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Gate in gate out policy a waste of time and resources – importers fume

Business

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April 5, 2016

Gate in gate out policy a waste of time and resources – importers fume

The Association of Importers and Exporters has called on the government to remove the ‘gate in gate out’ policy at the ports and harbors.

The policy introduced by the Customs Divisions of the Ghana Revenue Authority mandates bulk importers to re-register and disclose content of their wares as well as clog in and out their goods.

But the Association says the move is a duplication of an existing function.

Speaking to 3FM Business News, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, Sampson Awingobit claimed the introduction of the policy has stalled a number things at the ports.

“Custom has introduced gate in gate out, and this is causing duplication of functions and causes delay, and the worst thing is that, if you offload your goods at the port, the importer will not have his documents on time because of the procedure one goes through. The gate in gate out procedure has not brought value addition to the importer. Our goods delay at the ports and some either expire or are stolen,” he highlighted.

Mr. Awingobit however expressed optimism that government will give ear to their plea.

“We will keep pressing on these issues, till government gives us a listening ear, and modifies this procedure. We as importers and exporters contribute a great chunk to the development of the economy, and hope that government considers this,” Mr. Awingobit emphasized.

Story by Grace Hammoah Asare | 3FM

Messy and embarrasing Duncan drama highlights state of decay in Kotoko

Sports

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April 5, 2016

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Messy and embarrasing Duncan drama highlights state of decay in Kotoko

Sometimes the only way you can fully comprehend certain issues is to laugh about about them. Often they defy logic, are too strange and too shocking to understand.

Tuesday morning provided one of those scenarios. David Duncan had set up base at the Adarko Jachie training grounds of Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

He was alone, set up his cones and training materials before taking a seat on a wooden bench; deep in thought to wait.

A lot must have been going through his mind as he escalated this messy divorce between himself and Asante Kotoko. The club have effectively told Duncan they don’t need his service again. Like his predecesor Didi Dramani, he has been asked to step aside while Michael Osei takes over.

Osei, a fantastic midfielder in his time is caught up in an embarrasing situation. He must show loyalty to a club that nurtured and gave him a big stage and taken him on after his playing career. But as a coach too when he strips the selfish streak that we all need to achieve the highest levels in our chosen fields, he must be wondering why his former boss’ departure has become so messy.

Duncan’s contention is simple; he has no clause in his contract that provides the sort of ‘step aside’ directive that the club has issued. It is his usual bold way of telling the club to sack him if they want.

Normally it should be that simple. A team plays poorly, coaches pay for that and take the hit. If they consulted very good lawyers before signing up, then they hit the jackpot too.

And from all indications, it seems Duncan won’t go down without a fight. He has a contract with Kotoko that runs till the end of the season. A sack will mean an abbrogation of that deal by Kotoko which will in turn mean that the club must pay him off.

The ‘step aside’ then has become Kotoko’s crude way of solving the problem. They picked the wrong guy. Duncan walked out on a lucractive job in South Africa because they had employed a technical director above him that was not written into his contract. He dragged Hearts of Oak through the courts when they fired him and won. And he knows that per labour and basic human rights laws, you can’t employ someone and not give them the work you employed them for. Duncan signed up as Kotoko coach. Unless he has been sacked, he wants to work as one.

His presence at the training grounds was simply to emphasise that point. It was to remind the Kotoko management that he still considers himself the coach of the club. We all know that he isn’t and while legally he may be within his rights and could end up walking away with a handsome reward, this is embarrasing for all parties involved.

The sight of Duncan at the training grounds, waiting on the bench when it was obvious no player was going to show up suggested a man masterful at playing the role of a drama king. He wanted to make a show of it and he did not miss his chance.

It should not have come to this in the first place. Any strong management team would have sacked Duncan without hiding behind the weak shield that Opoku Nti and his team are seeking.

Maybe Duncan’s contract is so weak it does not provide for termination clauses. That would be a collosal shame. If they exist then this whole drama is needless and pointless.

It is embarrasing too. A club like Kumasi Asante Kotoko caught up in this mess. A coach at a training ground, club forced to switch training base on a specific day in order to avoid him. Even colts clubs are not run this poorly. Even they don’t provide this much drama.

Maybe it is exposing Opoku Nti’s suitability or lack of it for this huge task. Leader on the field and club legend, he is revered by many. But he has made too many decisions that leaves uncoomfortable questions over whether he is fit to lead this club going forward.

The decision to fire Didi Dramani last season and replace him with Duncan was one of them. When it was pointed out that Duncan’s lack of trophies and crucially personality could make this a marriage made in hell, Nti responded by claaiming the coach is one of the best things to happen to Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

The disastrous decision to create divisions in the team through the winning bonus policy was yet another telling commentary about Nti’s ability to to lead a complex organisation like Kotoko. He may have been a master ball player but does not clearly posses the qualities required to lead Kotoko, market it efficiently and grow it. It needs more than a good ex-player.

That is why no one will come out of this episode looking good. Duncan, who got to sign his players, enjoyed a full pre-season and has still taken Kotoko to the bottom of the league looked like the guy who stalks a girl because she gave all indications she was no longer in love with him. He wants the words said, not infered. Opoku Nti looks like that guy who has not got the balls to look a girl in the face and say we have come to the end of the road. He would rather dance around the subject and hope that the girl’s pride drums the point home.

Both deserve each other. None of them deserve an institution as huge as Kotoko. Maybe Tuesday morning was a blessing. Maybe Otumfuo whose decision making has contributed to this will finally realise that this can’t go on any long. Maybe too he won’t. For all the rhetoric, the actions of everyone involved has suggested this club is not involved in the serious business afterall.

By Michael Oti Adjei|TV3 Sports|Ghana

First UN troops tried for CAR sex abuse

World

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April 5, 2016

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The first UN peacekeepers accused of sexual abuse in Central African Republic (CAR) have gone on trial in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Two of the Congolese troops denied charges of raping minors, while a third denied a charge of attempted rape, the prosecutor said.

More than 100 people have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse by UN and French forces in CAR.

French prosecutors have opened a new enquiry into the case, AFP reports.

The troops were deployed to end conflict which broke out in 2013.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said he was “shocked to the core” by the latest allegations, which include bestiality.

The Congolese troops appeared before a military tribunal in Ndolo, a prison north of the capital Kinshasa, on Monday, AFP news agency reports.

The trial was “a first, and good, step to end impunity” among peacekeepers, said Ida Sawyer, an advocate for campaign group Human Rights Watch.

Meanwhile, Tanzanian peacekeepers accused of sexual abuse in DR Congo have been hit with paternity claims from alleged victims, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, Associated Press news agency reports.

The Tanzanian peacekeepers were being investigated following allegations that they had sex with minors, and paid for sex.

The troops were part of an elite force which had the rare mandate of launching offensive action against rebel groups in the mostly lawless eastern DR Congo.

Mr Dujarric said the 11 included four from the mission’s current deployment and seven from a previous contingent, AP reports.

In CAR, one advocacy group said last week it had passed on new reports to the UN that a French commander made four girls have sex with a dog.

The UN said it was investigating 108 new reports of abuse in the country.

Last year, there were 69 allegations of child rape and other sexual offences by peacekeepers from 10 missions.

Forces were deployed in 2014 to help restore order in CAR after the president was overthrown the previous year and sectarian violence gripped the country.

In early March, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for the repatriation of peacekeeping units whose soldiers face allegations of sexual abuse.

Last August, the UN envoy to CAR, Babacar Gaye, was sacked amid multiple allegations of sexual abuse by peacekeepers.

An independent panel called the UN response to the allegations “seriously flawed” and a “gross institutional failure”.

It accused senior UN officials of abusing their authority by failing to take action over allegations of abuse by soldiers from France, Equatorial Guinea and Chad.

Source: BBC

‘Unlawful’ arrest of Dr Ani over NDC branded cars could cost Ghana – lawyer

News

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April 4, 2016

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‘Unlawful’ arrest of Dr Ani over NDC branded cars could cost Ghana – lawyer

Erudite legal practitioner, Ace Annan Ankoma, says the Managing Director of Marbles & Granites, Edmund Ayo Ani, could sue the State for compensation because his arrest is “unlawful”.

Dr Ani was arrested Friday for allegedly taking photos of about 50 Mahindra vehicles which were being branded with campaign stickers of President John Dramani Mahama at a private property in Accra.

National Security Advisor, Alhaji Baba Kamara, whose property the vehicles were being branded, ordered the Bureau of National Investigations to arrest Dr Ani because the angle from which the photos were taken suggest it was from Dr Ani’s building.

But Mr Ankoma has explained there is no criminality whatsoever in the taking of the photos in the absence of a specific legislation baring anyone from taking photos of a specific place, saying “in the absence of legislation that specifically bars the taking of photographs of or at a specific place, taking pictures, or allowing another person to take pictures, is not a criminal offence”.

In a Facebook post titled: “They Goof, We Pay”, Mr Ankoma argues if taking unauthorised photos was a criminal offence, then Ghana’s investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas would have by now been in jail.

“And, if, as Article 19(11) of the Constitution provides, a person cannot be convicted for a non-existent criminal offence, then surely, a person cannot even be arrested for a non-existent criminal offence,” he said.

Mr Ankomah added: “The arrest was unlawful. Clearly, the National Security Adviser decided to use his office and power, and the state machinery at his disposal to vent his spleen on his neighbour and to show him where power lies.”

In view of the wrongful arrest and detention, Mr Ankomah says Dr Ani could seek various damages for the breach of his constitutional right to personal liberty, unlawful arrest, and false imprisonment.

“The court may also award aggravated/exemplary/punitive damages, which are damages on an increased scale, where the wrong done was aggravated by factors such as the wanton or reckless acts of another,” he said

He, however, pointed out that publishing photos of a person without that person’s consent is not a wrongful act, noting it could only be a breach of that person’s constitutional right to privacy which would only warrant a civil action.

By Stephen Kwabena Effah|tv3network.com|Ghana
Twitter @steviekgh

Ghana’s close shave with Ebola : the lessons to be learnt

Features

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April 4, 2016

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Ebola

The Ebola viral disease outbreak in West Africa this year is by far the world’s largest Ebola outbreak in history since its discovery in 1976. Statistics by the World Health Organization indicate that, the disease, with a current death rate of 70%, has claimed close to 3,000 lives mainly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

It is believed that there is the likelihood of under-reporting of the actual deaths resulting from the Ebola outbreak in the sub-region and that the real figure exceeds 3,000. On top of all that, epidemiologist tracking the spread of the disease assert that, the exponential growth rate of the disease over the past few weeks could result in about 10,000 cases per week in affected countries. Though the implications on the world’s economy is yet to be fully realized, there are already indications that if the disease runs wild in Nigeria, the world’s fourth largest oil producer and second largest supplier of natural gas, it could deal a big blow to the global economy.

As paradoxical as it may sound, while authorities in neighbouring countries; Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria, are grappling with the deadly Ebola viral disease, whose cure is yet to be completely accepted globally, health facilities in some parts of Ghana are also battling with the outbreak of Cholera; an easily preventable and treatable disease. Available statistics suggest that, in less than three months, the disease has claimed 128 lives out of 16,527 reported cases – case fatality rate of 0.8% in eight out of the ten regions of Ghana. Accra, the seat of Government, tops the chart with 4,734 cases with 37 deaths recorded. To further elaborate on the horrid nature of the situation, more than 2,000 cases with 25 deaths were recorded in only two health facilities in the national capital, Accra. Reports indicate that health workers are overstretched and every available space in some health facilities are occupied with cholera patients. In fact, despite efforts by authorities to curb its spread, there are indications that the outbreak is far from over and practicable strategies need to be instituted to tackle it squarely both now and in the future. Evidently, the outbreak has dwarfed governments containment efforts and until this threat is given a serious attention, it will continue to be a perennial issue.

Considering these two scenarios; in neighbouring countries and in Ghana, it becomes starkly clear that the cholera outbreak in Ghana is a strong warning to authorities in Ghana to gear up; an excellent opportunity our neighbours unfortunately did not have. For now, Ghana has been spared, the guaranteed deaths, public fear and the freeze in business activities that accompany an Ebola outbreak and we earnestly hope it remains so. However, this close shave with the ill-omened Ebola viral disease and rather the outbreak of a preventable and treatable disease should be seen as a clarion call on Ghanaian authorities to take a second look at the health care systems in place and strengthen them to survive the vagaries of the future. It is time to wake up to the realisation that, yes, eventually help will come in times of crisis, but it will not come as hard and fast as would be needed. The challenges that lie ahead in the future require proactive thinking and a level of preparedness that is not only independent of foreign aid but also beyond infallible. Health care delivery and response to emergencies in general need to be critically examined and improved to withstand similar outbreaks or even more difficult situations.

Looking into the future, it behoves on policy makers and local authorities to prepare district and regional emergency plans that will feed into a national emergency plan for both the foreseeable situations and the ‘surprise attacks’ in the future. These plans should clearly spell out emergency procedures in all scenarios and the responsibilities of all institutions to be involved. Emergency

volunteer groups for all possible scenarios, including floods, disease outbreaks, fire outbreaks, oil spills, earthquakes, among others should also be instituted and trained in advance. Most definitely, the human resource capacity of our formal institutions would not be able to squarely handle such scenarios as the Cholera outbreak is signalling and trained volunteer groups would have been very helpful. These purposely trained volunteers would be instrumental not only in disseminating information to the general public during emergencies but would also serve as first responders who would promptly respond to such situations while concurrently augmenting the existing workforce of formal institutions.

Education of the general public on safety measures during emergencies should be highly prioritized to forestall a general sense of fear and panic among the public under such circumstances. Generally, this has not been given the attention it requires during the cholera outbreak in the country. Public education on cholera prevention and treatment has not saturated the either the traditional or social media as political debates and sports news have. The general public therefore feed on half truths and speculations that are not only fictitious in most cases but also breed fear and panic. This is definitely not the way to go and a paradigm shift is required. There should be conscious efforts to inundate the media and hence the minds of the general public with relevant information on disease outbreaks and other future emergencies. In this era when social media has become the order of the day, authorities could utilize this prospect to disseminate relevant information to the general public in addition to the traditional media.

Our country should have a dedicated fund for emergencies to fast track the acquisition of aid items and its release should be devoid of the long, winding bureaucratic processes that currently characterise our public sector. Ghana needs to take a cue from the slow-paced response of the international community to the havoc-wreaking Ebola disease outbreak in West Africa and resolve to tackle future emergencies with resources from her national coffers. As we consolidate our position as a middle-income country, it is very crucial to progressively wean ourselves from handouts from the developed world and begin to tackle issues with our own resources.

Most importantly, preventive measures must be instituted to deal with the perennial outbreak of cholera once and for all. For far too long, it has become obvious that the curative strategies have not yielded the needed results against cholera outbreaks and it will undeniably not work against more ruthless situations in the future. Although remedial efforts cannot be completely left out, much resources should be devoted rather to preventing catastrophes. The National Disaster Management Organization and other allied institutions should be adequately resourced to implement preventive strategies against disaster but not the other way round.

Wake up Ghana, for the future beckons!

Author: Isaac Monney

Lecturer, Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation, University of Education Winneba

Email: [email protected]

Dealing with the issue of fake teacher certification

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April 4, 2016

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Dealing with the issue of fake teacher certification

Teacher classroom

The evolving issue of fake teacher certification embarrasses all of us, including the Ghana Education Service (GES).

Why would anyone, in the first place, decide to enter a noble profession like teaching with a fake certificate at all? The GES and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) still collaborate to remove charlatans from the payroll of the Service. They need our support to achieve that. Sanity must prevail in our schools and classrooms.

The GES has assured us of its resolve to pursue all falsified elements on its payroll through the law courts. Meanwhile, contingency arrangements are being made to fill vacancies that exist in the Service and in the affected schools. The final national report is yet to come out but we are told that Brong Ahafo and Volta regions have identified close to 200 fake teachers so far. Do we have any human institution which is 100 per cent perfect at all? I do not think so! The GES is a human institution with large staff size and function. It has many officers and directors who behave differently. As some are genuinely working to see the agency develop, others may want to cut corners in order to make it in life. It is, therefore, not impossible to see some people enter or being aided to enter the Service through fraudulent means. Actually, it is sincerity and patriotism that can save this system of ours!

The GES is not absorbing itself entirely from this development. It is bent on doing stringent investigation and finding a lasting antidote to it. The days of the blame game have died out; it is hard work, vigilance and professionalism that we need to eliminate the rest of the excesses and to put things right. Assisting qualified and interested people to be trained as teachers and following the right procedure to recruit them upon successful completion of their courses of study must be the way to go.

The fact that some of our deprived rural districts are in dire need of teachers should not be the justification for accepting just anybody to act as a teacher. It is true that some professional teachers do not readily accept postings to the hinterlands. There is the argument that since every classroom must have a teacher, authorities sometimes relax the system for anybody at all who is interested in teaching to get recruited.

Sometimes, an officer is pushed to tamper professional procedure of recruitment with familiarity, mercy and ‘protocol’ just because the unqualified person has been introduced to him by a big man or chief of the society. In some rural areas, you dare not reject an appeal for employment made by a chief; you have to give it out in order to save your life and position. Just imagine how an appeal from a district chief executive or Member of Parliament would look like and expected to be treated!

Apart from the about 9,000 teachers who are usually posted from the colleges of education and universities annually, the Ministry of Education through the Ministry of Finance also give quota for recruitment. It usually reaches the rural districts with relatively short deadlines. This puts strain on some directors, thereby, affecting proper scrutiny and verification of documents of applicants prior to recruitment.

Lack of qualified staff for standardized recruitment and selection process has also been identified as the root cause of fake teacher recruitment. McFarland (1968) defines recruitment as the process of attracting potential employees to a company or organisation. Recruitment precedes selection process. According to Gupta (2006), selection is a process of choosing suitable persons out of a pool of applicants. In this process, relevant information about an applicant is collected through series of steps so as to evaluate their suitability for the job on offer. Recruitment and selection is normally done by officers with in-depth knowledge in human resource and relevant fields. Inadequacy of such officers in our districts usually leads to selection of applicants with doubtful certificates, among other things. To suggest that funds should be made available to hire professionals to take these applicants through the rigorous selection process is just a mere impossibility because such officers are not easy to find in rural districts.

Our system lacks requisite tools and strict mechanisms for detecting fake certificates. It was until recently that the West African Examinations Council started printing certificates with pictures of candidates embossed on them. Apart from that there are no other ways of detecting fake certificates especially when candidates seeking jobs show up with original certificates of their relatives or friends. Since there is now little chance for anybody to join the service with the West African Senior Secondary Certificate, the issue of anybody entering the system with a fake certificate can easily be curtailed. Most job seekers now hold at least a Diploma in Basic Education, which is deemed to have been earned from institutions of repute. I suggest that pictures of graduates are also embossed on those certificates that are awarded by tertiary institutions.

White-colour jobs are difficult to find these days. Most people do all that they can to secure employment and teaching is no exception. Teaching is done in almost every part of the country, thereby, making it much more vulnerable to invasion by fake individuals than any other profession one can think of. The system must be allowed to follow due diligence in all of its operations and we must all be wide alert to expose individuals who are just among us to spoil things. Classroom teaching is a professional service reserved for professionals and it must remain so!

By KanzoniAwaala Donald ( [email protected])

The writer is a Northern Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service.

Reviewed by Anthony KwakuAmoah, an educationist and Public Relations Officer at the Headquarters of the Ghana Education Service (E-mail: [email protected])

Six out of Talented Kidz VII

Showbiz

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April 4, 2016

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Six contestants have bowed out of this season’s children’s reality show on TV3, Talented Kidz, after four weeks of stage performances.

The maiden eviction edition was held on Sunday, April 3 at Studio B.

The axe fell on rappers Kasahari Soldiers from Manfe in the Eastern Region, singer Esther Yeboah, commentator Starr Boy Jnr and dancer Regina Ofori.

The rest evicted on Sunday are drummer Isaiah Agyenim and dancer Kaisier Anim Narh.

Sunday night’s show also saw singer Kurt Odehyie Ansah emerge as the best performer while Action Boys took a prize for their outfit.

The show continues with 19 contestants remaining.

It is the search for who replaces Star Dance Crew, winners of Season VI.

Source: tv3network.com|Ghana

Former First Lady laments political parties’ ‘abuse’ of student politics

Education

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April 4, 2016

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Former First Lady laments political parties’ ‘abuse’ of student politics

Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has called on students not to be cowed into the backburner during political discourse but to make their voices audibly heard.

“You have a moral and constitutional right as citizens of Ghana to have your voices heard,” she stressed.

Speaking at a lecture at the Ghana Technology University College over the weekend, Nana Konadu said due to the selfish interests of political parties, hitherto neutral student groups have been suppressed.

“I am not against students and young people taking part in politics but I am against the relegation of our national student groups to the background because of the selfish interest of political parties,” she stated.

‘State of despondency’

The founder of the National Democratic Party (NDP) added: “It is indeed disturbing to see the level of abuse of both the SRC and NUGS in elections by national political parties.”

She, therefore, urged student leaders to play their role firmly in nation-building.

“I implore you the young ones who are the future drivers of the state in our country’s development to critically assess the role you have to play in this current state of despondency.”

President of the College Dr Osei Darkwah called for the formulation of national policies beyond political parties.

Source: tv3network.com|Ghana

Kotoko sack Duncan

Sports

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April 4, 2016

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Kumasi Asante Kotoko have sacked David Duncan just six games into the Ghana Premier League season after defeat at Aduana Stars left them bottom of the league table.

The club’s management have asked Duncan to step aside with immediate effect with his assistant Michael Osei set to take over technical duties in the meantime but it is difficult to see a way back for the former Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics coach.

Communications Manager, Kwaku Ahenkorah, told the club’s official website that: “Management has asked Coach David Duncan to step aside until further notice and with immediate effect”.

“The decision has become necessary after the club’s abysmal performance in the ongoing Ghana Premier League where Kotoko lies an unprecedented last position” on the league table with five points.

“Assistant Coach Michael Osei takes over as head of the technical team in the interim. Management further apologises to the teeming fans of the club for the performance displayed so far” said Ahenkorah.

“We will endeavour to turn the tables and send the club where it duly belongs” he added.

Duncan took over from Didi Dramani who had won back to back league titles after a poor start to last season and guided them to second place before losing the MTN FA Cup final to Medeama.

He had always insisted the team will do much better especially after he had brought in players of his choice but instead hey have endured their worst start to a season in fifteen years. The Porcupine Warriors have won just once this season in six attempts, draws two and lost all their three away games.

By Michael Oti Adjei|TV3 Sports|Ghana

ANC veteran calls for Zuma to resign

World

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April 4, 2016

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A South African anti-apartheid veteran has called on President Jacob Zuma to resign following a scandal over improper spending at his private home.

Ahmed Kathrada, who was jailed alongside Nelson Mandela, said that Mr Zuma’s resignation would end a “crisis of confidence” in the government.

Mr Zuma said on Friday he would repay the money but would remain in his post.

He has faced widespread calls for his resignation from South Africa’s opposition.

South Africa’s highest court ruled that Mr Zuma had failed to uphold the constitution by ignoring instructions to repay some of the $16m in state funds spent on renovations at his private residence.

In a televised address on Friday, Mr Zuma made no reference to the calls for his resignation.

The leadership of Mr Zuma’s party, the African National Congress, said it was united behind its leader, but the intervention of 86-year-old Mr Kathrada, a party veteran, may carry weight.

Along with Mr Mandela, Mr Kathrada was among eight ANC activists sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of trying to overthrow the apartheid government during the 1963-1964 Rivonia Trial.

In an open letter published in South African media, Mr Kathrada said: “In the face of such persistently widespread criticism, condemnation and demand, is it asking too much to express the hope that you will choose the correct way that is gaining momentum, to consider stepping down?

“I know that if I were in the president’s shoes, I would step down with immediate effect.”

The scandal is arguably the biggest yet to hit Mr Zuma, who has fended off accusations of corruption and cronyism since before he took office in 2009.

The public protector, an anti-corruption body, ruled in 2014 that $23m of public money had been improperly spent on Mr Zuma’s rural home in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province, and ordered him to reimburse part of the expense.

The president claimed he had acted “in good faith” and “never knowingly and deliberately set out to violate the constitution”.

“Any action that has been found not to be in keeping with the constitution happened because of a different approach and different legal advice,” he said, before issuing an apology for the “frustration” caused.

The case had been brought by two opposition parties, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).

They have launched impeachment proceedings against Mr Zuma, but these are unlikely to be successful because of the ANC’s large majority in parliament.

Source: BBC

We don’t work in the interest of a party – Okay replies NPP

Politics

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April 4, 2016

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We don’t work in the interest of a party – Okay replies NPP

The management of Okay FM and Neat FM is asking the New Patriotic Party to rescind its decision to boycott the two stations.

The management in a statement on Monday said it would ensure that the stations air programmes that would be in the larger interest of Ghanaians and not any political party.

The New Patriotic Party on Sunday said it was boycotting Okay FM and Neat FM, accusing the two of “consistently discussing all matters of the NPP with a negative slant”.

But the two stations said they have always been neutral with the way their programmes are run.

“It is our hope that you review your decision to boycott Okay FM and Neat FM. Our doors are always widely open to you as we all contribute our quota to develop our nation” it said.

Below is the stations’ statment

Re-NPP BOYCOTTS OKAY and NEAT FM

Management has had a long standing policy of providing a platform for the Ghanaian public to air their views on the various programs we host. As a company, we stand to be neutral and do not in any way manipulate our audience when we offer them our platform.

Since we commenced operations in the media industry, we have tried as a station to maintain our neutrality regardless of the political heat in the country at any given time. We do not intend nor have thought of creating a politically biased station in Ghana as we do understand the consequences of such a decision.

We appreciate you prompting us on your observations regarding two of our hosts, Kwame Nkrumah Tikesie and Adakabre Frimpong Manso. Management would ensure that our programs are in the larger interest of the Ghanaian public and not any political party.

It is our hope that you review your decision to boycott Okay FM and Neat FM. Our doors are always widely open to you as we all contribute our quota to develop our nation.

Source: tv3network.com

Bridegroom arrested by police during wedding ceremony

News

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April 4, 2016

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Bridegroom arrested by police during wedding ceremony

A wedding ceremony in Takoradi ended abruptly after policemen besieged the premises and arrested the bridegroom.

The event was being held at the Aldersgate Methodist Church at West Anaji in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis on Saturday April 2, 2016

The arrest is in connection with a robbery case at Aniamote, a community in the Wassa Amenfi District in the Western Region.

The suspect, Aaron Ackah is alleged to have robbed a Chinese Small scale miner of an amount of 18,000 Ghana cedis after inflicting knife wounds on his left hand.

A civilian who led the police to the wedding venue says the couple had just completed the exchange of vows and the officiating minister was just about to usher them into the wearing of rings when two plain clothed police officers who had been detailed from Bogoso entered suddenly and whisked the bridegroom away after using one of the invitation cards to confirm his identity.

The joy and excitement that had filled the venue of the ceremony was cut short as many of the awe stricken guests started weeping and wailing.

The bride, Rebecca Buah was reported to have collapsed after the arrest.

The suspect, Aaron, 30, has since been taken to Prestea for further investigation.

Source: Ewurama Smith | 3FM | tv3network.com

NPP boycotts Okay FM and Neat FM

Politics

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April 3, 2016

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NPP

The New Patriotic Party says it has with immediate effect boycotted all political programmes on two radio stations owned by the Despite Group of Companies.

The NPP in a statement issued on Sunday accused Okay FM and Neat FM of “consistently discussing all matters of the NPP with a negative slant”.

“The New Patriotic Party (NPP) wishes to inform its members, supporters, and sympathisers that the Party has decided to boycott all political programmes on Okay FM and Neat FM, with immediate effect,” the NPP said.

According to the party, “The mission and vision of the stations currently seem to be to destroy the NPP.”

Okay

Below is the full statement

NPP BOYCOTTS OKAY and NEAT FM
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) wishes to inform its members, supporters, and sympathisers that the Party has decided to boycott all political programmes on Okay FM and Neat FM, with immediate effect.

Programs on the two stations which are hosted by Kwame Nkrumah Tikesie and Adakabre Frimpong Manso respectively have in recent months developed a format to consistently discuss all matters of the NPP with a negative slant. These programs have also concentrated on encouraging submissions which denigrate and insult the Party and its Flagbearer.

Several letters, phone calls and face to face discussions between us and other management members, the producers and host of the programmes, to desist from this unethical practice of journalism have gone unheeded.

The mission and vision of the stations currently seem to be to destroy the NPP.
The NPP is a firm believer and practitioner of multi-party democracy, with freedom of expression as its cornerstone, but the Party also believes in the exercise of this freedom with responsibility, and in this case, professionalism.

Party executives, communications officers and members have been advised to desist from speaking or patronizing the stations political programs with immediate effect.
…Signed…

Anthony Abayifaa Karbo
(Deputy Director of Communications)

Source: tv3network.com

British Airways to boost on-business service for SME’s

Business

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April 3, 2016

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British Airways to boost on-business service for SME’s

The longest serving airline in Ghana, British Airways has hinted of improving its On-Business proposition to make it the mainstay of the airline.

British Airways has also indicated that the decision was taken with small and medium sized businesses in mind.

This was revealed by the Country Manager of British Airways in Ghana, Kevin Leung during a media interaction in Accra where he further indicated that it is part of moves to improve its offering to small and medium-sized businesses.

Mr Leung said “On Business isn’t complicated. It isn’t supposed to be. In fact simplicity was one of the things companies said they wanted when we did our research.

“That’s why we did away with the somewhat clumsy system of rewarding members on the distance travelled and instead introduced a return on spend. Importantly this isn’t just on the fare but also on carrier-imposed charges such as the fuel surcharge.”

British Airways has been in Ghana for almost 80 years. In that time it has seen the country develop into one of Africa’s most important economies and the gateway to the West African sub-region.

In recent years British Airways has invested over £5bn in its global operations and Ghana has certainly not been left out of this investment – a significant amount of this investment has gone into customer convenience and efficient operation.

As an international airline serving some 200 destination in nearly 90 countries we understand, more than most, the important link between efficient, modern airlinks and successful business.

Back in the early 1970s it was said that the iconic Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, shrunk the world by making long-haul travel affordable. But it is the internet that has really shrunk the world. “Today I can search for and buy anything from a favourite tea blend to a safari holiday online.

“While this ‘always-on’ global economy has certainly posed challenges to businesses, it has also opened up immense opportunities. That is what today’s presentation is about – providing small and medium Ghanaian businesses avenues to spread their wings and explore opportunities to prosper.

We’re well aware that travel expenditure is one of the budget items which business will look to pare back when belts need tightening. But we also know that when every deal counts, every contract is vital and each client encounters a potential make or break, there’s no substitute for doing business face-to-face” Mr. Leung added.

And this is the dilemma for small and medium businesses. Unlike large corporates which can leverage their substantial global buying power to negotiate travel deals with airlines, smaller businesses have limited scope to stretch their spend.

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|tv3network.com|Ghana
Twitter: @NewsyMartin

Mobiweb & Cava to give free training to Ghanaian entrepreneurs

Technology

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April 2, 2016

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Mobiweb & Cava to give free training to Ghanaian entrepreneurs

Mobile Web Ghana, giant in mobile technology and entrepreneurship training in collaboration with US-based Cava consulting, will on Tuesday April 5^th, 2016 provide free profit making training to Ghanaian entrepreneurs and businesses, at Mobile Web Ghana’s training centre in Accra.

The goal of this partnership is to provide Ghanaian entrepreneurs, businesses and start-ups with in-depth coverage of modern marketing techniques as well as foundational understanding into advanced marketing.

This training will employ the adult-learning to approach to demystify the most complex marketing concepts to participants.

Global business consultant at Global Business Consulting Cava Consulting in the US, F.J Cava, will be the facilitator for the one-day training session.

Mr. Cava has had various professional experiences with top multinational companies like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Renaissance Entrepreneurship and Inveneo.

He has over 20 plus years background in functional project management (time, quality & cost management), as well as extensive experience in small business & international development for job creation.

Furthermore, he is highly versed in multiple international settings with a fluency in French, American Sign Language and native English speaker.

Florence Toffa, Director of Mobile Web Ghana said, “We realized many Ghanaian entrepreneurs, businesses and start-ups, spend a lot on marketing, but fail to meet their financial targets”.

“Participants for this training workshop, will be taken through the rudiments of technology-based marketing in a flexible and relaxed manner, so they can maximize their business profits without spending much,” Florence added.

Mobile World runs mobile entrepreneurship training programs.

Over the years, several Experts in the field come and teach some selected modules.

During the training sessions, trainees also develop their own services, with the help of the trainers.

They follow up sessions with periods of mentorship and incubation, where promising projects can be developed further, and moved towards becoming commercial services.

They have modules for developers, designers, students, entrepreneurs, government employees, journalists, technology enthusiasts and others target groups.

Source: tv3network.com|Ghana