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AGI pushes for cancellation of electricity subsidy for residential users

Business

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May 11, 2016

AGI pushes for cancellation of electricity subsidy for residential users

The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has called on government and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to review the utility tariff regime that obliges them to subsidize utilities of residential consumers.

Currently, residential users of electricity pay 60 per cent of the cost, while industry and government pay for the remaining 40 per cent.

Members of the AGI are thus pushing for the cancellation of the policy direction that adds a portion of the cost of residential users to their utility cost. They claim it increases their utility cost, contributing to a high cost of production.

If a proposal by the AGI is accepted, it could increase the electricity cost of residential users while industries will enjoy a reduction.

At a press briefing on the first quarter of AGI’s Business Barometer, the President of the AGI, James Asare-Adjei said AGI is “reminding the PURC of the need for reclassification of consumer categories and the review of the current electricity tariff structure so as not to disadvantage the industry.”

“Records show that almost all countries have their tariffs for industry lower than residential power users, however the situation is the opposite when it comes to Ghana. This is stifling growth in the private sector.” he said.

Responding to the calls Tuesday on Onua FM, the Director of Public Affairs at the PURC, Nana Yaa Jantuah said the Commission is in the process of reviewing customer classification but was skeptical industry will be excused in subsidizing the electricity of residential users.

“It is not possible industry will stop subsidizing for residential users since Ghanaians are not ready to pay for full cost of electricity,” she said.

“Ghanaians are even calling for a further reduction in the current electricity tariff and so “a 40 per cent increase in cost of electricity for residential users will automatically result in increase in cost of living for Ghanaians,” Nana Yaa Jantuah said.

Confidence in business executives

Meanwhile, the AGI Business Barometer indicated a rise in confidence of business executives in the economy during the first quarter of 2016, as it went up by almost six points over that of the last quarter of 2015.

The business barometer indicator for the first quarter hit 101.9 points, higher than the 95.9 points that was reordered for the last quarter of 2015.

This was largely due the stabilized depreciation of the Ghana Cedi against major trading currencies and the relative increase in power supply.

Mr Asare-Adjei commended government for implementing policies that had contributed to the stabilization of the currency against major international currencies.

“AGI urges government to do everything possible to sustain and improve on the relative macroeconomic stability in this election year,” he said.

“We expect government to keep its expenditure budget within limits to avoid over runs that is typical of election years. The current budget deficit of 7.1 per cent must be further reduced,” he stressed.

Nii Okai Tetteh|Onua 95.1FM|3news.com|Ghana

ASEDA MMERE

Cartoon

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May 11, 2016

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A mid-morning gospel music show that relaxes listeners while they work.

Nigeria demands back stolen money in UK

World

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May 11, 2016

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Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari says he is not demanding “any apology from anybody” after UK Prime Minister David Cameron labelled his country “fantastically corrupt”.

Speaking at an anti-corruption event in London, Mr Buhari said he was more interested in the return of stolen assets held in British banks.

Mr Cameron made the unguarded comments in a conversation with the Queen.

He is hosting an international anti-corruption summit on Thursday.

Mr Buhari’s address at the anti-corruption event at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London followed a statement from his office on Wednesday, saying that he had been “deeply shocked and embarrassed” by Mr Cameron’s remarks.

Asked if Nigeria was “fantastically corrupt”, in an echo of the prime minister’s comments, Mr Buhari responded: “Yes.”

Nigeria was ranked 136 out of 167 countries in Transparency International’s 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index.

Two recent cases have illustrated the astonishing scale of corruption facing the country.

Last week, Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said that an estimated $15bn (£10bn) of government money had been stolen through corrupt arms contracts under the previous government.

And in March, an official audit found that Nigeria’s state-owned oil company had failed to pay the government $16bn in a suspected fraud.

In his speech, the Nigerian leader described corruption as a “hydra-headed monster” which threatened the security of countries and “does not differentiate between developed and developing countries”.

He said corruption in Nigeria was endemic and his government was committed to fighting it.

Mr Buhari praised the UK government for its help in efforts to repatriate stolen funds held in the UK.

He cited the case of disgraced Nigerian state governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who fled the UK disguised as a woman while on bail for corruption charges.

British police found £1m ($1.8m)-worth of cash in his London home in 2005 and subsequently charged him with laundering a total of £1.8m.

“What would I do with an apology? I need something tangible,” Mr Buhari said, referring to efforts to recover the money.

The UK government will host world and business leaders at the summit on Thursday in London, aiming to “galvanise a global response to tackle corruption”.

Speaking ahead of the summit, Mr Cameron said: “For too long there has been a taboo about tackling this issue head-on.

“The summit will change that. Together we will push the fight against corruption to the top of the international agenda where it belongs.”

Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International has criticised Mr Cameron’s comments, accusing the UK of being part of the problem by “providing a safe haven for corrupt assets” at home and in its overseas territories.

Mr Buhari echoed these concerns in his address, quoting from a previous study into corruption in the country’s oil sector.

“Nigerian crude oil is being stolen on an industrial scale and exported, with the proceeds laundered through world financial centres by transnational organised criminals,” he said.

Source BBC

Schlupp scoops Leicester award

Sports

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May 11, 2016

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Ghana international Jeffery Schlupp has been voted Leicester City’s Young Player of The Year at the end of a remarkable season for the club.

Schlupp won the award for the second year running ahead of Demarai Grey and Ben Chillwel at the 2015/16 Leicester City Player of The Year awards.

Schlupp endured injury spells this season but returned to play a crucial role in the final few weeks leading to the desicive title win.

The Ghana international has now won three major club honours in two seasons having picked up Leicester Player of the Year last season and Young Player of the Year.

By 3new.com|Ghana

Nii Nortey scorns his posters with Akufo-Addo et al.

Politics

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May 11, 2016

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Poster Independent aspiring Member of Parliament for Klottey Korley, Nii Noi Nortey, has disassociated himself from campaign posters with a side-by-side picture of him and the presidential candidates of the various parties.

Campaign posters of Mr Nortey and the presidential candidates of the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Progressive People’s Party, People’s National Convention and the Convention People’s Party have since Tuesday surfaced on social media

But the campaign team of Mr Nortey has denied knowledge of such posters, and accused those the team says are opponents of Mr Nortey in the elections in the constituency of being behind the posters which are being circulated on social media.

Nii Nortey John Mahama

“We believe this activities are aimed at tarnishing the hard won reputation of Nii Noi Nortey. Please take note that this is not coming from Nii Noi Nortey nor our campaign office,” the campaign team said in a statement issued Wednesday.

“We will work with any presidential candidate elected to lead Ghana in the next four years but we want to state unequivocally that we are an independent candidate with much support base across the political divide and as such do not attach ourselves to any presidential candidate of any political party,” the statement said.

Background

Mr Nortey in March this year resolved to fall out of the New Patriotic Party to contest the Klottey Korley constituency seat as he accused the party of scheming against him in the primaries which he first won but lost in a re-run to his contender, Philip Addison.

The former constituency chairman of the party was elected winner in the primary held last year with a total of 393 votes as against Mr Addison’s 22 votes, leaving a third contestant with 19 votes.

The two contestants raised red flags about the election which they boycotted due to the party’s refusal to change the date of the said primary. They then went to court where an order was given for a re-run of the primary in the constituency

Addison polled 396 to emerge winner in the re-run primary. Nii Nortey polled 367
votes cast.

By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter @steviekgh

Castro added value to me – Nero X

Showbiz

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May 11, 2016

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Ghanaian highlife artiste, Nero X has eulogised fellow musician Castro, describing him as a brother who added value to his life.

The ‘Ose’ hitmaker has been compared to Castro in the Ghanaian music circles due to some similarities in their style of music.

Castro went missing almost two years ago on July 6, 2014 during a visit to a beach resort with his friend, Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, for recreation with some other friends.

Speaking exclusively to 3news.com, the talented musician shared some of his experiences with Castro whom he also described as a motivator.

“Castro added value to me when I stayed with him for about a year and always told me I was good and I can definitely tell you that he taught me a lot.

“Maybe it’s because we are from the same area at Takoradi, speak one language and also I believe I might sound a little bit like him but I have my own style too.”

He noted that the two are slightly distinct with regards to their voices.

“He has always been my mentor and I might sound like him a little bit but then I have my own style.

“I must admit that I have tapped something from him and I have also learnt from him.

“He’s had a lot of influence on me so maybe I may sound like him but I have my own style too.

“Castro was the first person to listen to my ‘Ose’ single and he was to be there when we were shooting the video but that was the same day he went missing.

“I am praying and hoping he comes back soon”.

Story by Nana Afrane Asante | 3news.com

Ghana Police backs legalization of ‘wee’

News

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May 11, 2016

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The Drug Law Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Police is calling for the decriminalisation of cannabis as a way of winning the fight against peddling and abuse of the drug in Ghana.

The unit has between January and May this year recorded 32 cases with Ashanti region leading the chart.

In the regional drug auditing table available at the Drug Law Enforcement Unit of the Ghana police service, cannabis has been leading the chart for the past three years.

The head of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit, David Selom Hukportie in an interview with TV3 said “we also need to look at decriminalization and here I want to reiterate what Mr. Akrasi Sarpong said.

“Many people misunderstood him but when you look at the situation and you want law enforcement to tackle it without the criminal justice coming in to help it, it will be a problem.”

In 2014, 188 cannabis cases were recorded across the country. The figure increased to 298 in 2015 with Ashanti region leading with 143 cases.

Between January and may this year, the unit has recorded 32 cases with Ashanti region leading with 28 cases between January and February alone.

Most of the discussions in the public have all been based on moral justification and exaggeration of the effects of the marijuana plant with scientific evidence thrown out of the window.

According to a security expert Emmanuel Kotin the debate should be looked at beyond morals and effects.

He indicated that “the drug issue has moved away from being a problem to being a real security issue. We seem to neglect the spillover of this drug issues on our human capital, our social infrastructure and our productive national asset.”

In an effort to solve the myriad of challenges confronting the state in battling the fight, a lecturer at the department of Sociology School at the University of Ghana Dr.Samson Obed Appiah, says the issue should be tackled at the community level.

He was of the view that “the locals in these communities should be looked at firstly from the point that they are involved in the production indirectly or encourage the production of the substance.

“This is also because young people get money and support the local economy so whether you like it or not it is a source of income for them so it would be difficult for the other persons in these communities to give out or report those involved in the growing, production or sale of the cannabis.”

He therefore calls on the law enforcement agencies to engage the traditional authorities in the fight to make it successful.

By 3news.com|Ghana
Twitter: @NewsyMartin

NDC wants guidelines on panel to hear voter’s registration challenge cases

Politics

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May 11, 2016

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NDC wants guidelines on panel to hear voter’s registration challenge cases

The National Democratic Congress is advocating for a guideline detailing persons who qualify to be part of the Registration Review Committees that would hear the cases of those whose eligibility were challenged in the voter’s registration.

Director of Elections of the party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, says there is currently no such guideline, noting this could expose the Electoral Commission to legal battles with persons who may be disqualified by the Committees.

Speaking on Onua FM’s Yen Sempa Wednesday, Mr Ampofo underscored the need for the EC to come out clear and state in the guideline, “step-by-step” who qualify to serve on the Committees in order to forestall legal suits against it.

A total of 18,986 people who registered in the just ended limited voter’s registration exercise had their eligibility challenged nationwide on various grounds.

Those who were challenged had their voter’s identity card retained by the officials of the Electoral Commission at the various district offices across the country until the determination of their cases.

The Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of people who were challenged with 5,084 while the Upper West had 246, the lowest number of cases.

The Greater Accra recorded 15,000 cases, and already, the various District Registration Review Committees have begun hearing the challenge cases.

The committees are to determine the eligibility of those who were challenged, and if found to be eligible, their voter’s identity cards released to them to enable them vote in the November 7 general elections.

The committees are made up of representatives of the various political parties, religious and traditional leaders as well as the security agencies and judges.

Mr. Ofosu Ampofo told the host the show, Kwame karikari that the some party agents during the registration exercise, connived with others to either accept or reject a voter they viewed as ineligible, something he said is not good for the process.

He said there should be a clear reason for the challenge, adding, “numerous challenges on the exercise show mistrusts in the system”.

Continuous registration

Mr Ofosu Ampofo said the continuous registration being considered by the Electoral Commission to register people once they turn 18 years, will have both financial and human resource stress on the political parties.

“The difficulty is that political parties, if they want to observe the continuous registration, must have all representatives in all the EC offices across the country the whole year and that is serious,” he argued.

He added “that will put pressure on the parties so we should look at the enduring system that will be good for all”.

NIA system

He thus underscored the need to find alternative to the continuous registration, and cited the National Identification system as one that can be considered, saying “we should look at the national database. That is why the National Identification System should be used because that will help”.

Kweku Antwi-Otoo|Onua 95.1FM|tv3network.com

Fuel Station in trouble for ignoring Fire Service warning

Business

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May 11, 2016

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Mr Osarfo Affum, Acting Head of Public Relations of GNFS

The Ghana National Fire Service is to take action against owners of a fuel station that is likely to pose fire threat to the residents around Pambros, near Weija in Accra in the Ga South Municipality.

The Service says notwithstanding the revocation of the fire permit that was issued to the owners of the fuel station [Lucky Oil] in 2012, the owners went ahead to construct the building for the station.

The withdrawal of the fire permit, officials say, was due to the closeness of the Lucky fuel Station’s to two residential apartments within the community, adding the owners varied the building plans without approval.

Checks by 3FM’s Community Connect last week showed construction work on fuel station, which is opposite the Panbros Salt Industry, was almost complete.

Alhaji Aleru Lukeman, owner of the station told 3FM that he has not received any letter or order from the authorities asking him to stop work, saying “I have not received any letter from the Assembly nor the Fire Service. In any case you can check from our regulator on the matter.”

However, the Greater Accra Chief Fire Officer, Ebenezer Simpson disputed Alhaji Lukeman’s claim the permit has not been revoked.

He explained that GNFS upon inspection of the facility discovered Lucky Oil Station had varied the plans without the approval of the Chief Fire Officer, contrary to regulation 14 of Legislative Instrument 1724.

“We have been to the place, seen the discrepancies and have submitted our report to the Chief Fire Officer to take his action. However, the fire permit he had was issued in 2012, which has been revoked. He cannot be using that for the filling station under construction,” ACFO Simpson noted.

In April this year, the Acting Head of Public Relations of GNFS, Divisional Officer Grade II, Mr Timothy Osarfo Affum, told journalists after visiting the construction site that the withdrawal of Lucky Oil’s fire permit was due to the nearness to two residences.

He said the facility as it stands now, if allowed to proceed would create a serious fire threat to both occupants and the community.

Kweku Adjei Nkrumah, a resident whose house borders the Lucky Oil and TEL Filling station, which is fully operational, said each time fuel is dispensed they are unable to do anything for over four hours.

“Each time they dispense fuel, we cannot do anything. We cannot cook or light a fire since it could explode. Our house is just inches away from the filling station. Besides we have children here who have respiratory conditions,” he said.

“We are pleading with the authorities to act fast by closing down these two filling stations because of the harm they are causing and the potential disaster waiting to occur.”

Community Connect contacted the Metropolitan Chief Executive Jerry Acquaye-Thompson for their position on the case to which he said, “The owners of that land have relevant documents to prove they own the land and can thus go ahead with their chosen project.”

COMMUNITY CONNECT is a community relations programme which airs on 3FM 92.7 on Mondays at 7.00 pm

By Gideon A. Sackitey|3FM 92.7|3news.com

Minister must admit there is no money to pay teachers – former GES boss

Education

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May 11, 2016

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Former Director of the Ghana Education Service, Michael Nsowah, has rubbished reasons given by the Finance Ministry for the nonpayment of salaries of more than 3,000 teachers for the past three years.

According to the Ministry, the teachers who form the Coalition of Unpaid Teachers, do not have their names on the payroll of the Controller and Accountant General, explaining that they have not been given the financial clearance to that effect.

The Ministry further said the Ghana Education Service, which is the employer, is responsible for submitting the names of the affected teachers to it for the necessary clearance to be given before they could be paid.

But the former Director General disagrees with the Finance Ministry’s justification.

“If you have approved my budget that I can employ 60,000 teachers, and I haven’t exceeded the number, why do you talk of clearance and protocol when we need teachers? I don’t think anybody can convince me that they did not go through the proper protocol. What protocol? If there is no money tell us,” he said

Explaining further, Mr Nsowah wondered whether the previous systems in place have been changed, arguing that, the emolument of teachers is agreed upon in the yearly budget, hence the teachers are supposed to be paid unless their monies have been used for other things.

“I think the teacher associations should find out if the old practice has changed because they are supposed to be absorbed in the budget. They should go back to the budget and find out how much was approved. If these teachers were not there, where do you think those children would have been?” he asked.

Background

The over 3,000 teachers have been denied their salaries for the past three years on grounds that the Ghana Education Service employed them without seeking the financial clearance from the Finance Ministry.

The teacher unions have blamed the GES for their dilemma. Some of the unpaid teachers claim they have had to resort loans and borrowing from friends and family for survival.

They accused Ghana National Association of Teacher, National Association of Graduate Teachers and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers of not doing much to help them.

According to the leadership of the three unions have received GHC 200,000 each to influence the delay in the payment of their salaries because they do not belong to the three unions; an allegation the unions have denied.

Meanwhile, the unpaid teachers are planning to picket at the Finance Ministry Wednesday [today] to register their displeasure.

Sarah Parku|3FM 92.7|3news.com

Over 18,000 people challenged in the Limited Voter’s Registration

Politics

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May 11, 2016

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A total of 18,986 people who registered in the just ended limited voter’s registration exercise had their eligibility challenged nationwide on various grounds, the Electoral Commission has revealed.

Those who were challenged had their voter’s identity card retained by the officials of the Electoral Commission at the various district offices across the country until the determination of their cases.

The Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of people who were challenged with 5,084 while the Upper West had 246, the lowest number of cases.

The Greater Accra recorded 15,000 cases, and already, the various District Registration Review Committees have begun hearing the challenge cases.

The committees are made up of representatives of the various political parties, religious and traditional leaders as well as the security agencies and judges.

The committees are to determine the eligibility of those who were challenged, and if found to be eligible, their voter’s identity cards released to them to enable them vote in the November 7 general elections.

The Greater Accra Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Kwame Amoah, explained that persons found guilty will either have their names deleted from the register or their cards being withheld.

“The committee’s work is to focus on whether the person qualifies to have his details on the register or not. They invite the challenge [the person who challenged the voter] and the one challenged and if found not qualified, his details will be taken off the register,” he said

He said the work of the committee which begun after the first phase of the exercise is expected to be completed within seven days.

‘‘The process is ongoing, it will depend on the number of cases in each district then we will get to know the number cleared. There isn’t much timeline but when the issue comes to your notice, you have up to seven days to address’’.

The 10-day nationwide limited voter’s registration exercise ended last Sunday. A number of people were reportedly unable to register in the exercise due to the limited registration centres used.

Sarah Parku 3FM 92.7 | 3news.com

BNI detains TOR worker with gun waiting for Prez Mahama

News

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May 11, 2016

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Credible information reaching tv3network.com indicates that a worker of the Tema Oil Refinery, Senanu Asbeit Akpade is currently in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations -BNI – for possessing a gun ‘in wait for President Mahama’.

Mr. Asbeit Akpade who worked with the Environmental Department of TOR is a known supporter of the governing National Democratic Congress and touted himself as such was among staff and management of the refinery who were waiting for the president.

President Mahama was at the refinery on Monday, May 9 with the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley to assess the company’s performance since it resumed full operations in February this year.

Ahead of the president’s arrival, however, National Security officers who had gone ahead of the presidential convoy arrested the man after realizing that his behaviour was suspicious.

When he was arrested a gun he was trying to conceal was found on him. Another worker at the company who spoke to tv3network.com on condition of anonymity said “before the president arrived yesterday, one of the known NDC guys in the office had been arrested having a gun on him.”

He went on to say “the National Security officers around suspected his behavior and quickly apprehended him and took the gun away from him. Because he was arrested before the president arrived, most of the workers and even some management staff were not aware that such an activity had gone on.”

News of his arrest started trickling in Tuesday morning but after working our sources, it emerged that most workers had no knowledge of what had gone on prior to the president’s arrival.

Our anonymous source said “the action took place around the frontage of the old administration block, precisely around where the Managing Director parks his car.

“He had the gun on him before coming to work that day. Apparently, he has been bringing the gun to work for some time now without the knowledge of his colleagues and the security at the gate. He is currently in the grips of the BNI and that is where we know he is at the moment.”

Attempt on President’s life

Although the intentions of the man are not immediately known he is the second unauthorised person to have been arrested with a gun around President John Mahama.

The first was Charles Antwi who is currently receiving psychiatric treatment for saying that he wanted to kill the president so he will become president of Ghana.

He was arrested at the President’s church where he had frequented with his gun waiting for the president so he can do whatever it was he had planned.

It took the vigilance of a church member who suspected Charles Antwi’s behavior and alerted the security officers leading to his arrest.

He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on his first day in court but was later sent for psychiatric analysis and treatment following what the judge suspected was ‘unusual’ about him.

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter: @NewsyMartin

IEA holds 2016 presidential debate in September

Politics

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May 11, 2016

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IEA holds 2016 presidential debate in September

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has scheduled the last week of September for the first of two presidential debates ahead of the 2016 presidential elections.

The second is scheduled to be held in the third week of October, a couple of weeks before the elections.

These were made known by the Institute on Tuesday, May 10, when it launched its timetable for the encounters.

Though the two presidential debates will involve political parties with members of parliament, a separate one is being considered for the two frontrunners – John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“From all indications, Ghanaians are really looking forward to it apart from having a platform for all the four,” said IEA’s Executive Director Jean Mensah.

Evening encounters will also be held across the nation for all presidential aspirants, IEA announced.

A Vice Presidential Debate has also been scheduled to be held in the first week of October.

The debates will be on the policy agenda and programmes of the different candidates together with a detailed analysis of their credibility, competence and capacity to solve national problems.

Source: 3news.com|Ghana

Literary Discourse: “General Public” or “Public”

Features

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May 11, 2016

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Grammar_nimishgoel Introduction
Is it “General Public” or “Public”? It is both depending on the context and preference of diction. Hahahahaaa! Many experts and users of English argue that what is “Public” is “General.” Therefore, according to these people, the phrase “General Public” amounts to verbosity, which should NOT be entertained.

While there could be wisdom in this argument, “General Public” remains an exceptionally legitimate phrase accepted in almost all dictionaries – from Oxford to Cambridge, from Webster’s to Collins, from Macmillan to Longman. Below is the justification of claim:

Semantic Disparity (difference)

Permit me to state that it is NOT always the case that anything “Public” is “General.” A classic example is “Public University” which is NOT, at all, “General University.” Hahahahaha! Clearly, in this context, the word “public” could be: STATE, GOVERNMENT, NATIONAL. Examples:

* Gbewaa University is a PUBLIC school.
Or

* Gbewaa University is a STATE school.

* Kadiogo College is a PUBLIC institution of higher learning in Moshie Kingdom.
Or

* Kadiogo College is a GOVERNMENT institution of higher learning in Moshie Kingdom.
Semantic similarity

It is instructive to emphasize that “General Public” and “Public” share certain common semantic properties (elements of meaning). Ideally, “General Public” is an emphatic or extended version of “Public.” This view could be best understood in the definition of both terms.

General Public

According to the dictionaries mentioned earlier, “General Public” refers to the ordinary people in society, rather than those who are considered to be important or who belong to a distinct group. Synonyms of “General Public” include “the people”, “the masses”, “civilians” the ordinary people”, “the men/women in the street.”

Public

Similarly, “Public” as a noun means ordinary people in general or the community. As an adjective, it means “concerning the people as a whole.” In this context some of its synonyms are “popular”, “general”, “common.”
Special Meanings

In addition to the contextual meanings of the terms under review, “Public” has various technical meanings in various fields of knowledge. For instance, in the lexicon of PUBLIC RELATIONS, “Public” refers to a sub-set within a whole. Examples:

* Teachers as a PUBLIC in a school.

* Administrators as a PUBLIC in the same school.

* Cleaners as a PUBLIC in the same school.

* Learners as a PUBLIC in the same school.

* Parents as a PUBLIC in the same school.

When all these are brought together, they constitute PUBLICS.

For this reason, “Public” which is regarded as a Mass Noun in ordinary English is a Count Noun in the jargon of PUBLIC RELATIONS: Public – Singular. Publics – Plural.

Usage in Journalistic Writing

Journalistic writing uses what is termed as “Condensed Grammar” in which words are economized to maximize space and ensure precision. Therefore, news editors and sub-editors prefer “Public” to “General Public.” It is not that “General Public” is WRONG but that “Public” is conventionally PREFERABLE.

Conclusion

Dear reader, in the light of the above explanation, it may be clear to you that the use of “General Public” and “Public” is a matter of personal choice. However, it is advisable to consider the context whenever you want to use “General Public” or “Public.”

By Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq Azindoo, Acting Registrar, Hudaibiya University College, Accra.

President Obama to visit Hiroshima

World

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May 10, 2016

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The atomic bomb dome. Some 140,000 are believed to have died in the attack on Hiroshima

Barack Obama is to visit Hiroshima this month – the first serving US president to travel to the Japanese city since it was hit by a US nuclear bomb in 1945.

The visit will be part of an Asian trip from 21-28 May that will also take in Vietnam.

The Hiroshima bombing on 6 August 1945 killed 140,000 people. Along with a second bombing on Nagasaki – it is credited with ending World War Two.

The White House said there would be no apology for the bombings.

A statement from Mr Obama’s press secretary read: “The President will make an historic visit to Hiroshima with Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe to highlight his continued commitment to pursuing peace and security in a world without nuclear weapons.”

The bomb that changed the world

The bomb was nicknamed “Little Boy” and was thought to have the explosive force of 20,000 tonnes of TNT
Colonel Paul Tibbets, a 30-year-old colonel from Illinois, led the mission to drop the atomic bomb on Japan
The Enola Gay, the plane which dropped the bomb, was named in tribute to Col Tibbets’ mother
The final target was decided less than an hour before the bomb was dropped. The good weather conditions over Hiroshima sealed the city’s fate
On detonation, the temperature at the burst-point of the bomb was several million degrees. Thousands of people on the ground were killed or injured instantly

Find out what happened in the hours before the bomb was dropped

Was it right to drop the bomb on Hiroshima?

In ruling out any apology, the president’s communications adviser, Ben Rhodes,said on his Twitter page that the US would be “eternally proud of our civilian leaders and the men and women of our armed forces who served in World War II”.

He said that Mr Obama would “not revisit the decision to use the atomic bomb at the end of World War II. Instead, he will offer a forward-looking vision focused on our shared future”.

He said the visit would “offer an opportunity to honour the memory of all innocents who were lost during the war”.

Mr Rhodes added: “The President and his team will make this visit knowing that the open recognition of history is essential to understanding our shared past, the forces that shape the world we live in today, and the future that we seek for our children and grandchildren.”

Mr Obama will also take part in the G7 summit in Japan’s Ise-Shima peninsula and hold bilateral talks with Mr Abe.

Before that Mr Obama will meet Vietnam’s leadership and deliver a speech in the capital, Hanoi, on US-Vietnam relations.

Jimmy Carter has visited Hiroshima, but after the end of his presidency.

A US ambassador attended the annual commemoration for the first time in 2010.

Seventy years since Hiroshim

The ‘sanitised narrative’ of Hiroshima’s atomic bombing: The US view that the bombing was necessary to end the war ignores a terrible and enduring cost.

Japan revisionists deny WW2 sex slave atrocities: Examining the rise of revisionism and the fraught issue of comfort women.

Source: BBC