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NPP has never admitted its wrong doings – Kofi Adams

Politics

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March 23, 2016

National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Kofi Adams has lashed out at the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), stating that the party has never admitted to its own wrong doings in the country.

The NPP on Tuesday admitted to bringing in three South African ex-police officers to train some locals in the Central Region as bodyguards for its presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, and his running mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,

A leading member of the NPP, Dr. Amoako Tuffuor, had supported the party’s position on the issue, saying training of locals by the three ex-police officers was an individual and a group right which can be practised in a democratic country within the confines of the law.

But speaking on Accra-based 3FM on Wednesday, March 23, Mr Adams asked: “Has the NPP ever admitted to anything that is wrong in this country when they do it?”

He said the lies in interviews granted by NPP’s members like Nana Akomea, Sammy Awuku and Perry Okudzeto to the media shows the falsehood being peddled.

“I am not surprised by the way they are speaking because the NPP has not admitted to anything they have done that is wrong.

“We all know that the NPP has retired security persons who are working with them so why then would they import persons from outside?

“If it’s about crowd control then I don’t think the NPP has any case of bringing in South African Police personnel because their record in crowd control is very poor.

“This is a country where police officers shoot directly at workers during a simple worker demonstration not too long ago.

“Whoever brought these men should be held responsible and I must say the NPP were very concerned when the GITMO detainees were brought into the country but they have secretly brought in people who are training more persons and it’s a big worry”.

By Nana Afrane Asante|tv3network.com|Ghana

DPS International Boss wins top award

Education

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March 23, 2016

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Mukesh Thakwani

The Director of the Delhi Public School (DPS) International, Ghana, Mukesh Thakwani has been rewarded for his immense contribution to education by the prestigious European Business Assembly (EBA).

He was crowned winner of the European Quality Award under the cooperation of Social Partnership in the United Kingdom (UK).

According to EBA, factors considered for the award are staff qualification, introduction of modern forms of management, work experiences of staff and social projects involvement.

Other factors considered by the Great Britain and Ireland Patent office include academics, awards, infrastructural development, and investment in education, the level of presence in the mass media, the effectiveness of the corporate website and quotation in the national and international searching systems, among others.

The recognition meant that, the educational services offered by DPS International, Ghana, meets international standards and of consistently high quality, winning fame at the regional and national levels.

By winning this award, the school will be included in the official register of leading enterprises and educational establishments by the EBA.

Aside defending the Spelling Bee contest in Ghana for two consecutive years, DPS International has chalked yet another triple success at both local and international level.

Ms. Inhere Baek, a student from DPS International, Ghana emerged the second runner-up in the last American Mathematics Competition (AMC) held in Ghana and organized by the Mathematics Association of America (MAA).

Also, five students from the school who participated in the Science Olympia Examination in Science, Mathematics, English and Information Communication and Technology, were ranked number one at the international level.

The competition which had over 13, 000 students participating had the students from DPS International, Ghana crowned as winners in the various categories.

Two students, also of the school, Rutuja Sonawane and Ellen Donkor emerged first runner-up and 5th position holder respectively out of the hundreds of students who submitted entries in the maiden edition of the innovative Access Bank’s Budding Writer’s Competition.

The competition was organised to unearth talents and promote the culture of writing and reading amongst the youth in the country.

Each winner took home a cash prize and souvenirs for showcasing exceptional talent.

In the DSTV Star Award, the first runner-up for Ghana was a student from DPS International, after an outstanding performance.

Mr. Mukesh Thakwani, the Director of the DPS International, Ghana said the school is dedicated to maintaining its historic strength in education by supporting its students and giving them the very best through the provision of high -quality learning experience in a friendly and supportive environment.

As investment in education is the best tool a parent could afford a child, the director of the school promised to continue investing in DSP International, Ghana to enable the school excel in various competitions.

He pointed out that beside the commitment to academic excellence, the school makes concerted efforts to develop the personality of the children through various activities such as creative writing, sports, public speaking, art and craft, drama, martial arts and dancing.

“All these activities are encapsulated in the curriculum to enhance the confidence of the children who can make great strides towards their goal as torch bearers and trailblazers,” he indicated.

On his part, David Raj, Principal of the School assured that the school will continue to provide quality education for the students to enable them emerge winners in every competition and be able to meet the challenge of today’s market demands.

According to him, the futuristic teaching methodology and excellent guidance provided by a highly qualified and dedicated faculty is instrumental in creating an invigorating and competitive ambience for grooming the children to become all-rounders.

Mr. Mukesh Thakwani, Director of DPSI and Chairman of B5-Plus Steel Company, with the European Quality Award.

Mr. David Raj, Headmaster of the Delhi Public School International (DPSI).

The European Quality Award by the Europe Business Assembly awarded to Mr. Mukesh Thakwani, Director of DPSI and Chairman of B5-Plus Steel Company.

Trump and Clinton win big in Arizona

World

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March 23, 2016

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clinton n trump US presidential front-runners, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, have continued their winning streaks, taking Arizona.

The issue of immigration loomed large in the south-western state, the biggest prize in the latest round of contests.

Polls showed that Mr Trump’s anti-immigration message resonated with the state’s conservative voters.

With Arizona’s growing Latino population, Mrs Clinton continued her success by courting minority voters.

Keeping his campaign in the race, Democrat Bernie Sanders decisively won caucuses in two smaller states, Idaho and Utah.

The Utah Republican caucuses were won by Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

During a victory speech in Seattle, Mrs Clinton addressed the terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday, pushing back against the Republican candidates’ response to the bombings.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Trump reiterated his plan to ban Muslims from travelling to US and suggested that the US should torture terrorism suspects.

“We live in a complex and dangerous world,” Mrs Clinton said. “And we need a commander-in-chief that can provide leadership that is strong, smart and above all steady in taking on these threats.

The last thing we need are leaders who incite more fear,” she said, alluding to Mr Trump.

The Republican primary in Arizona was a winner-take-all race, adding 58 delegates to Mr Trump’s sizable lead.

The property tycoon’s win complicates efforts by Mr Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich to stop him from securing a majority of delegates.

If Mr Trump falls short in the delegate count, the party could hold a brokered or contested convention where party leaders, not voters, choose the nominee.

However, that scenario is looking less likely as Mr Trump continues to win states.

Arizona residents’ preference for early voting, with many mailing in their ballots, may have affected the race.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who left the race on 15 March, has secured more than 70,000 votes thus far.

As the final voters headed to the polls on Tuesday, the Republican race took another nasty turn.

Mistakenly believing the Cruz campaign had produced an attack advert about his wife Melania, Mr Trump on Twitter threatened to “spill the beans” on Mr Cruz’s wife, Heidi.

Mr Cruz responded saying his campaign did not produce the advert, calling Mr Trump “classless” and a “coward”.

Source: BBC

GOIL reduces diesel prices at the pump

Business

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March 23, 2016

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Customers of Ghana Oil Company Limited [GOIL] will from this morning enjoy four pesewas on every litre of diesel purchased at the pumps from any of its service stations across the country.

This means vehicle owners will save 18 pesewas on every gallon of diesel bought at Goil stations this Easter season, a statement issued and signed by the Corporate Affairs Manager, Rosemond Awotwi Frempong announced.

The Company said its decision to announce a reduction in diesel price, barely a week after prices of various petroleum products went up at the pumps, forms part of its corporate social responsibility “towards cushioning consumers during the Easter festivities”.

GOIL is one of the few Oil Marketing Companies that has a competitive fuel prices on the market.

By tv3network.com|Ghana

Braimah v Kwarasey highlight of tough Grant calls

Sports

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March 23, 2016

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Braimah v Kwarasey highlight of tough Grant calls

These days you can pick the starting line up of the Black Stars without much stress but when Avram Grant sits down to plan his starting line up, he will have a big decision to make about who the first choice goalkeeper for the game will be.

Razak Braimah has been first choice goalkeeper throughout the qualifiers for the 2017 Nations Cup but he has had some horror moments and the return of Adam Kwarasey means there is more competition than ever.

There was a time when Braimah always knew he would be in post. Fatau Dauda was his main competition but Kwarasey provides formidable opposition.

The USA-based goalkeeper had a terrific season with Portland Timbers in the MLS as he pulled off save after save to help them to the league title there.

But he has not played for Ghana since that 2014 world cup opening defeat to the USA and in that period, Braimah has built a good understanding with the backline. In Kwarasey’s defence he has played with that backline for a long time with the exception of left back Baba Rahman.

It will not be with only goalkeeping that Grant will have some tough choices to make. Mubarak Wakasso has one place locked down in central midfield but Grant must decide whether it is Rabui Mohammed or Agyemang Badu who gets that slot with Afriyie Acquah also in the mix.

Then there are decisions to be made on the front men. Asamoah Gyan and Jordan Ayew will almost certainly start but Grant may have to find a way to fix in the in-form Frank Acheampong on the left side of attack and Majeed Warris who seems to have rediscovered his scoring touch.

So who do you think should get that goalkeeper’s spot? Braimah or Kwarasey? Vote in our Twitter poll on @tv3sportsgh

By TV3 Sports|Ghana

Maintaining Policy rate at 26% is the best decision – lecturer

Cartoon

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March 23, 2016

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Maintaining Policy rate at 26% is the best decision – lecturer

Bank of Ghana

A senior lecturer at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) Augustine Addo has lauded the decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to maintain its policy rate for the second time.

“I think it’s the best decision the Bank of Ghana has made for us,” he stated on 3 FM’s Sunrise morning show.

The bank late last year pegged the policy rate at 26 percent and maintained that rate during its first meeting for this year in January.

The monetary rate is the rate at which the central bank lends to commercial banks, it is also used by banks to calculate their base rate.

Mr. Addo further explained, “The Bank of Ghana monitory policy basically is aimed at ensuring price stability and for that matter assist government or support government in its economic objectives including those of growth and employment.

“For example the last meeting put it at 26% and the indicators which necessitated the rate at 26% in the last meeting have not changed.

“In fact if you look at the press release the Bank of Ghana gave out to support the retention of the rate at 26%, it clearly indicates the factors and to me it’s the best decision the Bank of Ghana has made.

“The objective going forward is to ensure that inflation does not go up and we are able to maintain stability.”
By Nana Afrane Asante| tv3network.com | Ghana

‘Two brothers’ behind Brussels attack

World

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March 23, 2016

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Two of the men who carried out attacks in Brussels on Tuesday have been named by Belgian media as the brothers Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui.

The RTBF broadcaster said the pair were known to police. It is believed at least one was among three suspects seen in a CCTV image at Zaventem airport.

Twin explosions at the airport and another at a metro station on Tuesday left about 34 dead and 250 wounded.

Belgium is observing three days of national mourning.

So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it was behind the attacks and warned that more would follow.

A minute’s silence for the victims will be held at midday (11:00 GMT).

RTBF said the brothers were known to police and had criminal records.

The broadcaster said that Khalid el-Bakraoui had used a false name to rent the flat in the Forest area of the Belgian capital where police killed a gunman in a shootout last week.

It was during that raid that police found a fingerprint of Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the Paris terror attacks of 13 November.

He was arrested in a raid in Brussels last Friday and is due to appear before a pre-trial court on Wednesday.

It is not known if both of the brothers are in the CCTV image handed out by police of the three men at the airport.

Some Belgian media say that one of the brothers may have carried out the metro attack.

Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure said Khalid el-Bakraoui was being sought for terrorist activities while Ibrahim was reportedly on the run after a sentence for other criminal activity.

La Derniere Heure also said that the man wearing the hat in the airport CCTV image is Najim Laachraoui.

Laachraoui was named earlier in the week by police as a wanted accomplice of Abdeslam.

‘Black day’

The three men were seen pushing trolleys carrying suspected bombs at Zaventem airport just before the blasts at a check-in hall.

Two of the men were wearing black gloves on their left hand, possibly hiding a suicide detonation device.

They were believed to have died in the attack. The third man was wearing no glove.

The airport explosions happened in quick succession shortly after 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT), killing about 14 people.

A third bomb was found and destroyed in a controlled detonation.

About an hour later another explosion ripped through a train at the Maelbeek metro station in the Belgian capital, killing about 20 people.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said Tuesday was “a day of tragedy, a black day”.

The country has raised its terrorism alert to the highest level.

Source: BBC

There is a hidden agenda against Fulanis in Ghana – President of Fulani Association

News

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March 23, 2016

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Fulani

President of the Fulani Association of Ghana Sheikh Osman Bari says he strongly believes there is a deliberate hidden agenda aimed at destabilising the Fulani community in Ghana.

The Fulani community in Ghana has in recent times been in the news for all the wrong reasons pertaining to robbery, killings, and rape amongst others.

The latest was the killing of two farmers last Sunday at Agogo in the Ashanti Region.

In an interview on 3FM’s Late Edition hosted by Alfred Ocansey, Sheikh Osman Bari bemoaned government’s efforts to curb the rising tension between the Fulanis and natives in surrounding communities, stating that he believed there was a clear-cut agenda against them in Ghana

“I raised the issue that our names, images and our integrity have always been in the mud and some people especially the media were not very just in treating the Fulani issues in the country.

“I strongly believe there is a deliberate agenda against Fulanis because in the history of this country these types of occurrences, incidents, conflicts and tensions have never been in the making so if it is now developing into the loss of lives, properties, animals, displacement of families and what have you then there must be a reason for why we have to think about this seriously as a nation and stand on our feet to get a solution to the problem.

Sheikh Osman contends that no arrests have so far been made to confirm allegations against Fulanis.

“If there is a pending tension and there is always a hangover conflict without finding a lasting solution to it once and for all then it will always lead to these types of things which are very unfortunate,” he noted.

“Let us go to the roots to try and address the issues squarely and arrive at a very concrete and proactive solution and proposal to get the situation to rest once and for all.”

He urged the police to act proactively to arrest the situation before it escalates to another level especially when there are reports they have resolved to flash out Fulanis from Agogo and other areas.

“We have been repeating the same allegations, claims and counterclaims since the year 2000 such as armed robbery, raping killing and all the others without addressing the issue at stake squarely.”

By Nana Afrane Asante|tv3network.com|Ghana

Brussels attacks: Airport bombing suspect ‘arrested’

World

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March 23, 2016

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A key suspect in the attacks in Brussels has been arrested, Belgian media say, quoting judicial sources.

Some Belgian media say he is Najim Laachraoui, thought to be the man on the right in a CCTV image taken before the Zaventem airport attack.

Two of the other attackers have been named in Belgian media as the brothers Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui.

Twin explosions at the airport and another at a metro station on Tuesday left about 34 dead and 250 wounded.

Belgium is observing three days of national mourning and held a minute’s silence for the victims at midday (11:00 GMT).

So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it was behind the attacks and warned that more would follow.

There has been no official confirmation of the latest arrest or the identity of any of the attackers.

Newspaper La Derniere Heure said Laachraoui was detained by the police’s counter-terrorism unit in the capital’s Anderlecht area on Wednesday.

Analysts say Laachraoui is believed to be a key bomb maker, and French media say he also played a major role in the terrorist attacks in Paris in November that left 130 people dead.

First victim named

Earlier the RTBF broadcaster identified the el-Bakraoui brothers, saying that Brahim was a suicide bomber at Zaventem airport, where about 14 people died, and Khalid was the suicide bomber at the Maelbeek metro station, where some 20 people were killed.

It said the brothers were known to police and had criminal records.

The broadcaster, quoting a police source, said that Khalid el-Bakraoui, 27, had used a false name to rent the flat in the Forest area of the Belgian capital where police killed a gunman in a shootout last week.

It was during that raid that police found a fingerprint of Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the Paris terror attacks of 13 November.

He was arrested in a raid in Brussels last Friday and is due to appear before a pre-trial court on Wednesday.

Khalid el-Bakraoui is on the Interpol website. It says he is being sought for terrorist activities.

RTBF said Khalid was jailed for five years in 2011 for car-jacking while Brahim, 30, was sentenced in October 2010 for firing at police.

Brahim el-Bakraoui is believed to be in the middle of the CCTV image taken at Zaventem airport and released by police.

He and the man on the left were believed to have been killed in the airport attack.

The first of the victims to be named is Peruvian Adelma Tapia Ruiz, 37.

She had been at Zaventem airport with her Belgian husband and twin four-year-old daughters, who were unharmed, her brother told Peruvian radio.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said Tuesday was “a day of tragedy, a black day”.

The country has raised its terrorism alert to the highest level.

Source: BBC

10,000 jobs for Ghanaian entrepreneurs soon

Business

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March 23, 2016

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10,000 jobs for Ghanaian entrepreneurs soon

House

Ten thousand Ghanaian youth and entrepreneurs are to be employed for the Accra Business Processing Outsourcing [BPO] to be launched by President John Dramani Mahama.

The Centre is expected to lease out spaces for BPO, advancement of software development and IT training services among other services. The initiative is under the auspices of the Ministry of Communications in partnership with Rockefeller Foundation and the World Bank

As part of activities to launch the initiative, a stakeholder’s dialogue was held Tuesday in Accra to deliberate on the intricacies of the project and to devise measures to sustain its implementation and practicability.

Addressing participants at the forum, the Deputy Communications Minister, Mr Ato Sarpong, commended the efforts of the Rockefeller Foundation and the World Bank in the improvement of IT and its related studies in the country.

He stated that the facility commenced from 2011 when the Communications Ministry and an IT enabled service group began the process of actualizing intent of getting a huge BFO centre in Ghana.

The Managing Director of the Africa Regional Office at the Rockefeller Foundation, Mr Mamadou Biteye, said his outfit is committed towards the transformation of the health systems in the country to promote universal health coverage.

“When I look at the portfolio of programmes of the Rockefeller foundation in Africa, Ghana is the only country all aspects of the foundation’s work are present,” he said.

Auguster Boateng|Onua95.1FM

Tigo Digital Change-maker winner equips children with ICT skills

Technology

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March 23, 2016

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The co-winner of 2015 Tigo Digital Change-maker competition, Josephine Marie Godwyll, has embarked on a drive to empower children with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills in a bid to help children utilise technology as a learning tool.

In partnership with Tigo Ghana, the country’s leading digital lifestyle brand, an initiative called ‘Diggie Fair’ was held for over 150 students aged between 5 and 15 years from the True Love School at Agyrigano in Accra.

Children were engaged in various activities including Hackathon, digital cinema, virtual reality show, robotics and digital art.

Volunteers including Tigo staff also engaged the children in a discussion on ‘How Mobile Technologies Work’.

“For this first fair our theme was ‘leading children to unlock the mysteries of digital technology’. We want to shape the mind-set of children to see ICT as a tool for solving problems and not just for playing games,” explained young social entrepreneur Marie Godwyll, who runs an organisation called ‘Young At Heart Ghana’.

With her budding organisation, Marie Godwyll hopes to champion a revolution of digital literacy and creativity among Ghanaian children through workshops, digital innovators clubs, and digital innovators fairs to expose children to concepts like robotics, programming, and art with computers.

Looking back, says Marie Godwyll, “The Tigo Digital Change-maker competition has given me the needed boost in realizing my dreams of helping children appreciate and enhance their ICT skills.

“I can only imagine what the next generation will be able to achieve and the problems they will be encouraged to solve using ICT as a tool, but it all depends on exposing them to its utility at an early age.”

A trained Geomatic Engineer, Marie Godwyll was introduced to the computer and its functionalities at an early age of five, and she strongly believes her interest and ability to creatively utilize digital tools as an Engineer were harnessed right from her childhood.

Source: tv3network.com|Ghana

Gov’t pledges support for GIJ e-library project

News

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March 22, 2016

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Gov’t pledges support for GIJ e-library project

Government has renewed its commitment towards assisting the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) with a fully equipped electronic library aimed at offering students sound IT education as demanded of experts in communication field of studies.

Government also promised to support the school financially towards early realization and completion of the school’s ongoing lecture hall complex project at its new site located at Dzorwulu, a suburb of Accra.

The Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Julius Debrah, gave the assurance in a speech read on his behalf by Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Minister of State at the Presidency, during GIJ’s graduation ceremony of the first batch of postgraduate students from the newly established School of Graduate Studies and Research.

The Ghana Institute of Journalism has trained a dedicated corps of journalists and public relations professionals for the media and communication industry since its inception in 1959.

But unfortunately the school is currently faced with infrastructure problems, which the management is trying to solve through the use of internally generated funds.

The Chief of Staff in his speech called on the rector of GIJ, Dr. Wilberforce Dzisah, to liaise with the Ministry of Communication, National Communications Authority including GIFEC and other relevant bodies with regard to the E-library Project before keeping his office posted.

“In this era of technology, I assure you that government will not relent in supporting the IT needs of this university especially the E-Library Project,” he posited.

The School of Graduate Studies and Research (SOGSaR) under the GIJ honoured the first batch of 90 students who successfully completed 15-month master degrees programmes in Journalism, Public Relations, Media Management and Development Communication.

The colourful graduation ceremony was highly patronized by an array of government officials, students from other tertiary institutions, friends and families of the graduands as well the general public.

The first batch of graduating students was officially admitted to start their programme of study in October 2014 after GIJ had received the nod from the National Accreditation Board on 1^st September, 2013.

Out of the 99 students admitted, 90 of them have been honoured with postgraduate degrees within their chosen four areas of discipline.

Eight of these graduands offered journalism, whilst 15 of them read Media management, Public Relations -27 and Development Communication 30. A total of 53 of these graduands are male whilst 37 are females.

Government also lauded the management of the school for the frantic effort made in seeking public private partnership (PPP) to build hostels at the new campus.

Delivering his address during ceremony, Dr. Wilberforce Dzisah, Rector of GIJ said: “The catalyst behind the introduction of these specialised fields in communications and media has been the need to fill an intellectual and professional gap identified in our educational and national development.

“As we continue to review and critically assess our curriculum and its impact on national development, it dawned on me us that there is a gap to be filled in order to address the inherent weaknesses in media and communications as a useful corollary in national development,” he said.

The School of Graduate Studies and Research was established on February 12, 2014 and unveiled by the Chairman of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), Prof. C N. B. Tagoe.

The institute has awarded some deserving students who excelled in their chosen fields of studies during the 15-month master degrees programmes.

By Joseph Kobla Wemakor|GIJ, Accra|Ghana

Special report on the impact of online predators

Special Reports

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March 22, 2016

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Special report on the impact of online predators

Court dismisses Zanetor Rawlings’ no jurisdiction motion

News

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March 22, 2016

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Court dismisses Zanetor Rawlings’ no jurisdiction motion

An Accra High Court has dismissed a motion filed by Dr. Zanetor Rawlings challenging the court’s jurisdiction in a case where she has been sued over her eligibility to contest the Klottey Korle NDC parliamentary primary.

According to Dr. Rawlings’ lawyers, such constitutional matters should be left with the Supreme Court to interpret.

But the court on Tuesday ruled that it has jurisdiction and therefore threw out the motion.

The High Court also awarded 2,500 Cedis cost against Dr zanetor for wasting the court’s time.

The incumbent Klottey Korle MP Nii Armah Ashitey, who was defeated in the NDC primary, is challenging the propriety of the daughter of former President Rawlings to contest the seat on the ticket of the NDC since she is not a registered voter.

The Electoral Commission has confirmed that Dr. Rawlings is not a registered voter in Ghana.

Nii Armah