envisage a paradigm shift where trade, private capital flows, strategic political cooperation and partnership, as well as domestic resource mobilization, become the driving force of our development,” Dr Bawumia emphasised.

He added: “We have done it before – Ghana has always been the initiator and the Star of Africa and with the collective support and hard work of all Ghanaians, we can do it again and ensure our economic transformation and development.”

The New Year School is organised by the School of Continuing and Distance Education under the College of Education. The 69th Annual New Year School and Conference is under the theme: “Job Creation for Accelerated National Development: The Role of the Private Sector” and will end Friday, January 19, 2018.


Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Akufo-Addo’s govt hits historic fiscal deficit target

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The Government under President Akufo-Addo in 2017 chalked a historic feat in the macroeconomic sector by achieving its Fiscal Deficit Target. This is the first since 2006.

A visibly elated Dr. Bawumia said the achievement was historic, expressing gratitude to government appointees for their diligence. 

The Government created fiscal space by capping of earmarked funds to 25% of government revenue and realigning expenditures to government priorities, the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, disclosed at the opening of the 2018 New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana, Legon on Monday, January 15, 2018.

“No government has been able to do this even though many have expressed the intent to," the Vice President noted in relation to the capping initiative.

According to him, the government stayed current and focused on payments to statutory funds such as GETFund, NHIS, DACF, SSNIT, Road Fund in 2017 while paying arrears inherited from the previous Mahama administration. 

He added that the government also validated arrears inherited for the Statutory Funds, Capex, Compensation, and goods and services at the end of 2016 which amounted to GH¢3.1 billion. About two-thirds of the total arrears was statutory, adding out of the total, the government has paid GH¢1.45 billion in 2017. 

"In fact, in just one year we have paid almost half of the arrears accumulated by the NDC government while staying current on existing obligations,” Dr. Bawumia emphasized.

He further added, "it was in this regard that I find it amusing that some latter day saints are asking government to pay arrears owed to contractors after recklessly accumulating the arrears in the first place and not paying it themselves."

The 69th edition of the New Year School and Conference is under the theme: “Job Creation for Accelerated National Development: The Role of the Private Sector” and is scheduled to end Friday, January 19, 2018.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Photos: Bombs, grenade seized by Odorkor police, three suspects arrested

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Information gathered by Atinkaonline indicates that the Odorkor Police have arrested suspects in possession of  bombs and grenades.

The suspects are currently in  custody as the police intensifies  investigation.  One of the suspects is to believed to be a member of ISIS.


Meanwhile, security expert, Irbard Ibrahim, in a statement, said the weapons are military grade MK2 explosives capable of causing damage within a radius of between 150 and 200 meters on impact.

However, he called on Ghanaians to remain calm and not panic as "we have a diligent police force and a robust army on standby to keep Ghana safe"

We call on the media to make an effort to allay the fears of the good people of Ghana as our security services piece together the needed evidence to prevent any attack that could be in the offing.


Below is the Irbard’s statement:

“ We have picked up intel that two Ghanaian Libyan returnees have been detained at the Odokor Police Divisional Command with hand grenades.
A careful look at the seven grenades this consult has seen so far points to the fact that they are military grade MK2 explosives capable of causing damage within a radius of between 150 and 200 meters on impact.

Much as this is scary, it should not cause fear and panic within the Ghanaian population. We have gallant men and women in uniform who are working round the clock to keep Ghanaians safe.

We have a diligent police force and a robust army on standby to keep Ghana safe.

We call on the media to make an effort to allay the fears of the good people of Ghana as our security services piece together the needed evidence to prevent any attack that could be in the offing.

In the meantime, citizens should go about their daily activities without any fear or panic and be ready to volunteer information on any suspicious movements or packages, as Ghana tightens checks at all our 42 approved and unapproved entry points to prevent any further ISIS infiltration.”

Long live Ghana
Long live our status as one 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

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