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"I am not a racist"- Trump

Daniel Opare
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President Donald Trump has denied that he is racist, after a row broke out over his alleged use of the word "shithole" to describe African nations.

Mr Trump reportedly used the term last week during a bipartisan Oval Office meeting on immigration reform.

He has now told reporters: "I am not a racist. I'm the least racist person you have ever interviewed."

It is the first time the president has responded directly to the racism accusations.

He made the denial to White House press pool reporters at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach in Florida on Sunday night.

The row broke out after lawmakers from both parties visited the president on Thursday to work on a proposal for a bipartisan immigration deal.

In recent weeks the Trump administration has been withdrawing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from a number of nationalities currently living in the country.

Reports later emerged in US media that Mr Trump had asked during the meeting: "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?"

Mr Trump was said to have told them that instead of granting temporary residency to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, the US should be taking in migrants from countries like Norway.

Accounts suggest that when Mr Trump was told that the largest groups of immigrants with the status were from El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti, the president responded: "Haitians? Do we need more Haitians?"

BBC

Navrongo: Pupils of Tono JHS use cement blocks as tables

Daniel Opare
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The lack of classroom furniture required for effective teaching and learning in Tono junior high school in the Kasena/Nankana East municipality of the upper East region has left pupils of the school with no other means of seating for lessons but full size cement blocks. 

Despite having full pupil enrolment and a complete teaching staff, all three classrooms of the school have a huge deficit of desks and that has resulted in the stacking up of cement blocks by pupils to serves as "desks" on which they can sit and write during contact hours. 

Apart from the seemingly better form 3 class that has a little over ten complete dual desks in good condition, the rest of the few incomplete desks in form 2 and 1 are rickety and broken. 

Another worrying situation at the school is the lack of a decent toilet facility. The only place where pupils can attend to nature's call is an abandoned, dilapidated KVIP facility with weak walls ridden with cracks and gaping holes in the roof. 

School authorities have declined to speak to Atinka News concerning the challenges of the school after several attempts for fear of being victimized by the municipal education directorate. Information gathered however has it that the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is privy to the challenges of the school. 

Some of the vexed pupils Atinka News' Senyalah Castro Cazo interacted with said the dire situation is affecting their academic performance. They called for support from philanthropist and government. 

Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive of the Kasena/Nankana East Assembly, Williams Aduum, in an interview with Atinka News has hinted that about 1,500 pieces of dual desks are in the process of being secured by the municipal assembly for onward distribution to basic schools in the assembly before close of the academic year. He also disclosed that a project will soon be commenced to provide toilet facilities in communities within the assembly to curtail the challenge of lack of toilet facilities at schools. 

"we are aware that schools at the basic level in the assembly have challenges especially with furniture. We know. The assembly is working very hard to make sure that all school get at least some furniture so that teaching and learning can be effective. Last year, the assembly distributed dual desks to some schools and as we are talking now, the assembly has made provisions to secure some furniture for distribution to basic schools. 

" the assembly is also in talks with a philanthropist to soon provide water and toilet facilities to four electoral areas in the assembly " Mr Aduum asserted. 

Mr Aduum on the on the other hand urged old students of the various basic and senior high schools in the assembly to support government in addressing challenges at the schools. 

According to the him, whereas government is doing the greater part in finding long lasting solutions to the ever unending challenges in the education sector, old students can also do the little they can to address some of the smaller challenges at their various old schools. 

Citing himself and his colleague "Nabias" (old students of Navasco) as example, Mr Aduum believes there can be greater development especially at the basic schools if old students commit themselves to taking problems of their schools one at a time and tackling them. 

" If you go to a school like Navrongo Senior High School, that is exactly what we are doing. It has now even become a challenge and every past student wants his or her house to be renovated. I'm from the Volta House "Voltatrian" and we are putting resources together to also renovate our house. Depending on where you work and how much you can support with, your contributions are collected towards this worthy cause. 

"we must encourage this spirit of commitment to our old schools because without them we wouldn't be where we are today. We must do this as our bit as old student to help those who are there now. There won't be so much pressure on government too when we all get involved ". he continued. 

Ghana | atinkaonline.com | Senyalah Castro Cazo
 

Three Shot As Gonjas Clash With Tampulma

Daniel Opare
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An all-out violence has broken out between Gonjas and Tampulmas in  three villages in the North Gonja district of the Northern Region in a renewed chieftaincy violence between the two ethnic tribes.

Nearly all houses in one of the villages, Dissah, have been burnt and three persons shot while high tensions brew at Saligu, Lingbinsi and Mankarigu, in the longstanding self-emancipation and recognition war between the majority Gonjas and Tampulmas in that part of the Gonjaland.

Sporadic clashes have broken out between the two ethnic tribes over the refusal of the Waspiwura Mimuni Kabasagya II and the Yagbonwura to create a paramountcy for the Tampulma ethnic tribe.

The Gonjas oppugned the demand of their neighbors and the youth have threatened an ethnic cleansing.

The violence was triggered Saturday afternoon in the evening when some armed Gonjas suspected to be from Wasipe palace in Daboya, stormed the Tampulma territories to take royalties from a group of Fulani herdsmen living in the area.

A resident said the armed men numbering over 15 arrived in Mankarigu and begun spreading out to nearby Tampulma villages to exact monies from the herdsmen.

At Mankarigu, the armed Gonjas were overpowered, confined and later arrested when the Tampulmas resisted the move.

The arrested Gonjas were released by the Tampulmas, however, fighting resumed Sunday dawn when police from Tamale arrested some suspects suspected to have carried out the Saturday afternoon attack.

Bugtila Muniru told Starr News another armed men attacked the Dissah, at about 3am, Sunday dawn and set ablaze the entire village. Residents have fled towards Lingbinsi.

Another village, Saligu was also attacked and many houses have been left in flames.

Residents said the attackers are moving towards Mankarigu despite the presence of armed soldiers in the area.

About six people were injured and motorbikes destroyed in similar tensions last year.

Starrfmonline.com

We have 'great respect for the people of Africa' – US Embassy

Daniel Opare
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The United States Embassy in Ghana has reiterated that it has “great respect for the people of Africa.”

In a tweet on Saturday, the Embassy seems to be distancing itself from the alleged comment of the U.S. President Donald Trump denigrating African countries.

President Trump described African nations, along with Haiti and El Salvador, as “shithole countries” whose inhabitants were not desirable as immigrants to the U.S.

“Our commitment to Ghana and all our African partners remains strong. It’s an honor for our staff to serve here alongside Ghanaians, and we deeply value our relationship with them,” the Embassy added.

Last year, Robert Jackson, the US Ambassador to Ghana, told Joy News that Trump's election would not change the relationship between the United States and African nations.

“Our African policies have changed very little of last several decades. I expect that our assistance programmes would continue pretty much as they are,” he said.

The U.S. government has faced a sustained diplomatic backlash over the past few days due to the comments, as well as widespread criticism from civil society.

Ex-president John Mahama has branded President Trump as a racist after he reportedly used that crude language.

In a Twitter message Friday, the Mr Mahama accused Mr Trump of pursuing a policy of making America “White Again” instead of “Great Again.”

President Akufo-Addo also reacted on Saturday describing the language used by the American leader as “extremely unfortunate” adding his nation was not a “shithole country.”

Nana Akufo-Addo, who assumed the presidency last January, made the comments on his Twitter account on Saturday.

Myjoyonline.com

DNA results could 'save' alleged Lebanese rapist

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There appears to be a new twist to the case involving the 39-year-old Lebanese, Rabin Haddad, who allegedly assaulted and raped his 19-year-old house help in his Airport Hills residence in Accra.

In this latest development, a police Forensic Science Laboratory report, dated 4th January 2018, makes a startling revelation that could have an impact on the outcome of the case.

According to the report, titled The Republic Vrs Rabih Haddad, Lab No. DNA 66/17, “the virginal swab cuts reacted negatively to the test of human semen” and that “based on the DNA analysis, the suspect Rabih Haddad can be excluded as a contributor to the DNA profile obtained from the Exhibit”

The DNA report, a copy of which is in the possession of this news portal, as part of its conclusion stated that “the victim, is the sole contributor/source of the DNA profile generated from the Exhibit.”

As the Accra Central District Court gears up to pass judgement in the coming days, there are clear indicators that this new development is likely to have an impact on the judgement day.

That the DNA report which is yet to be tendered as exhibit in court was made available since 4th January, 2018

It would be recalled that Haddad, media reports say, was arrested on December 3, 2017, after a complaint had been lodged at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service and the Airport Police for allegedly sexually molesting his house help.

He was said to have consistently harassed the house help (name withheld) and insisted on having sex with her but she reportedly kept rejecting his sexual advances towards her.

He, however, purportedly managed to forcibly have sex with her on November 30, 2017, when his wife was not at home; and the victim reportedly confided in her co-worker, but both initially kept the matter to themselves for fear of that they might lose their jobs.

Rabih Haddad was dragged before the court for rape contrary to Section 97 of the Criminal Offences Act 29/60. His plea of not guilty was not taken.

His lawyer, Ralph Poku Edusei, prayed the court to grant him bail since he was suffering from cardiac cell damage – a heart condition which he said would not allow his client to be confined.

According to Mr. Poku Edusei, if the court denied the accused person bail, the court risked trying a dead body as he would die, should he be confined.

He stated that the accused, while in police custody, fainted and had to be rushed to the hospital by police officers.

He pleaded that should the court find it necessary to remand the culprit, then he should be confined to a hospital.

Former Attorney General Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, could not help but watch keenly as the proceedings unfolded.

The prosecution, led by Superintendent of Police KwakuBempah, opposed the granting of bail and prayed the court to remand the accused person at the Cantonments Police Station – which is close to the Police Hospital – so that he could receive medical attention when the need arose.

The presiding magistrate, AritNsemoh, denied the bail application, saying she did not have original jurisdiction over the matter.

She said she was only a relieving judge and therefore urged the lawyer to make a repeat application of bail when the matter is put before the substantive judge.

She remanded the accused into police custody to reappear on December 10, 2017.

Presenting brief facts of the case to the court, the prosecution indicated that Rabih Haddad, after forcibly having sex with the victim for the first time, attempted to have sex with her again on December 3, 2017, when his wife was not at home.

He said the accused asked the victim to prepare coffee for him on the day of the incident and when she went to the kitchen to prepare the coffee, the accused approached her and demanded to have sex with her.

Superintendent Bempah stated that the house help resisted Haddad’s sexual advances but he slapped her, dragged her into his master bedroom and raped her.

The prosecutor said the victim narrated her ordeal to her co-worker, who also gave the information to a police officer on duty at a nearby house.

He added that the matter was reported to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) and the Airport Police and the accused was subsequently arrested.

According to him, a medical form was given to the victim to attend hospital and that an interim report had been received and a DNA analysis was being conducted to ascertain the rape claim or otherwise.

Modernghana.com

Czech election: Zeman faces presidential run-off against Drahos

Daniel Opare
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The Czech presidential election will go to a run-off after incumbent Milos Zeman led the first round but did not secure enough votes to win outright.

With nearly all results in, Mr Zeman had 39% ahead of his nearest rival Jiri Drahos on 26.3%. Turnout was 61%.

Mr Zeman, 73, is seeking a second five-year term but has stoked controversy with his outspoken views and pro-Russian stance.

The second round is scheduled for 26-27 January.

The BBC's Rob Cameron in Prague says Mr Zeman appears to have done worse than expected in rural areas, where his forthright views on immigrants and political correctness have traditionally struck a chord. To avoid a run-off, he needed to secure more than half the vote.

Mr Drahos knows he has a good chance of unseating Mr Zeman when the two men go head to head in two weeks' time, he adds.

Many voters who chose one of the other seven candidates are likely to switch their allegiance to Mr Drahos in the second round.

President Zeman has become one of the EU's most outspoken opponents of sanctions against Moscow and has also made improving relations with China a priority.

Mr Drahos, a pro-European academic, has been forthright in his opposition to the president, saying: "We say in Czech that 'the fish stinks from the head' and that perfectly sums up Mr Zeman's term."

The first round of voting, which took place over two days, passed uneventfully apart from a semi-naked protester who tried to disrupt Mr Zeman casting his vote in Prague on Friday and accused him of being in the pocket of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

She was bundled away and Mr Zeman then cast his ballot, but was visibly shaken by the incident.

bbc

We wont accept Trump's insults – Akufo Addo

Daniel Opare
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We wont accept Trump's insults – Akufo Addo

 

 

The President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo has described President Donald Trump's "shithole" comments as unfortunate.

The President in a tweet stated that Ghana is not a "shithole" country and that the country will not accept such insults from the American President

The US leader allegedly described African countries as "shitholes" in a meeting on immigration last Thursday.

Mr Trump has however denied  making the disparaging remarks.
 
Nana Addo on Saturday afternoon tweeted: "The language of @realDonaldTrump that the African continent, Haiti and El Salvador are “shithole countries is extremely unfortunate. We are certainly not a “shithole country. We will not accept such insults, even from a leader of a friendly country, no matter how powerful."

Ghana | atinkaonline.com

Mahama: Trump is nothing but a racist

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Former president John Mahama has slammed controversial US President Donald Trump for describing African countries as shitholes.

The American President made the remarks when lawmakers visited him on Thursday to discuss a bipartisan proposal that would impose new restrictions on immigration but protect the so-called "Dreamers" – hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the US illegally as children – from deportation.

Mr Trump was said to have told them that instead of granting temporary residency to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, the US should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway.

However, responding to Trump’s comments on his Twitter handle Friday, Mr Mahama said the American President was  demonstrating that he was  nothing but a racist pursuing a policy of ‘Make America White Again.’

“Africans and Haitians come from ‘shithole’ countries? Isn’t Trump demonstrating that he’s nothing but a racist and pursuing a policy of ‘Make America White Again’? I congratulate Botswana for showing the way. Our AU Presidents must respond strongly to this insult,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile the African Union  has demanded an apology from President Donald Trump.

The group's mission in Washington DC expressed its "shock, dismay and outrage" and said the Trump administration misunderstood Africans.

Ghana |Atinkaonline.com

 

African Union blasts Trump over “s***hole" comments; demands apology

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The organisation representing African countries has demanded that US President Donald Trump apologise after he reportedly called nations on the continent "shitholes".

The group's mission in Washington DC expressed its "shock, dismay and outrage" and said the Trump administration misunderstood Africans.

The US leader made the alleged remark in a Thursday meeting on immigration.

But Mr Trump has denied using the language reported.

He has been backed by two Republicans who were at the White House meeting, but Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said Mr Trump called African countries "shitholes" several times and used "racist" language.

On Friday, Mr Trump on Friday tweeted that his language he used at the private meeting with lawmakers to discuss immigration legislation had been "tough".

But he added that the words attributed to him were "not the language used".

What did the African Union say?

It said the "remarks dishonour the celebrated American creed and respect for diversity and human dignity".

It added: "While expressing our shock, dismay and outrage, the African Union strongly believes that there is a huge misunderstanding of the African continent and its people by the current Administration.

"There is a serious need for dialogue between the US Administration and the African countries."

What exactly did Trump say?

The remarks were allegedly made when lawmakers visited him on Thursday to discuss a bipartisan proposal that would impose new restrictions on immigration but protect the so-called "Dreamers" – hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the US illegally as children – from deportation.

Mr Trump was said to have told them that instead of granting temporary residency to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, the US should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway.

"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" the Washington Post quoted him as saying.

BBC

US ambassador to Panama resigns because he can 'no longer work for Trump'

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The US ambassador to Panama has resigned from his post on principle, writing in a resignation letter to the State Department that he can no longer serve the Trump administration.

The US State Department confirmed the departure of John D Feeley, saying he decided to “retire for personal reasons, as of 9 March this year”.

Mr Feeley wrote in his resignation letter: “As a junior foreign service officer, I signed an oath to serve faithfully the President and his administration in an apolitical fashion, even when I might not agree with certain policies.

“My instructors made clear that if I believed I could not do that, I would be honour-bound to resign. That time has come.”

The State Department learned of his plans on 27 December, Reuters reported – well before the Washington Post reported Donald Trump had referred to “s***hole countries” in a meeting about immigration.

Haiti, El Salvador and unspecified African nations were said to have been among those discussed with the President at a briefing with congressional leaders.

Mr Trump has denied he used that language but admitted speaking in a “tough” manner during the Oval Office meeting on immigration reform and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme.
Mr Feeley was one of the State Department’s Latin America specialists and among its most senior officers.

According to a Spanish copy of the notice of Mr Feeley’s resignation, tweeted by Univision News, the Barack Obama appointee has been in public service for 35 years, in the US Marine Corps and State Department.

The notice said he held an “unbreakable” belief in the need for close ties between American countries.

Under-secretary of State Steve Goldstein said Mr Feeley’s departure was not a response to the President’s reported comments.

“Everyone has a line that they will not cross,” he said. “If the ambassador feels that he can no longer serve … then he has made the right decision for himself and we respect that.”
The Trump administration has taken a tougher stance on immigration from Latin America, most notably with moves to expel hundreds of thousands of immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti and Nicaragua who benefited from temporary protection status after natural disasters.

Mr Trump’s alleged “s***hole” comments on Thursday led to outraged responses from Haiti and the African Union. The AU said it was “alarmed” by the nature of the President’s remarks while Haiti’s government criticised “these insulting and reprehensible statements”.

El Salvador’s foreign minister said he had sent a formal letter of protest in response to the reports.
On Twitter, Mr Trump twice denied having used the word “s***hole”.

But Democratic senator Dick Durbin, who was present at the DACA meeting, claimed he had used it “repeatedly”.

The Independent

 

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