I'll make Ghana the Star of Africa again – Akufo-Addo promises

President-elect, Nana Akufo Addo says with the right leadership and results oriented programmes, Ghana could rise out of the shackles of poverty and under development under his reign.

Addressing members of the Catholic Bishops Conference Friday, Nana Akufo Addo says Ghana has no excuse to be poor and pledged to work to ensure vibrant businesses in Ghana and reduced unemployment.

The bishops called on him to congratulate him on his electoral victory in the December 7 general elections.

President of the conference, Most Rev. Phillip Naameh wants the incoming government to focus attention on job creation and eradication of corruption and other social vices.

"Two days ago we met the outgoing president John Mahama and we expressed our appreciation and thanks for having exhibited a great sense of statesmanship by calling you to concede defeat before the Electoral Commission officially declared you the winner of this election.

All Ghanaian have once again, through this year's election exhibited the enviable democratic credential and have proven to the whole world that we are truly a God fearing and peace loving country.

He called on the Nana Addo leadership to have an "all inclusive government" that will address issues mitigating against the country's development.

He mentioned unemployment, bribery, corruption as some of the nagging issues that need urgent attention.

President elect, Nana Akufo Addo says his government will work to fulfil all promises made to Ghanaians in the run-up to the elections.

"My mandate is to get young people jobs," he said and assured that his government will not detract from that.

"We have the human material to be able to confront the challenges facing our country. There is no reason why our country should be poor," he noted.

"I am a firm believer in the concept of Ghana as the star of Africa," he reminded, and promised of a relentless effort at putting Ghana on the map.

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Harmattan grounds flights in Ghana

The hazy harmattan weather that has engulfed Accra for the past two days has compelled international and domestic airlines to temporarily suspend their flights due to poor visibility.

Passengers who were scheduled to travel outside of Ghana were stranded at the departure terminal of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Wednesday.

With regards to domestic flights, while some passengers resolved to wait until the haziness cleared, others resorted to travelling by road.

The dense fog arising out of the harmattan intensified in Accra on Tuesday.

Many flights were redirected to neighbouring Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire and Lagos in Nigeria on Wednesday.

A Delta Airlines flight which was coming to Accra Wednesday morning from JFK in New York was redirected to Lagos.

The Delta flight originally scheduled to depart from Accra at 10am was re-scheduled twice to 12pm, 1:30pm and later to Thursday at 6pm.

Some of the checked-in passengers have been put at hotels whilst others have returned home.

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Akufo-Addo’s salary pegged at GHC22,000

President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be taking home GHC22,809 every month upon assumption of office.

This was captured in the Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh committee report which was tasked to recommend emoluments for Article 71 office holders and sighted by citifmonline.com.

Soon to be Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will also receive GHc20,529 each month.

The report was duly approved by Parliament last week after series of closed door meetings.

The committee was set up by President John Mahama in accordance with Ghana’s constitution.

Mahama’s retirement package announced Per the committee’s report, outgoing President, John Mahama will be retiring on a salary of GH¢22,809.

He is expected to receive 40% of that amount as salary.

According to the report, the outgoing President while on retirement will also receive other benefits such as state-provided staff not exceeding four (4), a furnished and up-to-date office and communication equipment.

He will also be provided with staff consisting of a cook, steward, gardener and two security persons.

He will also have the opportunity to embark on foreign trips with his wife and would be able to use the “presidential jet where available and appropriate.”

Medical and dental services will be extended to the former president and his wife.

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Paralyzed 11-yr-old rape victim cries for justice, medical support

An Eleven-year-old girl who got paralyzed after being allegedly defiled by her school mate’s father, is seeking justice as well as medical support.

Atinka Fm’s Regina Asamoah reported on July 30, 2015 that the victim, who was then a 10-year-old was left bedridden after allegedly being defiled on two occasions by her schoolmate’s father at Anyaa, a suburb of Accra.

The class one pupil of Anyaa D/A Government School was defiled by the man in a bush on 14th and 17th July, 2015 respectively while on her way to school.

The suspect known to the victim as “Jessica Papa” (Jessica’s Father) is said to be an auto- mechanic who lives in the area.

Atinka Fm in Ghana with support from the Child Protection Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital sought for medical treatment for the victim . After spending months at the hospital, she regained stamina to walk comfortably and was no longer confined to the hospital bed.

The brilliant girl with a promising future was later sponsored by the Daniel Amoateng Foundation and Joselyn Dumas Foundation to go back to school.

However, a year after she was enrolled in a new school, the 11-year-old girl got paralyzed again after falling in school.

Regina Asamoah who visited the victim at the Accident Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital reported that the 11-year-old was in so much pain.

The 11-year-old girl wants the police to find “the rapist and prosecute him." She further requested to be enrolled in school after being discharged.

She was hopeful that she will leave the hospital and overcome her current predicament as she did the first time around.

Mother of the victim, Dianah Sowah, is fervently appealing to well-meaning Ghanaians to support her settled the medical bills of her daughter as the family is not financially sound to pay for the medical bills. 

She is however disappointed in the Ghana Police Service for not being able to arrest the alleged rapist.

It is her fervent hope that the doctors find a lasting solution to the pain her daughter is going through.

Police Investigations

The Anyaa District Police Command on July 20, 2015 confirmed the arrest of the man suspected to have allegedly defiled the 10-year-old class one pupil of Anyaa D/A Government School, rendering her partially paralyzed.

The District Commander, DSP Christian Kpordje in an interaction with Atinka News confirmed that the case was reported on the 20th July, 2015 and an arrest made the same day.

He hinted that that investigation was still on-going as the suspect had denied committing the crime. The police chief said the suspect claimed he was in his shop at the specific times that the alleged incident took place.

According to DSP Christian Kpordje, the victim’s statement had contradictory elements as she claimed at a point that the suspect was the real perpetrator and at another instance said he was not the one.

This he said calls for detailed investigation to establish enough evidence before the suspect is put before court.

In a telephone interaction with Atinka Fm’s Regina Asamoah on Wednesday, Decemeber 28, 2016, DSP Christian Kpordje was of the firm commitment that the rapist will be arrested and prosecuted.

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Govt urged to stop sponsoring hajj

The Chairman, Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Taofeek Akeugbagold, has urged states to stop sponsoring hajj.

Akeugbagold, who spoke to reporters in Ibadan, said Nigeria was the only country sponsoring pilgrimages.

He said: “Oyo State is the first to introduce what I can call state private system of hajj, whereby the government withdraws financial sponsorship.

“Governor Abiola Ajimobi had foreseen the recession and stopped pilgrimage sponsorship. Now, he only gives moral support and guidance.

“My advice to other states’ boards is that they should source for alternate funding and not rely on government money again. Hajj is the last pillar of Islam and Allah has made it mandatory for only those who have financial and health powers.”

Akeugbagold said about 1354 pilgrims from the state participated in this year’s pilgrimage.

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Recapturing of Sambisa Forest, a great achievement —IBB

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), is highly delighted on the news of successful operations of our gallant military personnel in the Sambisa forest.

In a statement by the media office of the former head of state, obtained by PRNigeria, IBB said: “It is a sign of relief, that the military has finally smocked out Boko Haram terrorists from their notorious enclave of Sambisa forest.”

General Babangida also saluted the courage and determination of President Muhammadu Buhari, Army chiefs, as well as armed men and women and other security personnel for their sacrifice for the painful liberation of Sambisa Forest and adjoining abode of Boko Haram.

He said: “May I rejoice with the government and  Nigerians on the successful dislodging of Boko Haram from their base in Sambisa.

With the successful takeover of the Sambisa forest, General Babangida hoped that very soon the remaining Chibok girls would  be located and reunited with their families.

The former military president reaffirmed his earlier stance that, “President  Muhammadu Buhari and the military are capable of crushing any challenge against the territorial integrity of Nigeria.”

He paid tributes to all fallen heroes for paying the supreme sacrifice in their efforts  of keeping  the nation from aggression, saying: “’the labour of our heroes past, shall never be in vain.”

However, General Babangida urged the military to unveil a new strategy of further defeating pockets of insurgents/terrorists, armed bandits and cattle rustlers all over the country.

Meanwhile, the Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, described the capture of CAMP ZERO, Sambisa Forest, which was the last stronghold of Boko Haram, as a global achievement made possible by the political will of President Buhari  and the commitment of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

Governor Sani Bello said the destruction of Sambisa Forest was a clear and strong message to all criminal elements in the country of the capacity and willingness of the Armed Forces and other security agencies, as well as the political will of President Buhari in securing  every inch of Nigeria.

In a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, the governor said the destruction of CAMP ZERO was  an indication that with the right leadership, temperament, conducive environment and  political will, the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies are capable of defeating any criminal elements operating within the country.

The governor called on security agencies to work together in ensuring that all  ‘CAMP ZEROs’  are cleared in Nigeria.

Speaking during a press conference in Kaduna, the national president of Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), Alhaji Adadu Adadu, who commended the army for its resilience and sacrifices that led to victory over the insurgents, said the defeat of the Boko Haram terrorists would revive the economy in the North-East, as investors who hitherto left would be encouraged to return.

He said the defeat of Boko Haram was an event that had brought 2016 to a close on a positive note, “Irrespective of any other unpleasant experiences we might have had as a people during the year.”

Adadu said: “The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) heartily thank the Nigerian Army, all the other military services, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai and other military chiefs for defeating the enemies of Nigeria.

“Boko Haram killed without thoughts for their victims’ ethnicity, creed or geographical origin, it was a thorn in our flesh collectively and the Army has, therefore, brought relief to us all and not just a particular location or people. The joy from this act of valour is across board.

“It is remarkable that Boko Haram was defeated against all odds. NYLF had at some point in the past appealed to the Nigerian Army not to be distracted by those reading political meanings into its action. We had also in the past urged the COAS not to slow down in his zeal on account of propaganda mounted against him by Boko Haram sponsors and sympathisers.”

Also, the Pan Yoruba Youth organisation, the National Committee of Yoruba Youths,  lauded the landmark victory of the Nigerian Army in the battle against the Boko Haram insurgents.

Reacting, to the Nigerian Army’s capture of the once dreaded Sambisa forest, believed to be the operational headquarters of the Boko Haram terrorists in the country, president of the Yoruba youths, Comrade Odeyemi Oladimeji, in a telephone conversation, described the capture as a milestone in the war against terrorism in Nigeria.

He added that the victory also justified the earlier claims by the leadership of the Nigerian Army, that the military had since gained the upper hand against the Boko Haram.

Oladimeji said “We salute the officers of the Nigerian Army for their untiring and gallant commitment to making the Boko Haram insurgents feel the tremendous heat of our military power, which has been unleashed on them; therefore, abandoning the once dreaded Sambisa forest to the gallant troops of the Nigerian army.”

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Let's forgive each other - Nana Addo urges Ghanaians

President–elect Nana Akufo-Addo has condemned acts of violence allegedly being perpetrated by supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following the party’s victory, and urged Ghanaians to forgive one another, and exhibit kindness.

There has been reported cases of post-election violence allegedly being perpetrated by supporters of the NPP.

There have been reports of NPP supporters arbitrarily taking over public installations across the country, reminiscent of scenes in the aftermath of the 2008 polls won by the NDC, which witnessed some of the triumphant party’s supporters take over the running of public toilets, toll booths and community centres.

Also in Kumasi, some NPP supporters stormed some public toilets seizing the keys to the facilities and assaulting some persons in the process.

The most recent disturbances were on Monday morning when some NPP youth illegally took over the Tema Motorway toll booth.

Speaking at the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) thanksgiving service held at the Accra Sports Staduim, Nana Addo condemned these acts, saying “ I do recognize that there have been some instances of misconduct and altercation that should not have happened. Such behaviour is unbecoming of us.”

He further called on Ghanaians to act with kindness and forgive each other.

“I call on all Ghanaians to act with kindness, generosity and magnanimity towards one another, and to forgive anybody who has wronged or hurt you.”

Nana Addo also extended his gratitude to Ghanaians whose hard work ensured the party’s victory.

He believes the commitment by various stakeholders including party supporters and the media, inspired the party to forge ahead.

Let’s focus on the task ahead – Nana Addo

Nana Addo was however quick to remind the teeming supporters of the daunting task ahead, saying “even as we praise God for his immense kindness and grace towards our country, we also know we have a lot of work ahead of us. It is a task that we can and will perform with your support and with your hard work, and with your increasing prayers and blessings of the Almighty God.”

“Let us then renew our faith and strength and be ready for the work ahead. I have no doubt at all that we shall succeed. This is the appointed time and I have no doubt at all that the battle is still the Lord’s,” he added.

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Mahama lashes out at Akufo-Addo for not debating him

President John Dramani Mahama has taken a swipe at the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, for opting out of Wednesday’s presidential debate.

The NPP said its decision not to participate in the National Commission for Civic Education and GBC debate was based on the fact that it is pre-occupied with equally important things. 

But in his introductory remark during the debate Wednesday, President Mahama, who proud himself as the first sitting president to participate in a debate, described Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision as bad.

“It is indeed bad that the leader of the opposition has opted out. It is usually the opposition that is keen to have a debate with the incumbent but here I am,” he said.

The debate seeks to give the candidates an opportunity sell their policies and programmes to electorate to help them make an informed decision to before they go to the polls on December 7.

It was participated by the presidential candidates of the Progressive People’s Party, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom; Convention People’s Party, Ivor Kobina Greenstreet; National Democratic Congress, John Mahama; People’s National Convention, Dr Edward Mahama and independent candidate Jacob Osei Yeboah.

“I feel very proud that I’m the first sitting president to have participated in a debate in 2012 and I’m participating again,” President Mahama said.

President Mahama had earlier expressed his readiness to debate Nana Akufo-Addo one-on-one to discounts the numerous claims of mismanagement by his government.

“How can I run from a debate? I want a productive debate, one on one with Nana Akufo-Addo. What they are talking about is the IEA. I want a debate on all the contentious issues he has raised. And I will respond and Ghanaians will be the judge,” the President had said earlier.

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Mahama will win 64% votes in Tema – NDC

Alliance for Peace, a group within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is predicting that President John Mahama will be rewarded with over 64 percent of the total votes in Tema come December 7.

According to the group, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will lose its hold on Tema in this year’s elections giving way for a sweet NDC victory.

Chairman of the group, Nana Yaw Bekoe Nkansah says the Mahama-led administration has invested heavily in the area of education, health among other social amenities in Tema.

“I can assure you that Mahama’s victory in Tema will be due to the developmental projects and the area of employment and establishment of businesses will take a different dimension in his second term in office,”he said. 

He said this on the sidelines in an interview with Adom News after a peace walk and float through Tema Central, East and West constituencies to rally support for NDC Parliamentary candidates; Ebi Bright, Kempes Ofosuware and James Enu.

The float caught the attention of residents including members of Tema Central NPP who had just returned from a health walk.

Despite the tension between the two parties in the last few days, it was a spectacle to hold as NPP supporters happily distributed Kalyppo juice to NDC supporters. 

Alliance for Peace is optimistic that all three constituencies which hitherto have been dominated by the NPP will fall to the NDC candidates.

Meanwhile, Women Commissioner of Alliance for Peace, Gloria Ekua Van Dyke said women have a lot to prove in the coming elections.

“I know all the candidates will do well especially our only lady, Ebi Bright who is contesting the current Member of Parliament for Tema Central constituency, Kofi Brako,” she said.

She is urging women in Tema to support all the NDC candidates especially Tema Central candidate, Ebi Bright since she is a visionary.

Both Ebi Bright and lawyer James Enu who took part in the float promised a bright future for Tema once they are given the mantle to serve.

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Mahama schools supporters on how to vote

President John Mahama has brought his campaign tour of the Western Region to an end by schooling his party supporters on how to vote.

The president said it is crucial for the people to be taken through the voting process so their ballots will not be spoilt.

The number of spoilt ballots in the 2012 elections was higher than votes of all the smaller political parties.

It was the third highest figure following that of president John Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo respectively.

There has been calls on the National Commission on Civic Education to take voters through a massive education campaign to reduce the number of spoilt ballots in the upcoming election.

The president has taken the lead, with the education campaign.
Speaking at Adabokrom in the Bia East of the Western Region the president said all campaign efforts will go waste if the supporters mistakenly spoil their ballots.

He said over the four year period the NDC has been on the right track and urged the supporters to retain him in office. But that can only be done if the supporters vote well.

Exhibiting a sample ballot paper to the supporters, the president said there will be seven presidential candidates on the ballots.

He will be third on the ballot and urged the supporters thumb print his photopgraph and clean the ink on their thumb before folding the ballot and dropping it into the box.

The president also reminded the people to maintain the culture of giving incumbent presidents eight years, saying like his predecessors, John Rawlings and John Kufuor, he must also be given eight years to complete his tenure.

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Adwoa Safo targets 90,000 votes for Nana Addo in Dome Kwabenya

Officials of the New Patriotic Party in the Dome Kwabenya constituency in the Greater Accra Region are hopeful of securing 90,000 votes for their presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo in the area on December 7, 2016. 

Speaking to Citi News during a rally in the constituency, Member of Parliament for the area, Adwoa Safo said they have done enough to ensure that the target is attained. “As you all know Dome Kwabenya is a very strong hold of the NPP.

We have embarked on operation 90,000 votes so having done the house-to-house, churches, door-to-door, meeting groups and opinion leaders in the constituency I needed to round it all up with this rally to make sure that my people are reassured that indeed this is a stronghold and we must not disappoint Nana Akufo-Addo and we must not disappoint Adwoa Safo. 

We must deliver the 90,000 votes and that is why we are having this programme today.

A number of artistes including Diana Asamoah, Antwi ne Antwi, Praye among others performed at the rally which was held at the Atomic Park in Accra.

Adwoa Sarfo is being challenged by Nurudeen Mohammed, the parliamentary candidate of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

In the 2016 election Akufo-Addo got 61,534 votes in the presidential race while Adwoa Safo had 63,373 in the parliamentary race. The constituency has been an easy win for the NPP in previous elections.

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FUTA crisis: School gates pulled down, council warns protesting workers (Nigeria)

The crisis rocking the Federal University of Technology, Akure, (FUTA), at the weekend, took another dimension, as all the iron gates leading to the entrance of the university were removed.

The two gates, North and South gates, leading to the institution were pulled down, while loads of sands were dropped at the entrance of the North gate to prevent vehicular movement into the institution.

Workers of the institution under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU) Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) of the university had been protesting over the release of the Vice-Chancellor of the school, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The workers of the three unions accused Daramola of corruption and vowed to keep the university locked for as long as he remained in office while calling for his removal  as the institution head.

However, one of the staff of the institution who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the school management was behind the pulling down of the gates to implicate the protesting workers.

He explained that the leadership of the unions have also informed security operatives in the state to register their shock over the development, saying the action was to rope the protesting workers.

Attempts to reach the union leaders to speak on the development proved abortive but the  State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph,  said the command had not got any report on the destruction, and said  that it was the school management that could rightly speak on the issue.

He however said his men have been drafted to the school, to maintain peace and order in the institution,

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, when also contacted on phone yesterday, said he had no knowledge that the institution gates were pulled down.

Speaking on the ongoing impasse in the school,, the Council  of the institution, in a release, signed by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Dr. Olayinka Ajayi, directed the non-teaching staff associations under its Joint Action Committee (JAC) to desist from taking laws into their hand, urging them to allow the appropriate government agencies currently handling the issues do so according to the laws of the land.

The statement  read; “Council also directs that all members of the Non-Teaching Staff of the university should resume at their duty posts immediately and go about their duties and activities without let or hindrance.

“Accordingly no form of procession and or protest or any action that could precipitate breakdown of law and order will be allowed within and in the precincts of the university.

“The appropriate security agencies have been fully briefed and have promised to be on ground to provide adequate security for lives and property in the university and its environs,” the statement partly read.

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‘Angel’ shows up in church at Koforidua-Ghana

A strange image of a perceived supernatural being believed to be an angel has been captured on camera during a church service by the Arjarquah Ministries in the Eastern region.

The picture has subsequently gone viral on social media in particular, on the walls of some powerful men of God including Prophet Kofi Danso, a Canadian-based Ghanaian Prophet, who ministered at the interdenominational service when the incident took place, at the Koforidua Center for National Culture .

Starr News understands several miracles were recorded during the revival program.

According to reports, a female church member who was supposedly filled by the Holy Spirit during the service, saw the strange image on the walls of the auditorium at the time the service had closed around 12:30am and took the pictures after zooming in with her phone.

The image then disappeared before she could prompt the ushers who were praying nearby after the service.

The leader of the church reportedly announced the wonderful sighting to the congregation in church the following day.

Scores of politicians, musicians and radio personalities including Black Rasta have been attending the program for spiritual impartation.

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Dead Kumasi journalist was threatened since 2013

The popular Kumasi journalist who died in the early hours of Sunday received death threats some three years ago. The threats came after a program on Kessben during which alleged defamatory comments were made against the Asantehene. 

The journalist, Confidence K. Baah, who hosts programmes on both Kessben FM and Kessben TV, was taken ill on Sunday morning and rushed to hospital where he died shortly on admission. 

The rumour mill in Kumasi is rife with speculation that he might have been poisoned. 

In September 2013, the Chronicle newspaper filed the following report detailing the nature of the death threats on Mr. Baah and three other journalists who were on the programme with him. 

The Chronicle Report 

The Kumasi Divisional Command of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service has begun investigations into the alleged death threats on the lives of three broadcast journalists with KESSBEN FM in Kumasi. 

Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye, Eric Confidence Kwadwo Baah and Ali Baba Dankambary received separate text messages on their mobile handsets from anonymous sources, warning them of their possible deaths.

The threats, according to reports, are in connection with last week’s newspaper review of the alleged bribery story concerning the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, which was published by the Free Press Online News Portal.

The text messages, which the journalists said were received on Sunday evening read: “Your breaking news will bring the death of you people. You think you can joke with Otumfuo. It is just a matter of time”.

Another message also read: “The programme on your FM Breaking News is good. The Next time will be the murder of the 3 of U. Do U remember the killing of a journalist in Kumasi some years back? Get Ready. We will get u at dawn or noon. You Can Say U don’t care but trust us, it’s just a matter of time”.

The anonymous texter made reference to the callous murder of the late Ashanti Regional chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr. Samuel Ennin, whose murder still remains a mystery to the security agencies.

The Head of Programmes at Kessben FM, Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye told The Chronicle in an interview that they have lodged a formal complaint with the police to investigate the matter.

He said he was surprised at the twist and misinterpretation given to the station’s review of the story, and indicated that the intention behind was a good one and was not meant to slant the Kingdom.

Omanhene Adu Boakye also insisted that he believes the Manhyia Palace has no hand in the threats or the earlier attacks, adding that he suspects some people just want to further tarnish the image of the Kingdom by engaging in such unfortunate acts.

He expressed the hope that the police will act swiftly to unravel the faces behind the plots. 

Media Foundation condemns threats

The following is a story filed on myjoyonline.com about the condemnation of the threats against Mr. Baah and his colleagues

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is worried about recent serious threats on the lives of three journalists of the Kumasi-based Kessben FM. 

The threats follow a discussion programme on the station on September 9, 2013, during which certain defamatory comments were made against the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The General Manager of the radio station, Andrew Danso-Aninkora, confirmed to the MFWA that three journalists have received threatening text messages from unknown persons.

The three journalists who have received life threatening text messages are Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye, Programmes Manager, Confidence K. Badu, Deputy News Editor and Ali Baba Dankabari, Newscaster.

The General Manager confirmed a news report in the September 17 edition of the Daily Guide newspaper, that both Adu Boakye and Ali Baba received a message from phone number +233266264462 which read:“The programme on your FM, breaking news, is good. The next news will be the murder of the three of you. Do you remember the killing of a journalist in Kumasi some years back? Get ready. We will get you at dawn or noon. You can say you don’t care but trust us. It’s just a matter of time. You people think you can joke with Otumfuo. It’s just a matter of time. Do you remember the death of some journalists? Call it a bluff.”

Confidence Badu, also received a message from phone number +2335466572 which read “Your breaking news will break the death of you people. You think you can joke with Otumfuo. It’s just a matter of time.”

Remembering the unfortunate death of Mr. Samuel Ennin, a former President of the Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), who was shot and killed on February 9, 2007 by unknown assailants, the seriousness of the recent threats on the three journalists cannot be downplayed.

The MFWA, is therefore, calling on the Ashanti Regional Police Command to thoroughly investigate the threats and also offer protection to the journalists.

"While we condemn the broadcast of the defamatory content by the station, we wish to commend the Asanteman Traditional Council for resorting to the most appropriate redress mechanism of filing a complaint before the National Media Commission (NMC), the statutory media regulator", said the MFWA.

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Health Talk: THE DEADLIEST BAD HABITS IN AMERICA, RANKED

Fix these behaviors and live to tell the tale.

If your vices seem harmless—you drink a little too much, can't turn down a donut in office meetings, still smoke the occasional cigarette—you might want to take a look at the results from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's analysis of risk factors. In their Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor study from 2013, researchers discovered the largest preventable causes of early death using more than 50,000 different data sources. 

Think you might be in trouble? See the leading causes and see if you're an offender. If you are, it's time to make some changes. You don't want to be the one responsible for offing yourself now, do you?

1. Dietary Risks

Which do you think is more dangerous for the average American: Eating too few vegetables or eating too many sweets? If your gut instinct is to blame cake and eclairs, you'd have the right idea—but statistically speaking, you'd be wrong. Sure, diets that include a lot of red meat, sugary foods, and soda pop are the biggest contributors to relatively early deaths worldwide, but it's the lack of fruits and vegetables that's really doing us in.

The total number of deaths caused by dietary risks in the U.S. is 559,000.

2. Tobacco Smoke

It's 2016. If you're still smoking—even with all we know about tobacco smoke's detrimental effects on the human body—you're clearly disregarding your own health. Make it your goal this year to quit for good.

The total number of deaths caused by tobacco smoke in the U.S. is 447,000.

3. High Systolic Blood Pressure

You probably know high blood pressure is a major risk factor of heart attacks, stroke, and other heart problems. What you probably don't know is you can have high blood pressure and not show or feel any symptoms until it's too late. Make an appointment with your doctor every few years and follow a heart-healthy diet.

Also worth knowing: MocaCare just released a sleek, credit card–size monitor called The MocaHeart, which scans your thumb and, in just 25 seconds, reads your heart rate, blood oxygen, and blood flow—sending all the information to your smartphone.

The total number of deaths caused by high blood pressure in the U.S. is 421,000.

4. High BMI

Doctors, healthcare providers, and personal trainers put a lot of weight (no pun intended) on body mass index, but it actually doesn't reveal enough about the state of your health. A perfectly healthy pro linebacker, for example, will have the same BMI as an overweight person of the same height. But if you're overweight or obese, that definitely increases your risk of heart attack and cardiovascular disease.

The total number of deaths caused by high BMI in the U.S. is 335,000.

5. Diabetes

Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2010, according to the American Diabetes Association, and No. 5 on this list for 2013. Since a shoddy diet and lazy lifestyle can trigger Type-2 diabetes, make an effort to do everything you can to combat insulin resistance (a condition associated with excess weight in which your body's cells don't use insulin the way it's supposed to. Something you can start doing immediately (and you'll enjoy): Take advantage of the weekend to binge-sleep; it'll counteract the increased risk for diabetes you experience when the work week eats up your beauty sleep. 

The total number of deaths caused by diabetes in the U.S. is 246,000.

6. High Cholesterol

Though some people are predisposed to have high cholesterol, it's more typically elevated by poor lifestyle factors. Ready to turn things around? For starters, get off your ass: Exercise can raise levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and lower levels of the "bad" LFL. What's more, certain foods can lower bad cholesterol, too.

The total number of deaths caused by high cholesterol in the U.S. is 174,000.

7. Alcohol and Drug Use

If you only smoke cigarettes when you're drunk, and you only get drunk like twice a week, take a mintue to think about how bad that is for your health. Now consider this: If you smoke 10 cigarettes a day, that's potentially 10 years off your life. E-cigarettes aren't helping; while some users swear by them, research shows that e-cigs decrease your chances of quitting. And hookah is no better; it packs 25 times the amount of tar as one single cigarette (and that's not even the half of it). That doesn't mean you have to nix beer, wine, and the occassional cocktail altogether, but the smoking's gotta go. Moderation is your goal—so is choosing the right beverage.

The total number of deaths caused by alcohol and drug use in the U.S. is 159,000.

8. Low Physical Activity

If you're reading this, you're either in good health and shape, thinking about attaining better health a better body (good start!), looking to overhaul your fitness and well-being. Either way, that starts with moving more. Even if you work out for half an hour, five days a week, you're not working out long enough for your heart to reap the benefits, according to a study published in the journal Circulation. Lucky for you, we've got a plan for every type of guy.

The total number of deaths caused by low physical activity in the U.S. is 145,000.

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Ghana Election: Stop campaign rhetoric and fix unemployment challenges -TUC tells parties

The Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) has challenged political parties to come up with strategies to address unemployment, instead of mere electioneering promises to tackle the problem.

The Chairman of the TUC, Reverend Richard K .Yeboah, said, “Unemployment is a problem that is well recognised across the political divide but it has received scanty attention beyond electioneering rhetoric. For the TUC, political parties will be measured on how they deliver their promises on employment after they win the elections.’’

A launch of a project meant to enhance employment creation in the country at Peduase in the Eastern Region yesterday, he said, “Any government that fails to implement sustainable policies on job creation will throw the future of the country into jeopardy owing to the fact that unemployment is the single largest economic and social problem facing the country.’’

Known as: “Strengthening the impact of sector and trade policies on employment in Ghana’’, the project is being undertaken by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), with funding from the European Union (EU).

Other collaborators in the two-year project are the Ministry of Labour and Employment Relations (MELR), the Ministry of Trade and Industries (MOTI), the TUC and the Ghana Employers Association (GEA).

Move beyond rhetoric 

Rev. Yeboah said politicians and policy makers ought to come up with concrete solutions to unemployment, instead of just making promises.

He explained that it was an indictment on the leaders of the country that despite consistent economic growth over the last three decades, “Ghana’s economy is not creating enough employment in the formal sector’’.

“Instead, employment in the country has rapidly shifted to the informal sector, a situation which has led to low earnings, inequality and constant abuse of workers by some employers,’’ he explained.

Way forward 

On ways of curbing the high level of unemployment in the country, Rev. Yeboah said the government must invest more in creating jobs.

“When people have jobs to do, the tax base can spread, so that the high taxes on commodities will be reduced. The government must provide massive support for sectors that have the potential to create more jobs,’’ he said.

In his address, the Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Nii Moi Thompson, said there was the need for the country to come up with a labour market database to identify the number of people who were unemployed.

Such a database, he said, would help in the formulation of an effective policy to deal with the unemployment problem facing the country.

Importance 

Speaking on the importance of the project, the EU Ambassador to Ghana, Mr William Hanna, said it would help the country formulate policies and action plans that would have a positive impact on the labour market.

“The EU wants to ensure equitable and sustainable trade development. The very aim of boosting trade is to trigger the creation of decent jobs,’’ he said.

For his part, the ILO Director for Anglophone West Africa, Mr Dennis Zulu, said the project would help devise tools that “can support the formulation of coherent trade and labour market policies for the further creation of decent employment”.

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Ghana Election: Mahama is clueless in economic management – Bawumia

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s running mate, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia claims President John Dramani Mahama is clueless in economic management for which reason he doesn’t deserve a second term.

“The Mahama-led NDC administration has mortgaged Ghana’s economy and so another four years for Mahama will collapse the nation,” he opined.

He thus challenged President Mahama to focus on fixing the economy and stop using the NPP’s manifesto as a diversionary tactic to cover up his incompetence.

Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia as part of his two weeks campaign tour of the Northern Region was addressing the University for Development Studies (UDS) Nyankpala campus chapter of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) of the NPP.

He assured Ghanaians that the NPP under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s competent leadership has a comprehensive economic plan for the nation.

According to him, the nation’s banking system is under threat because debtors are not credit worthy due to the local credit crunch masterminded by the NDC administration.

He further asserted that government’s reckless expenditure has contributed to the overwhelming banking interest rates.

He condemned government’s desperation for tax revenue which he noted is not proportionate to physical infrastructural development.

“The NDC’s Better Ghana agenda is now borrowing and taxation regime. Per capital income has declined by 12 percent, hence Ghana’s economic despair.”

Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia also raised alarm that the Social Security and National Investment Trust (SSNIT) by 2019 could be compelled to cut pension payments to Retirees because of negative cash flow into its kitty.

He described President Mahama’s overturn on the restoration of teacher and Nursing trainees’ allowances as a desperate votes grabbing measure which should be ignored.

He served notice that the allowances could be completely scrapped if President Mahama’s mandate is renewed on December 7.

Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia claimed the formation of Unemployed Graduates Association meant the future of tertiary students is bleak under the Mahama led NDC administration.

Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia wetted the appetite of local contractors saying, “Seventy percent of government contracts will be awarded to local contractors for the money to remain in Ghana.”

He appealed to the electorate within the savannah ecological zone to kick the NDC administration out of office for allegedly turning the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) into a white elephant.

“SADA can be best described as another create, loot and share opportunity and we have to disapprove of the mismanagement and corruption that has engulfed SADA,” he insinuated.

He said the Nana Akufo Addo led NPP has ground breaking promises for the nation part of which is to appoint a special prosecutor to deal with corruption.

He however noted with deep concern that the NPP’s campaign promises would be immaterial without political power.

He implored the electorate to massively vote for the NPP to restore their hope.

He tasked TESCON members across the country to renew their spirit of voluntarism on December 7 by protecting and defending the integrity of the ballots to avoid rigging.

He emphasized that extra vigilance is the NPP’s surest bet to win the December 7 elections “One touch.”

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