INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM HELD IN MEMORY OF DR.KWAME NKRUMAH IN GHANA

The Socialist Forum of Ghana in Collaboration with the all African Revolutionary Party (AARP) held an international symposium at the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana in memory of the 103^rd anniversary of the birth of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah the first president of the Republic of Ghana. In attendance of the symposium were Members of the Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG), the All African Revolutionary Party (AARP),members of the central committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Ghanaians of all walks of life to pay glowing tributes to Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the greatest Africa’s revolutionary leader of all times.

 Dr Kwame Nkrumah is affectionately referred to as 'Father Africa' for his sterling stance in liberating Ghana and the rest of the continent from colonial rule.

 Ghana is Africa's first country south of the Sahara to attain independence in 1957, many thanks to Dr Nkrumah, who led the fearless approach towards the road to freedom and democracy that many African countries are enjoying today. But unfortunately, Nkrumah was overthrown in a coup d’état on the 24^th of February, 1966 which was masterminded by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Libration Council (NLC) which brought many infrastructural development to a stand still.

 Commander Jorge Risquet Valdes who led the delegation of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party recalled how the Cuban People stood by the African People through Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Patrice Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of Congo who was also assassinated by the CIA and the Belgian government in 1960. Commander Valdes charged the African People to say no to neo colonialism and imperial power being perpetuated by the so called civilized nation who think their philosophies and ideologies are always right and try to impose these philosophies and ideologies onto others. He reiterated Cuba commitment and support to African freedom fighters who still persue the cause to defeat imperial power on the continent.

Comrade Kwesi Pratt who is the chairman for the Socialist Forum of Ghana also sent a strong warning to the imperial powers to desist from meddling in the affairs of the African continent since the African people will resist this with all their strength. He said the overthrown of Nkrumah and the assassination of Patrice Lumumba had had a negative impact on the African continent since the imperial power still operate on the continent with impunity. He encouraged African government to make the conscious effort of improving the standard of living of their people and should not listen to the colonial power who he describes as hypocrites. He urged the people of Ghana to show maturity in the upcoming December elections for the country is regarded as the beacon of democracy on the continent and there is the need to protect this hard won reputation with all commitment and sacrifice.

NANA AKUFO ADDO LAUNCHES E-CAMPAIGN

SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE NPP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, AT THE e Dialogue AT THE KOFI ANNAN ICT CENTRE

 on Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 4:00pm ·

SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE NPP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, AT THE eDIALOGUE HELD AT THE KOFI ANNAN ICT CENTRE ON 16TH SEPTEMBER 2012



Thank you for joining me here at the Kofi Annan ICT Centre, and online, to introduce everyone to my official website, and to my Twitter and Facebook pages and the launching of my e-campaign.

Those of you here and those who are joining us from around the country and around the world are part of this new exciting world of computers, of the internet and its wonders, of Facebook and of search engines. The contents of encyclopaedias are available on your telephones and calculations that used to take hours for mathematicians to make can be accessed on your iPads.

We need to build a knowledge-based economy, and that begins by making sure all our children have access to ICT. If we in Ghana are to make the transformation of our economy that is crucial to our survival and that will create the hundreds of thousands of jobs that young people deserve, we need to plug fully into what ICT has to offer. I am happy that so many of you have the modern technological expertise and you can compete with the best in the world, but we need to expand access further. It is important therefore that you do not keep the opportunities and insights various social media have given you to yourselves. Spread the word! Share with others how it has transformed your everyday lives.

Not so long ago, to spread the news about an event could take days or even  weeks. But here we are, as I speak, my speech is being watched live on my YouTube channel, youtube.com/nanaakufoaddo2012, whilst real-time updates are on Facebook and Twitter.

With access to information, we can transform Ghana. As the Good Book says, “my people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). For example, increased access to information and better communication links will help us make informed choices about all facets of our economy.

I envisage a presidency under which the Ghanaian child goes for computer lessons in his or her school’s well-equipped computer laboratory with internet access. And this child will go on to appreciate the unparalleled access to the global village that this technology offers.

As information becomes more readily available, every policy initiative is now dissected, discussed, argued and promoted on Facebook. Often there is no intermediary between those of you accessing on social media and the politician. You are able to make your own minds up and make your own references. This has put enormous power in the hands of the citizenry and this is good for our democracy. Reaction and feedback are instantaneous and the population can have real influence on policy issues.

I have been engaging with young people via my website and social media since 2007. With encouragement from my daughters, I signed up on Facebook in 2007. I subsequently realized how engaging this social network was as I interacted with Ghanaians all over the country and in the diaspora and with friends of Ghana, some of whom are present with us in this room today. For example, yesterday, I was able to participate in a fund-raising event in Cologne, Germany without being physically there, thanks to Skype.  Photos and reports from my tours around the country are uploaded regularly and issues affecting the youth especially are discussed with a lot of vigour. The number of ‘likes’ and comments have been useful in moulding my ideas on the issues that matter to the youth. I have been reading your emails too, and try as much as possible, to respond to as many of them as I can and when I can.

My website, akufoaddo2012.com, is live with the policies and programmes that will transform Ghana under an Akufo-Addo presidency. There are daily debates on Facebook as to whether our Free SHS policy can truly be rolled out. My status updates are clear on what this policy has to offer, where funds will be gotten from and how much difference that will make to the lives of our young people.

And since the NPP as a party is known to deliver on the promises it makes to the people of Ghana, do not hesitate to ‘share’ my thoughts on the Free SHS Policy. You can also send me messages via Facebook on any clarifications or inputs you may have.

But most importantly keep tweeting the fact that a Free-SHS policy is possible and an Akufo-Addo/Bawumia presidency will execute it to the letter. Let us use the hashtag #freeSHSinGhana and spread the word. By so doing we will follow a path on which our children are ensured a brighter and prosperous future and unfollow the path of empty promises and corrupt and incompetent governance.

The Akufo-Addo social network sites and e-campaign are duly launched. The future is bright, join us and lets transform Ghana.
CREDIT:NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO ADDO-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY IN GHANA FOR THE 2012 ELECTIONS.

GOVERNMENT OF GHANA SETTLES STRIKING CONSULTANTS

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has served notice that government has fulfilled its part of the bargain by paying the extra duty allowance of consultants of the Komfo Anokye and Korle Bu Teaching Hospitals respectively.
The Minisrty of Health has therefore called on the striking consultants of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to call off their strike that has resulted in some deaths at the hospital.
A press statement issued on Friday evening by the Ministry of Health said: “The Ministry of Health has written a cheque payable into the extra duty allowance accounts of the consultants of both Komfo Anokye and Korle bu Teaching hospitals following an emergency Labour Commission meeting with representatives of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the Ministry of Health and the Fair Wages Commission (FWC) on Wednesday, the 12th of September, 2012.”
It added: “The MoH, albeit under severe cashflow constraints, has soon after the meeting directed payment. It is therefore expected that the leadership of GMA would implement the third directive of the Labour Commission which is to call off the strike action by the Consultants of KATH and ‘immediately resume normal duties.’”
“Whilst active steps are being taken to collaborate with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to ensure that outstanding allowances owed the consultants for the second quarter of 2012 are paid within two weeks as further directed by the NLC, the Ministry is calling on the Consultants to honour their part of the bargain by returning to work
“Indeed, the Government, through the Ministry is working hard in collaboration with the Fair Wages Commission to streamline the current challenges faced by health worker emoluments under the single spine salary arrangement. The Ministry is therefore calling on all stakeholders in the health sector to exercise restraint and not to give up on their patients and country,” the statement added.

MEDIA FOUNDATION FOR WEST AFRICA WORRIED

Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has expressed sadness at how the country’s democratic discourse has turned into ‘rumour mongering’, ‘superstition’ and ‘hatred’ and says the trend must be reversed without further delay.

“We should look at the content of our democratic discourse. The current situation poses danger to the very democratic system that we are seeking to consolidate,” he complained.

The devoted media rights activist was speaking in Accra yesterday at a forum by MFWA in collaboration with Freedom House Inc. to get the approval of the various political parties on a draft proposal for the amendment of sections of the Criminal Offences Act, Act 29 of 1960.

According to MFWA, the amendment has become possible because certain sections of Act 29 have been identified to be ‘inconsistent’ with freedom of speech as outlined in the 1992 Constitution and it wants the political parties to state their commitment before they are elected into office so that the public could hold them accountable.

In attendance were representatives of political parties including the Convention People’s Party (CPP), People’s National Convention (PNC), Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

However, invited representatives from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) failed to turn up for the forum.

Prof. Karikari said “reckless use of freedom is a process of undermining freedom”, adding “the balancing of responsibility of freedom is important as we go into another election.”

He said recklessness in the media landscape is eroding the democratic gains made by Ghana and the lack of certain media regulations had enabled politicians to use the system to promote their parochial agenda to the detriment of the development of the country.

“We have produced our critique and we are not saying it is beyond critique. We want the inputs of the political actors as well as their commitment to implementing these amendments when they get the chance to rule the country.”

Thomas Nuako Ward-Brew, founder of DPP said the courts did not have difficulty in applying Act 29. However, he said the problem lies with how political parties in power have sought to use the judicial system to apply the law.

He described excesses in the media as “dangerous” development that must be dealt with without hesitation.

Yaw Buaben Asamoah of the NPP said move by MFWA is “a logical extension for the indecent speech project being embarked upon by the foundation and must be encouraged.”

He said the time has come for all stakeholders to look at issues of concern while attempting to liberalise the media landscape saying “further legislation to liberalise the media without first addressing current excesses in the media would add to the problems.”

“It is going to be a hard journey of advocacy but whatever comes up it must stand the test of time and the NPP is fully in support of the foundation’s efforts.”

Nii Akomfra of the CPP said the party’s legal committee is prepared to make their inputs into the draft to ensure that the law serves everybody well.

Justice Francis Emile Short, a former Commissioner of CHRAJ who chaired the forum said Ghanaians should not take freedom of speech and freedom of the media for granted.

In the end, all the representatives of the parties present said the move by MFWA was laudable but said they would need time to study and make their inputs, a suggestion which was agreed by the foundation.

 

CREDIT:DAILY GUIDE

AGGRIEVED STUDENTS SEEK REDRESS AT THE LAW COURT IN GHANA

Seventy nine students withdrawn by the Methodist University have taken a class action in court against the National Accreditation Board, the Ministry of Education and the University.

They are asking the Human Rights Court to declare their withdrawal as illegal and a violation on their rights to education.

The students were withdrawn because of deficiency in  their grades but they claim the action by the National Accreditation Board which was enforced by the university is wrong.

The students claim they satisfied all admission requirements before gaining admission into the university.

In a writ Joy News claim they have intercepted, the petitioners presented exhibits including adverts inviting applications into the institution all to back their claim that they satisfied all requirements before being admitted into the university.

Meanwhile,Counsel for the petitioners, Gary Nimako Marfo told your authoritative THE READER'S GUIDE that  he resorted to the court because the university as well as the National Accreditation Board (NAB) were intransigent in their bid to dismiss the students from the university.

He also made reference to exhibits of the NAB, certifying the adverts which were published in the newspapers.

He argued having certified those adverts as requirements based on which the students were admitted; NAB cannot turn around and unjustly withdraw the students.

He is praying the court to allow the students to return to school and a perpetual injunction placed on the powers of the NAB and Education Ministry as well as the Attorney General to withdraw the students.

Nimako Marfo will not accept the explanation that NAB had revised its admission policy which makes it impossible for students with deficient grades to enter into the university.

He said any such revision must not take retrospective effect.

But the Education Ministry has expressed surprise about the students’ action.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Paul Krampah, the sector Minister had amicably resolved the issue after setting a committee to look into the withdrawal.

He said the students were asked to re-sit the papers they failed at the WASSCE level at no cost to them as part of solution to the problem.

He was therefore shocked that the students have now dragged the Ministry as well as NAB and the university to court

BUREAU OF NATIONAL INVESTIGATION ARREST INTERNATIONAL FRAUDSTER IN GHANA

The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has arrested a man for allegedly orchestrating a fake coup plot by exiled Ivorians in Ghana.

The man, who masterminded the so-called coup plot, managed to convince the Ivorian authorities to arrest those purported to have planned the fake coup against the Ivorian government.

Prosper Tao Tsikata, 52, who has gained notoriety in advance fee fraud, popularly called "419", was arrested by the BNI on July 13,2012 pursuant to reports citing him for his involvement in the plot for his selfish and parochial interest.

Prosper was reported to have identified some Ivorian soldiers in Ghana and introduced himself to them as a retired Commissioned Officer of the Ghana Army who now runs a private security company, apparently impersonating Capt. Kojo Tsikata (retd), a former security boss in Ghana.

According to Notre Voie, an Ivorian newspaper, an anonymous French intelligence undercover agent was sent to Ghana to closely monitor the activities and movements of Ivorian soldiers in Ghana with the view to exposing possible acts of subversion directed at the Alhassane Ouattara government.

The newspaper in its issue dated June 25, 2012 published the story of the unnamed French agent which revealed that Prosper Tsikata was the mastermind of the alleged coup plot against the Ouattara government which led to the arrest of Col Kate Gnatoa and Lida Kouassi, both loyalists of the erstwhile Gbagbo regime, who until then, were in exile in Togo.

Lida Kouassi has been identified as a minister in the former government.

Briefing the Daily Graphic Monday, a Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said Tsikata managed to convince some of the soldiers that he was a sympathiser of former President Laurent Gbagbo and that not only was he capable, but interested in helping to topple the Ouattara government by way of pre-financing its overthrow with the requisite cash, arms, vehicles and other logistics.

He said while majority of the soldiers contacted were suspicious of the move, others decided to play ball.

Tsikata, according to Mr Ablakwa, proposed the idea of preparing a video recording to serve as a coup introductory declaration.

He said in the video recording, Col Gnatoa, who read the coup message, was flanked by six other exiled Ivorian soldiers, all in military uniforms and boots provided by Tsikata.

Mr Ablakwa said investigations later established that the video recording was done in Tsikata's private office near Top Herbal at Haatso in Accra.

According to him, one of the exiled soldiers, identified only as Stone, took custody of the video clip after an initial disagreement with Tsikata. He said Tsikata then travelled Abidjan and contacted the Ivorian government, particularly Hamed Bakayoko, the Ivorian Minister of the Interior, and informed him that some Ivorians resident in Ghana were preparing to overthrow the Ouattara government.

To carry out his plan of duping the Ivorian government, he said Tsikata returned to Ghana to inform Gnatoa and his group that he (Tsikata) had deployed a number of armed troops in Abidjan for the take-over and also made arrangement for the video clip to be played on national Television in Abidjan, with the view to causing confusion and chaos to facilitate the take-over by the Gbagbo loyalists.

Mr Ablakwa said Tsikata also informed Gnatoa that he (Gnatoa) was to become the next Head of State if the coup succeeded and advised Gnatoa to release the video clip to him (Tsikata).

He said Gnatoa subsequently asked Stone to "release the clip to Tsikata while they got ready to travel to Abidjan to execute the coup plot.

He said after taking possession of the clip, Tsikata took it to Bakayoko to convince him and the group that his information about the coup plot was real.

Mr Ablakwa said Tsikata was then paid $200,000 of the $12 million he demanded from the Ivorian government for helping it quell the coup.

According to him, Tsikata then returned to Ghana to lure Gnatoa to a hideout in Abidjan where he (Tsikata) later led armed men for Gnatoa's arrest.

Tsikata is believed to be of Nigerian origin, but has assumed Ghanaian status and operates his 419 business as a Ghanaian.

He is known to be a fraudster who hides behind the alias of Tsikata, a brand name in Ghana known within political circles to hoodwink unsuspecting persons, particularly prospective gold buyers, on his way to fleecing them of large sums of money.



Credit: Daily Graphic of Ghana

MAN NABBED FOR ILLEGAL ABORTION BY THE CID UNIT OF THE GHANA POLICE SERVICE DUE TO INVESTIGATION BY A JOURNALIST

A medical professional at a quintessentially clean, calm and quiet clinic at Madina in Accra has been arrested for performing illegal abortions and sleeping with thousands of women who have come under his knife.
'Dr. Joshua Drah' initially denied any charges made against him by the police but was visibly shocked when he was shown a video of his operations.
The story of Dr. Drah's arrest and the operations of his 'Universal Mission Clinic,' is told in full, in a documentary which will show on the Joy News Channel on MultiTV at 10pm Wednesday.
Lead investigator in the compilation of the documentary, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, said "The videos that we got were simply unbelievable. It was a peek into the activities of a man who has for over a decade demeaned womanhood, flouted laws of the land and supervised numerous abortions – some of which have gone horribly wrong leading to complications and death of clients in extreme cases."
When quizzed by the Police at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters about the absence of a sign board, 'Dr. Drah' explained that it was as a result of an expired operating license which he was working to renew.
For him, there was always a price to pay for an abortion. Beyond his fee of between GH¢50 and GH¢100 that is taken before the operation, there is for the beautiful clients an extra charge; Sex in the middle of an abortion.
In one footage, he explains why he has to have sex with a patient:
Doctor: It’s been a long time since you did the ‘thing’
Patient: What did you say?
Doctor: You did the ‘thing’ a long time ago.
Patient: You said I did what?
Doctor: You haven’t had sex in a long while.
Patient: Yeah!
Doctor: Eii! Your ‘thing’ is cute. If you won’t mind let’s have sex to open you up.
Patient: You said?
Doctor: I said if you won’t mind let’s have sex so that it will open you up.
Doctor: Or you don’t like that. Let me check and see. I’m doing this but the thing is rather closing up, why? Mm!
Patient: I don’t know.
Doctor: I’m inserting my fingers in there but it is still closing up why?
Patient: I don’t know.
Doctor: I have to do the ‘thing’ to open it up and you are saying no. I’ll just have to put it in there one, two, three that’s it, and then it will open up.
Patient: Ok!
Doctor: should I put it inside? Are you sure? Then come forward so I will put it inside. When I put it in there ‘one, two, three’ then that is it, it will be ok.
After Bout
Doctor: Push back.
Patient: She pushes back
Doctor: Good!
Patient: She makes small screams when the doctor starts the procedure.
On one occasion, as a girl lay on a bed in agonizing pain, the doctor upon being informed of the pain by an assistant, prescribed that she drinks ‘Malta Guinness’ – a non alcoholic beverage.
His clientele brought into sharp focus the issue of sexual enthusiasm that leads to teenage pregnancy allied with the dangerous and lethal issues of abortion, which was a first point of call to many girls.
 

CREDIT: ANAS AREMEYAW ANAS OF THE NEW CRUSADING GUIDE