Daily round up of leading sports stories in and around the world.
I’d have been the best if I was still in radio – KKD
Ace broadcaster Kwesi Kyei Darkwa says he would have been the best radio presenter in Ghana if he was still in the industry.
Popularly known as KKD, coined from his full name, the former radio presenter is also known as ‘The Finest’.
His speech abilities, fashion sense and ever young attitude are some of the traits that are well known about him.
KKD got into media before he knew that is where he wanted to be, he always says.
He found his ‘calling’ early as his parents had record shops and an enterprise that promoted select West African musicians in the early ‘70s.
Perhaps being in the company of great musicians like Nana Kwame Ampadu as a toddler helped shape his dream.
In an exclusive interview with 3news.com, the ace broadcaster described the current trend of radio presentation as worrying and pathetic.
“If I was on radio now I will be number one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten and others will start from eleven.
“It’s too easy and people are making it so complicated because there are too many errors and it’s pathetic.
“The thing is if you choose to do something then you have to do it well that’s all. You listen to radio now and you hear people saying ‘Oh yeah say it again, I’m sure the police are listening’.
“The police do not sit at the police station tuning in to your radio station because there are too many radio stations.
“If the police were all to be asked to tune in to radio stations, they wouldn’t do their work so what the radio station should do is take the complaints and have one of their interns call the direct line of the police and tell them immediately but don’t announce that I’m sure the police are listening.
“Nearly every radio station is doing this and it’s really worrying and some of these errors are just too basic and it’s worrying.”
By Nana Afrane Asante|3news.com|Ghana
ASETENA PA
It’s a family oriented talk program designed to highlight the everyday issues as they affect the family unit.
HYMNS OF SALVATION
This is a semi talk Program that highlights very popular Hymns from orthodox tradition.
Grant shuts door on potential newcomers
Ghana coach Avram Grant says it would take an incredible lot for any new players to break into the Black Stars, claiming he is happy with the present crop.
The Israeli is aiming to become the first foreign coach to win the Nations Cup with Ghana and he is confident he has a squad that is strong enough at the moment to mount a realistic challenge.
“At the moment, I am happy with the players we have. We are not exactly looking for new players unless some very good ones come along”, he said.
That stance could be bad news for the likes of Enoch Adu Kofi who has been consistently good for Malmo in Sweden and Samuel Inkoom who is enjoying a resurgence in Turkey with Antalyaspor.
Grant handed first time call ups to Patrick Twumasi and Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey and says there would be little room for further experimentation in the build up to the Nations Cup.
Now Grant’s focus is on getting his team in the best possible shape for the competition in Gabon because he feels the preparations must be absolutely right if the Black Stars are to break their long failure to win a first Nations Cup title since 1978.
“We had 13 points from 15 which is very good. In 2015 we did very well. We played the best football in the tournament, we were the best team in the final and then lost on penalties.,” he said.
“We want to do the best for the country and for ourselves. We need to wait and see. We need to prepare well and right. We have the quality, other teams also have the quality but we would think of ourselves.”
Source: 3news.com | Ghana
USAID distributes over 4m books to schools across Ghana
On June 7, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Education launched the distribution of over 4 million books in English and local Ghanaian languages to public primary schools in all 216 districts.
The aim is to improve the reading skills of nearly 2.8 million primary school students, enhance education policies and management systems as well as strengthen parent, school and local government capacity to promote reading.
The books will provide more access to reading materials and enrich the reading environment for kindergarten to primary 3 pupils in all of Ghana.
US Ambassador to Ghana Robert Porter Jackson and Minister of Education Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang delivered remarks to commemorate the official handover of the books.
“These books will open minds, expand horizons, and introduce millions of primary school children across Ghana to new worlds and opportunities,” remarked Ambassador Jackson.
“A literate, educated population drives development and builds nations. But a 2013 test showed that the vast majority of Ghanaian primary school students are unable to read with fluency. I am happy to report that this is changing. One of the major drivers of this change is the strong partnership between the U.S. Government and the Ghana Ministry of Education.”
USAID and the Ministry of Education initiated the Partnership for Education: Learning program in 2015.
This partnership supports the Government of Ghana to encourage children to develop their reading skills and stimulate parent or guardian interests in early grade reading, both in English and Ghanaian languages.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana
Ghana’s power sector in a mess because there is no minister – Energy expert
Energy expert Kwadwo Poku believes the persistent challenges in the power sector boils down to the absence of a substantive minister.
Deputy Power Minister John Jinapor has virtually been acting in that capacity since the resignation of Power Minister Dr. Kwabena Donkor who left his post last year over the dumsor controversy, albeit the Finance Minister has been asked to act as the Power Minister.
There seems to be a resurgence of the power outages that crippled the nation for about three years, and issues concerning the overbilling on prepaid customers have been raging for some time.
Speaking on 3FM’s Sunrise Morning Show, Kwadwo Poku charged the President to make a decision on who manages the power sector which he believes will bring some stability to the current situation.
“It’s in a mess and it’s in a mess in the sense that there is no direction because there is no minister.
“It’s been given to the finance minister and if Hon. Seth Terkper has 10 files on his desk five from IMF and the World Bank and five from the Ministry of [Power], which one will he deal with first?” he asked.
“Unless we are now saying that the role of a minister isn’t important then why do we have ministers for sectors? Why the President in his wisdom went and herald the formation of the Power Ministry and we all clapped and all rejoiced that for once there is going to be a focus and direction.
“The President only has to send the name of Hon. John Jinapor to parliament with a letter typed and signed by the Chief of Staff to parliament and after vetting he becomes a minister.
“As deputy minister there are so many things he cannot do, for example if he was to go to Nigeria today, he might not be able to meet the substantive minister because of protocol.
“In the Asian countries you are only giving meetings as per your equal so if the deputy minister is to go to Asia and meet certain people only certain people will show up.
“If we are sending Hon. Jinapor to Nigeria to negotiate gas then he will be going as a deputy minister and if the person there doesn’t know the intrigues in Ghana will say the deputy minister is here so why don’t we also send the deputy minister here to meet his colleague.
“If we think that he is the one doing the day to day job then, make him a minister”.
Story by Nana Afrane Asante | 3news.com | Ghana
Nana Addo congratulates Liberia leader Sirleaf over Ecowas post
Leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has congratulated Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on her election as the new Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of sub-regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas).
At the just-ended Dakar Summit, President Sirleaf was elected as the successor of Senegal’s Macky Sall.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 7, Nana Akufo-Addo acknowledged the challenge that faces the Liberian leader given her being the first woman to occupy the position.
“I have no doubt that, just as she has acquitted herself creditably in her leadership of Liberia, she will discharge this responsibility effectively,” the former Ghana Foreign Minister said.
Nana Akufo-Addo urged President Johnson Sirleaf to hasten the consolidation of democracy in the sub-region and the integration of its citizens.
“This will impact positively on the lives of the 350 million people who live in West Africa, as it will, amongst others, allow for the free movement of people, goods and services across borders, thereby assisting in the transformation of West Africa’s economies, creating jobs for its peoples, and providing decent lives for its populations in conditions of freedom and respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter: @kwame_amoh
Ghana spends 99.2million dollars on pre-paid metres in 3yrs
Ghana has spent a total of 99,277,089.41 dollars on pre-paid metres between 2012 and 2015, the Deputy Power Minister, John Jinapor has revealed.
The amount is the cost of 999,135 pre-paid metres procured for installation in the operational areas of the Electricity Company of Ghana [ECG] and the Northern Electrification Distribution Company [NEDCo]
A total of 235,000 pre-paid metres were procured at a cost of 14,553,738.41dollars for NEDCo operational areas, while 764,135 pieces costing 84,723,351 dollars were imported into the country for installation at ECG operational areas, TV3’s Evelyn Tengmaa reported.
Mr Jinapor made the revelation in Parliament in an answer to a question asked by the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, Justice Joe Appiah regarding how many pre-paid metres have been imported by the government and the cost involved.
The Deputy Minister noted that the metres were not directly imported by the Ministry but by the ECG, adding the metres were procured through five local manufacturing companies.
Consumers have since the introduction of the pre-paid metres, especially the latest ones, been complaining of the rate at which their credit runs out, with some attributing it to wrong calibration.
This has led to the rejection of such metres by most consumers who prefer the post-paid metres, which they say is better.
By 3news.com|Ghana
Over 10,000 jobs to be created in Ghana’s ICT sector – Mahama
President John Mahama has indicated that thousands of jobs are to be created in the coming weeks following government’s investments in the Information, Communications and Technology sector in the country.
Opening the 2nd African Mobile and ICT Expo (MOBEX 2016), the president said “one of government’s initiatives and infrastructural investment that would create opportunity for sustainable opportunity and entrepreneurial employment for 10,000 of our young people in the digital eco system is the development of the BPO center near the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange.
“It’s almost finished and we would be commissioning it very soon. The facility with the capacity of close to 10,000 direct and indirect jobs would be made available at affordable rates for start-ups and emerging ICT companies that are able and willing to carry out digital operations” the president added.
According to the president several other projects are underway to connect the entire country onto the internet and ensure that Ghana is competitive in the fast paced ICT global community. He also indicated that plans are far advanced to create a conducive environment for the countries talented, creative and I.T conscious youth to take advantage to develop applications and softwares that can solve problems.
President Mahama said “the availability of broadband connectivity is expanding significantly. The opportunities this offers in creating new businesses are numerous. With massive development by software developers, relevant local content will drive demand and more business would soon begin to transform the ideas into value in the market.
“Others have already taken the lead. My good friend Herman Chienery Hesse has several applications spanning from ‘Hey julo’ for security and ‘akatua’ – a payroll software. We are working to provide more infrastructures for the younger generation to innovate.”
The three day event brings together all stakeholders in the ICT industry from various countries in Africa to exhibit and share ideas on how the continent can leverage on the numerous opportunities available in this field.
Telecom companies, ICT firms, Software and Hardware developers, Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) amongst others would be at the event to both sell and showcase what their services are.
The President said “the Ministry of communication is also developing a number of innovations including the M-Labs, I-hubs, Accra Business Processing Outsourcing Center (BPO), the Kumasi Business Incubator, The regional innovation centers and the ICT Park in Tema to boost the innovation digital system.”
#MOBEX16 would be closing on Friday June 9, 2016.
By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter: @NewsyMartin
Wednesday: GCPP Dr. Henry Lartey on Yen Sempa
It is the only party that strongly believes in domestication. Positive domestication!
In the 7 December 2004 elections, it was part of the Grand Coalition that won 4 out of 230 seats.
The party was founded by the late Daniel Augustus Lartey but now being led by his eldest son, Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey.
He contested the 2012 presidential election and obtained 0.36 percent of the valid votes cast.
Join us tomorrow 8th June, 2016 as Onua FM’s Yen Sempa host the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), between the hours of 8:30am to 10:00am.
Sugar factory in operation; shutdown later in June – Ministry explains
The Trade and Industry Ministry has flatly debunked media reports that the recently commissioned Komenda Sugar factory has been closed down.
Baffled by the reports, Nana Akrasi-Sarpong, Ag. Director, Communication and Public Affairs at the Ministry in a statement wondered “for what purpose” it would be shutdown.
Dr Kwame Nkrumah built the factory in 1966. It ceased operations 1981 and later liquidated in 1998 under the NDC government.
The factory was revamped through private partnership and was commissioned by President John Dramani Mahama on May 30 at Komenda in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) District of the Central Region.
The factory is to produce sugar both for domestic use and export.
Barely 48 hours after the factory was re-opened, it was reported that it has been shut down for maintenance.
But the Trade Ministry reacted saying, “The speculation that the factory has been closed down for maintenance work is inaccurate. How can a factory that was recently commissioned be closed down? And for what purpose?”
PILOT AND TEST STAGE
The statement however noted that the factory would be shut down later this month and resume full production in October/November when the major harvesting period for sugarcane begins.
“The factory is now in a piloting and testing stage where calibration of the machines and equipment is taking place,” the statement added.
“The Government is committed to the success of the factory, likewise the Indian Government, and all measures are being taken to ensure that,” it assured.
It also noted that haggling of the producer price has been concluded with the farmers. The sugarcane would now be bought at GHC90 per ton, a jump from the initial price tag of GHC60.
SUGAR DEVELOPMENT BOARD
The statement also announced that “government through the Ministry of Trade and Industry has worked on a Sugar Policy and a Sugar Act over the past years, and these will be presented to Cabinet and Parliament soon, to guide the entire sector based on lessons learnt. A major instrument for managing the sector would be the establishment of a Sugar Development Board.”
Story by Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana