NADMO not filled with NDC members – Brig Gen Vib-Sanziri

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Brigadier General Francis Vib-SanziriThe National Disaster Management Organization [NADMO] has denied claims it has packed members of the National Democratic Congress into the Organization.  
National Coordinator, Brigadier General Francis Vib-Sanziri described the claims as interesting noting that NADMO as a government institutionm, recruitments are through employment procedures and due diligence. There were allegations that former Coordinator,  Kofi Portuphy filled every top position at the NADMO with NDC apparatchiks, thus denying other people the opportunity. But speaking on ONUA FM’s news and current affairs program Ghana Dadwen, Brigadier Vib-Sanziri said he came to meet Ghanaians working at NADMO, saying “I can tell you it is Ghanaians who are employed there. They are working as professionals and we don’t go round checking their party cards to see which party you belong to”. He noted there are a lot of applications currently before him but due to the freeze on employment, not decision has been taken on those applications. When host of the programme, Bright Kwesi Asempa, asked him whether politicians to NADMO a list of people to considered for employment, he responded in the negative. “No politician can force me to employ people who are not qualified, I won’t bow to any pressure from any politician, I won’t sell my integrity”  Brigadier Vib-Sanziri stated, and said  he would not lower his moral principle for any reason. Meanwhile, Brigadier Vib-Sanziri has called for spirit of volunteerism from the public in order to save lives. He said although NADMO is mandated to help in times of disasters, the work cannot be left to NADMO alone hence the need for all to volunteer, especially in  during disasters. Bright Dzakah|Onua 95.1FM|tv3network.com

EC uses new logo ahead of official launch & ‘explanation’

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file photoGhana’s Electoral Commission has started using its new ‘controversial’ logo although the commission says it is yet to approve and launch it.  
The EC’s new logo which has been severely criticised by the Ghanaian populace has already been printed on the commission’s new brochure which is intended to educate first time voters and the electorate on the ‘Revision of the New Voters Register.’ A Deputy Chairman of the Commission, Amadu Sulley told journalists at a training workshop that the new logo is yet to be approved and that it was just an expression of “intent.” But the Deputy EC Boss in charge of Finance and Administration, Georgina Opoku Amankwaa, said the logo went through an approval process and would be unveiled very soon. Reports reaching tv3network.com indicate that almost all official communications from the commission including banners and letter heads already have the new logo which indirectly means the commission has approved it. It was first introduced to the public when the EC took some journalists through election reporting and the major pointers of the new Constitutional Instrument CI 91. Why the new logo? Questions have been raised with regard to why the EC would want to introduce a new logo in the lead up to a major election which comes off in November. Some public commentators have defended the electoral commission indicating that they may just want to change the image of the commission by the introduction of a new logo. The commission is yet to explain the rationale behind the new logo and also state why a new logo is being introduced at this time. The current logo with the inscription Transparency, Fairness and Integrity comes two eagles, the black star and a ballot box and a hand voting. The new logo on the other hand comes with blue-black background with eight abstract humans with their hands up. The heads of the eight people is in red, yellow, green and white. Some critics of the new logo have described it a wheel of fortune and that the colours represent the various political parties but is that the case? Was new EC logo plagiarised? The EC’s logo looks very similar to that of a Turkish school which uses a similar logo. Sections of the public are demanding that the designer of the new logo to reveal whether or not the new logo was copied and modified or was an original idea from him. By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|tv3network.com|Ghana Twitter: @NewsyMartin

‘Gang’ fight leaves one dead at Ashaiman

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file photoOne person was reported dead while others sustained injuries at Ashaiman Old Tulaku when two youth groups in the area clashed in a free-for-all fight.
The deceased who has been identified by his nickname as ‘Death Road’, was said to have been beaten to death on Saturday night. This infuriated his colleagues who also pounced on the other group resulting in a free-for-all fight in the area. What triggered the attack on the deceased is not yet known. An eyewitness told Onua FM’s Yen Sempa Monday residents just saw the two groups embroiled in a deadly brawl. The fierce encounter caught residents running helter-skelter for their lives. The witness mentioned the owner of Asenso Bar in the area as one of the injured persons. According to the witness, it took the intervention of the Municipal Chief Executive of the area Ibrahim Baidoo who called in the police to calm the situation.   Story by Kweku Antwi-Otoo/Onua FM/tv3nework.com

Presby church severs ties with former Moderator Frimpong-Manso

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Very Reverend Dr. Yaw Frimpong-MansoThe Presbyterian Church of Ghana has accepted the resignation of its immediate past moderator, Very Reverend Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso.
This development means that Rev. Frimpong-Manso forfeits all rights, titles, privileges and protocols that he would have otherwise enjoyed as immediate past moderator of the General Assembly of the Church. The church has therefore written a letter to its members to announce this. In the letter, the church stated that its leadership was saddened by the action taken by the former Moderator. “This unprecedented action taken by a former Moderator and the ensuing debate on the airwaves, saddened the leadership and the entire membership of the church greatly and so became the subject of intense prayer and supplication while some senior members of the church appealed to him to reconsider his decision,” it stated. The church also stated in the letter that it invited Very Rev. Frimpong Manso for an exit interview but he requested that the clerk of the GA meet him in New York rather. “In accordance with this policy, the Clerk of the GA wrote to the Very Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso, inviting him to meet with the Clerk in Accra for an exit interview. The church offered to provide him with a return ticket for purpose of the said interview. In a letter dated November 25, 2015, Very Rev. Dr. Frimpong-Manso declined the invitation to travel to Accra for the interview and instead requested that the Clerk of the GA travels to New York to meet with him there.” The church has therefore stated its acceptance of the resignation after meeting with the former Moderator. “The acceptance of his resignation was formally communicated to him by the GA Clerk’s letter dated 21st Marc, 2016, in which it was stated that as a consequence of his resignation, he ceases to be a Reverend Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana effective 16th March, 2016,” it said. Background In October, 2015, Rev Frimpong-Manso renounced his memberhip of the Presbyterian Church after what he referred to as a ‘disrespect to his person and ministry’. This was after the Presbyterian Church of Ghana declared their intentions to sever ties with the pro-homosexual Presbyterian Church of the United States of America. The current Moderator of the church, Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey then wrote a letter to Rt. Rev. Frimpong-Manso asking him to return to Ghana latest by December 31, 2015. Rt. Rev. Frimpong-Manso however said in an interview that the General Assembly did not accord him the needed respect before taking the decision to recall him from the USA. He added that he “cannot serve two masters so I will stay here (USA), do the work of God and win more souls for Christ.” He is currently serving with the Emmanuel Presbyterian Reformed Church of the Presbytery of New York in the United States of America.   Source: Citifmonline.com

Terrorists back off; they can’t match Ghana – T.B Joshua reveals

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Prophet T.B. JoshuaIt appears terrorists who planned to strike at Ghana this month have beaten a retreat, renowned Nigerian Prophet, T.B. Joshua has revealed.
The terrorists, whom the Prophet referred to as evil doers, recoiled due to a precautionary “heart-to-heart” strategy adopted by the country. Founder and Leader of the Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet T. B. Joshua in a live televised sermon April 10 announced that Ghana and Nigeria were on terrorists’ radar. “I see Thursday, Friday. Pray for these two nations – Nigeria and Ghana – over gathering in any way; over attack. I am seeing attack and that will be in a foreign way. The attack will come not in a local way. So please open your lips and pray for these two nations for protection” he told his congregants on Sunday in Nigeria. But a week after that declaration, the man of God has indicated that the attack is unlikely to occur in Ghana. “I was very, very happy the nation Ghana, they took the bull by the horn and the evil doers put together, are no match for Ghana.” What might have worked for Ghana is the “heart-to-heart awareness”, he explained, “it is the best weapon you can use…” “I think the World at large need to learn from the strategy and tactics of Ghana. The nation has been very peaceful, I will say the most peaceful, safe nation in West Africa and the World…God will never allow evil doers to prevail because it has been a safe nation and safest in West Africa and the world at large…that is their strength,” he stressed. T.B. Joshua came under intense criticism for the way and manner the first revelation was delivered. It caused many people to panic, and some, including the Ghanaian Christendom felt making such serious pronouncement on live television was not the best. But in defence, the prophet told his congregation the message was not delivered at the spell of the moment. According to him, he had the revelation two weeks prior to making it public. What he did was to pray over it for God’s direction, he claimed as he touted his track record in the area of prophecy. “It is not experience, its’ not imagination, it’s not just I want to talk and talk,” he said of how he gets his revelations. Story by Isaac Essel | tv3network.com |Ghana

Resource our security forces instead of buying V8 for ministers – Kofi Wayo

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file photoIn the wake of terror alert from the National Security, the founder and leader of United Renaissance Party (URP) Charles Kofi Wayo has chided the government accusing it of not doing enough to resource the security forces.
He accused them of rather taking pride in ridding in luxurious V8 vehicles. As a guest on ‘one on one’ segment of Ghana Dadwen, a news and current affairs program on Onua 95.1fm, Chuck as he is popularly referred to said “it is unheard of for government appointees to be driving in V8s, enjoying free fuel and allowances but our police service is under-resourced, going on operations without bullet proof vest. How can we say weare ready, in the event of a terrorist attack, do we have the health facilities to take care of the victims?” The National Security last week stated that a possible terror threat on Ghana is real following revelations from an alleged Malian terrorist being interrogated by the security agencies in Cote d’Ivoire. The suspected Malian terrorist was arrested after the attack on the Grand Bassam Hotel in neighboring Cote d’Ivoire. Although President Mahama has assured Ghanaians that the country’s security forces are up to the task to prevent and protect the citizenry, the leader of the United Renaissance Party is in doubt. Kofi Wayo argued, “what training are our police being given, what kind of information is being given to Ghanaians, what education, I am asking where are the training for our security agencies?” He questioned why a government that runs to the West for alms to execute development projects would have its appointees flying business classes and takinghuge per diem. “Can’t we fly economic class, sacrifice the per diems which can be channeled into resourcing and retooling our security forces?” Kofi Wayo queried.   Source: Onua FM | tv3network.com

Nine Ghanaians have joined ISIS – Antwi Danso claims

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file photoSenior fellow at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso says there are nine Ghanaians currently with Islamist militant group ISIS, and not two as being speculated in the media.
The National Security Co-coordinator, Mr. Yaw Donkor, confirmed last year that two Ghanaians have joined the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS): Nazir Nortei Alema, a 25-year-old graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and another person, identified only as Rafiq. However, Dr. Antwi Danso in an interview on 3FM’s Sunrise Morning show stated that Ghanaians are creating pockets of terrorism in their own country. “There are nine Ghanaians in ISIS and not two as being speculated in the media,” he said but would not mention where and who they are as well as where he got his information from. “We are creating pockets of terrorism in our own country which will come to haunt us if we do not take the right measures. Your Bamba and Azorka boys are fertile grounds for recruitment and are fertile grounds when they want to strike in Ghana. “If one indiscipline person has entered the country and wants to be friends with those radicals and undisciplined persons whom we are not trying to stop, they will fester. “There is a lot this country is making and everything is politicized because people want to score political marks and when those of us in the field look at these things, I just laugh. “We need to be careful about how to understand terrorism and know how to minimize or mitigate their effect when they arise”. Reacting to the recent terror alert in Ghana Dr. Danso said Ghanaians are causing unnecessary panic but calls for increase in awareness creation. “No terrorist is interested in Ghana to attack us and I swear that they wouldn’t attack Ghana because of Ghana. They will only attack if and only Ghana’s foreign policy shows inclination towards supporting any of their enemies or example if America is attacking ISIS and we support them with our utterances and give them some of our institutions and other stuff, then they will attack…I think the whole country is causing unnecessary panic”. Story by Nana Afrane Asante | tv3network.com

NAFTI to be converted into University College

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file photoThe National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) is to be converted into a Media and Creative Arts University College in the next few years.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Minister of Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu who indicated that government recognizes the role of the creative arts industry to the development of the country. Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the school, Mr. Ofosu Kwakye said “NAFTI is growing and government recognizes it as an academically viable tertiary institution with enormous economic benefit and potential for the development of the nation. “In this respect, governments strategy for NAFTI for the coming years would be geared towards infrastructural and transforming it into a world class media and creative arts university college for the training of professionals for the ever growing film and television industry. In all 22 students graduated with a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts. This consisted of 3 First class, 10 Second class upper division and 9 Second class lower division. 85 other students graduated with certificates in Film Production. Rector of NAFTI, Prof. Linus Abraham, hinted that new programs would be offered by the Institute later this year. He said “we continue our gradual expansion of NAFTI, through the addition of certificate and diploma courses and pending the completion of the accreditation process, we would start the bachelors in Broadcast Journalism and Multi Media production in September 2016.” This promise by government follows the recent conversion of about 6 Polytechnics into Technical Universities in Ghana. Government has also completed some new universities in selected regions which prior to that did not have any. By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|tv3network.com|Ghana Twitter: @NewsyMartin

Ecuador earthquake of 7.8 magnitude kills dozens

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file photoA powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Ecuador has killed at least 77 people and injured more than 500, Vice-President Jorge Glas says. The quake, Ecuador’s largest since 1979, hit at 18:58 on Saturday (23:58 GMT) near the northern town of Muisne.
Widespread severe damage is reported, with a bridge destroyed as far south as Guayaquil about 300km (190 miles) away. President Rafael Correa, who is flying back from a trip to Italy, has decreed a state of emergency. He said: “This is a very painful test. I ask the country to be calm and united… Let’s be strong; we will overcome this.” He added: “Roads and hospitals can be rebuilt; you cannot recover lost lives. That’s what hurts the most.” Mr Glas said that at least 77 people had died and 588 had been injured, adding that the figures could rise as a number of affected areas had not yet been reached. He called for calm, particularly in the city of Portoviejo, amid reports of a “lack of public order”, and said that 10,000 troops and 3,500 police had been mobilised for the affected areas. Gabriel Alcivar, mayor of the town of Pedernale, which is close to the epicentre, said: “We’re trying to do the most we can but there’s almost nothing we can do.” He said dozens of buildings had been flattened and looting had broken out. “This wasn’t just a house that collapsed, it was an entire town,” Mr Alcivar said. Carla Peralto, a resident of Boyaca, one of the worst-affected areas, told the BBC: “I never felt something like that in my life. It was so strong. I was feeling very, very scared… I was thinking ‘God, please stop that because maybe I die today’.” Serious damage was also reported in the city of Manta, with an airport tower among the buildings destroyed. Manta resident Ramon Solorzano told Reuters: “Most people are out in the streets with backpacks on, heading for higher ground. The streets are cracked. The power is out and phones are down.” The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at a fairly shallow depth of 19.2km (11.9 miles), about 27km from Muisne in a sparsely populated area. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has now issued a message saying that the threat of a tsunami has now mostly passed and that any remaining risk should be evaluated by local authorities. However, it earlier said tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to one metre above the tide level were possible for some coasts of Ecuador. Any damage that had occurred might not be visible until daylight. Quito resident Cristian Ibarra Santillan told the BBC he grabbed his dog and hid under a table, but when he realised the quake “wasn’t going away and that I might be found here if the worst happened” he ran out into the street. “We could see the electricity lines shaking – in other parts of the city, they’ve collapsed.” Work at the main oil refinery at Esmeraldas was temporarily halted as a precautionary measure. Many regional leaders, including the presidents of Peru, Colombia and Venezuela, have expressed solidarity with Ecuador. The quake was also felt in Colombia, where patients in a clinic in the city of Cali were evacuated from the building. Source: BBC

US gov’t to support Ghana’s elections with $4.5 million

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file photoThe United States government has pledged an amount of 4.5 million dollars to support Ghana’s election which comes off on November 7, 2016.
The EC will be getting one third of the money for voter education and to support other activities relating to the elections. This pledge from the United States comes barely two months after the British government also announced a 4 million pound support to the Electoral Commission to help run an effective election. The Electoral Commission in December 2015 submitted a budget of 1.8 billion Ghana cedi to parliament for approval to effectively run the 2016 elections. Parliament approved 1.2 billion of the said amount but this was further slashed to 826.8 million cedis by the Finance Ministry on grounds that there is a ceiling on the total amount it can release for elections. The support from the two countries comes at a time government has reiterated that it would stay within budget and not overspend this election year, an evil that has tormented previous governments. Meanwhile the United States has advised political parties to take a pledge to peaceful elections. The United States has supported Ghana over the years with focus on health, agriculture, education and sustainable governance. Speaking with journalists on his 90 days in office, the U.S Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson expressed optimism on Ghana’s potential for investments. He said one area Ghana needs to pay attention to if it intends to grow as a formidable economy in Africa is the area of sustainable governance. To this end, the US government has committed some money to the elections. Ambassador Jackson said “we are providing at this point 4.5 million dollars for Ghana’s elections, one third of that would go to the Electoral Commission to assist with its strategic communication and provide other support for the commission educating voters and making people aware of the practicalities of voting. “One third of the funds would go to the Peace Commission {National Peace Council}. We will be doing additional training for journalists and we would also work to identify areas that are at greatest risk of conflict” he added. The Ambassador also indicated 497.5 million dollars will be invested in power generation as part of a compact signed in 2014 which will be effective in June. Ambassador Jackson was hopeful that three years from now, the relationship between the US and Ghana would grow deeper than before with each benefiting from the friendship, commerce, engagement and exchanges. By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|tv3network.com|Ghana Twitter: @NewsyMartin