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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Intoxicated policeman shoots Ghanaian man in Anambra, Nigeria

A resident of the area mentioned that the police officer has grown quite popular for his erratic behaviour that involves sporadic shooting.



The reckless behaviour of an unknown policeman has led to the death of a Ghanaian man simply known as Andem in Anambra State.
The victim who plies his trade as an electrician reportedly received a bullet in the neck after the policeman started shooting sporadically.

According to an eyewitness who spoke to Punch News, the culprit has been known for such behaviour whenever he gets drunk.

“The policeman shoots sporadically with his service pistol each time he visits the area."

“He is a drunk and each time he is intoxicated, he behaves abnormally. He has been terrorizing us."

“Everybody knows him around here because of his erratic behaviour," he said.

The state police command is yet to give a statement concerning the incident, as its Public Relations Officer, Nkeiruka Nwodeclaimed not to have knowledge of it.

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'I love my husband but I can't stop seeing my lesbian lovers'

Bisi is a happily married woman whose husband loves so much but she has a secret lifestyle that is threatening to tear her apart.



"Dear Readers,
My name is Bisi, a 29-year-old woman who is turned between two worlds. I am married to a darling of a man,Mark, but I am what people would call bisexual. I was introduced into lesbianism in my secondary school (an all girls' school), by my seniors who neck deep into it.

In fact, as early as 14, they had deflowered me and as I grew up, I found it difficult to let go of that lifestyle. In my days in the university, I had female lovers and though I was able to hide it to the outside world by also dating and sleeping with men, I was more comfortable with women.

When I met Mark five years ago and we fell in love, I thought I would be able to do away with my secret and shameful life but I still found myself sleeping with my female lovers. It has gotten so bad that sex with my husband is more of a boredom and I can't even enjoy it as much as I do with my lesbian partners.

I have prayed, fasted and promised myself that I would do away with this secret addiction but I end up going back to them.

What can I do to save myself from this disgrace because I know it would be a matter of time before Mark finds out.

I am seriously worried.

Bisi."

Dear readers, we want you to help advice Bisi on what to do to free herself from the grasps of lesbianism.

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Gone too Soon: Medical student dies after praying for patient

The medical student died as soon as he ended a prayer for a sick patient at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.

Apostle Victor Egbe, a medical student of the Benue State University has reportedly died after praying for a sick patient.

According to the Daily Post News, Egbe visited the university clinic and slumped immediately he ended the prayer.

His family and friends have joined in tribute to the student who is also the founder of Campus Witness Church.

Evelyn Morgan, the cousin of the deceased wrote, “Dear cousin, your untimely death is a big blow to us all."

"I’m yet to come to terms with the brutal fact that you’re dead; that you’re no more. You have thrown hundreds of us into untold agony, tears, pains and gloom."

"You have created a vacuum that will take our family years to fill. Rest in peace victor I will always be good and remain your little princess.”

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Nigeria News: State govts should legislate against land grabbing —Women surveyors

Women surveyors have noted the need for state governments to come up with laws against land grabbing.

The surveyors, gathered on the platform of Women-in-Surveying (WIS) for its South West regional meeting, in Ibadan, on Wednesday, said the promulgation of laws against land grabbing would check the activities of unscrupulous land acquirers and extortionists.

The group specially commended the Lagos State government for the promulgation of the Land grabbing Prohibition Law 2016.

In her remarks, National Coordinator, WIS, Mrs Elizabeth Adekunle, decried that the continued non-involvement of surveyors in several construction and environmental control projects by Nigerians was reason for reported incidences of building collapse and environmental disasters.

She consequently urged Nigerians to patronise only qualified surveyors for their building projects to prevent disasters.

WIS members from Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, in their various contributions urged relevant ministries of state governments to only approve building plans with authenticated survey plans.

Western Coordinator, WIS, Mrs Omolara Ajidahun, asserted that the Nigeria Institute of Surveyors (NIS) was committed to curbing quackery in the surveying profession.

Also, a former Western Coordinator, WIS, Mrs Adenike Durojaye, appealed to the Federal Government to provide aerial mapping of states, while enjoining surveyors to adopt the use of modern equipment in their professional practice.

Oyo State Coordinator, WIS, Mrs Toyin Fowotade, expressed concern that the surveying profession was dominated by the male folk, enjoining women to also embrace surveying.

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Ghana News: (PHOTOS) 123 SHSs: State Of Ntranoa Commity Day SHS In Central Region

The Ntranoa Community Day Senior High School (SHS) in the KEEA municipality in the Central Region was contracted to Konasah ENT. Ltd.

The school is about 50% complete.

Giving a vivid description of the stage of completion of the school in the Central Region, Peace FM's reporter Sally Ngissah revealed that the project has slowed down due to lack of logistics.

Below are the images:

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Nigeria: Oyo enters N8bn MoU for Agbowo complex renovation

The Oyo State government has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Agbowo Mall infrastructure Development Company Limited, that will see the commission of about N8 billion to the renovation of the Agbowo shopping complex, Ibadan.

This came to the fore at the signing of the MOU involving the two parties at the office of secretary to the state government, Secretariat, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

The initiative, according to Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli, was in line with the resolve of the state government to transform moribund commercial structures in the state into modern outfits.

Alli said some priority would be given to current occupants of the shopping complex during the re-allocation of the shops upon completion of the project.

“We are trying to shift our strategy from direct applications in our developmental projects to collaborate with investors to redevelop all the moribund outfits fully owned by the government and managed by the Housing Corporation. We believe that we have to do things in modern fashion to ensure that people have access to international facilities in their buying and selling activities in line with the government’s agenda in ensuring the elimination of street trading.”

“The idea is to redevelop and remodel shopping centres of this nature. This will enable the masses to flow along with their counterparts in the developed country. The previous occupants of the various outlets of the shopping complex are here with us and we appreciate their support and understanding. We assure them that they will be given priority during allocations after the completion of the project,” Alli said.

In an interview, General Manager, Oyo State Housing Corporation, Mr Samuel Adekunle said the government had given occupants of the complex two weeks ultimatum to vacate the premises in order for work to commence.

According to the representative of the project development company, Mr Tunde Shonekan, the project, would span 30 months.

The Agbowo Shopping complex, which was constructed in 1984, is fully owned by the Oyo State Government and managed by the State Housing Corporation.

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God Is Witness To My Good Works - Prez Mahama

The President of Ghana

President John Mahama has noted if the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) fails to recognize his “good works” God in heaven will always be his “witness.”

According to him, he used his first term to do what he could to transform the lives of Ghanaians, but if the main opposition decides not to give credit where it is due, then he will leave that to God to judge.

Mahama has come under severe criticism this election year from one of his fiercest critics – Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the running mate of the NPP – and has often been described as corrupt and incompetent.

However, speaking at a rally in Ablekuma North constituency in the Greater Accra region Tuesday, President Mahama said Bawumia and others have no moral right to describe him as such because as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana in the Kufuor administration they failed to disclose the cost of the cedi redenomination exercise in 2007.

"Do we remember the Cedi redenomination under President Kufuor? During that time, someone [Bawumia] was the Deputy Bank of Ghana Governor and up till now, even I as a President do not know the cost of the redenomination exercise.

"Up till today, no Ghanaian knows the cost of the redenomination exercise and the same people come and say someone is incompetent. When you redenominated the cedi, how much did it cost us? Simple things like these you cannot tell us and you have the nerve to come and talk about corruption. Look in the mirror and look at yourselves.

"Take the log out of your eye before you point at the mote in somebody's eye. Only God doesn't make mistakes. I am human, I am not God. I am not saying I have done so much, but I have done what I can and if others say they have not noticed what I have done, God who is in heaven is my witness and he sees the good works NDC has done."

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SirPaul'sBlog: Sacked Recruits Free To Join ISIS, Boko Haram - Gh...

SirPaul'sBlog: Sacked Recruits Free To Join ISIS, Boko Haram - Gh...: The 501 army recruits who were dismissed by the Ghana Armed Forces in 2015 are free to decide wherever they want to go, but the military...

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Fmr. AGI President Wants Akufo-Addo To Tread Cautiously On Tax Reduction Promise

Former Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), President Dr Prince Kofi Kludjeson says although he welcomes the plan of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to slash taxes, there is the need to tread cautiously.

Dr Prince Kofi Kludjeson raised questions on how an NPP government would compensate for government revenue if it slashes taxes.

"...the taxes is another major issues. we must carefully look at it because the country also needs revenue" he told Joy News' Latif Iddrisu after the NPP leader and his trade and economic team held a meeting with business leaders.

Former Trade Minister, Kofi Apraku, has described the AGI as the NPP's "natural ally"

The party, therefore, held the meeting with AGI at Trade Fair in Accra to present the party's business plan to industry players. The NPP has vowed to make Ghana the most business-friendly economy in Africa.

Highlights of NPP Trade and Industry plan

The next NPP government, under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, wants to shift focus from the excessive taxation to offer the required incentive for productive activities to thrive, and help create employment opportunities to tackle the escalating unemployment situation in the country at the moment.

The party has explained in its 2016 Manifesto that the deliberate plan to shift the focus of economic policy from taxation to production will lead to:

i. reducing the corporate tax rate from 25% to 20%;

ii. removing import duties on raw materials and machinery for production within the context of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) Protocol;

iii. abolishing the Special Import Levy;

iv. abolishing the 17.5% VAT on imported medicines not produced in the country

v. abolishing the 17.5% VAT on Financial Services;

vi. abolishing the 5% VAT on Real Estate sales;

vii. abolishing the 17.5% VAT on domestic airline tickets;

viii. reducing VAT for micro and small enterprises from the current 17.5% to the 3% Flat Rate VAT introduced by the Kufuor-led NPP government;

ix. introducing tax credits and other incentives for businesses that hire young graduates from tertiary institutions; and

x. reviewing withholding taxes imposed on various sectors (including the mining sector) that have constrained the liquidity of many businesses.

“The ensuing increase in production and economic growth, arising from a streamlining as well as the elimination and reduction of some of these taxes, will more than compensate for any temporary revenue shortfall. Growth is expected to increase to double digits starting 2017.

Indeed, during the NPP tenure between 2001 and 2008, corporate taxes were slashed from 32% to 25% and tax revenue actually increased! The data shows that, notwithstanding (or because of) the high level of taxes, there is a revenue shortfall of GH¢700 million for the first half of 2016,” the party has explained in its Manifesto.

The Manifesto has outlined additional sources of revenue, and therefore fiscal space to finance these tax reductions to include:

i. broadening of the tax base as a result of formalization of the economy;

ii. an increase in tax compliance;

iii. reduced government expenditure as a result of increased collaboration with the private sector and prioritization of government expenditure;

iv. savings from the reduction of interest rates paid on the country’s debt stock;

v. increase in oil and gas revenues from TEN and SANKOFA fields;

vi. elimination of corruption, especially in the procurement of goods and services, which is estimated at about 1.5% of GDP annually, and

vii. plugging leakages in the administration of public finances.The Auditor General’s Report has indicated that between 2012 and 2014, GH¢5.9 billion of government funds cannot be accounted for.

Interactions with AGI

The NPP at the meeting stressed to work closely with the Central Bank to bring down interest rate. Nana Akufo-Addo said his government will hold a comprehensive review of the tax regime and AGI will be a key player after which the tax reduction or slashing will take effect.

Speaking to Joy News after the meeting Dr. Prince Kofi Kludjeson said it is not enough to maintain that taxes are too high but also examine the impact of the taxes on development.

"Ghana is growing....the Finance Minister went to the capital market for $750miilion, he got $4billion. It means things are improving again, although they may be down, things are changing gradually" he said.

He referred to Moody's revision of Ghana's economic health from B3 negative to B3 with a positive outlook.

In view of the gradual progress, he suggested it may not be prudent to make drastic changes that could compromise gains.

"We need to continue from where we are leaving off," he said.

Nonetheless, he said "if taxes are down everybody will enjoy it..it is in the Bible"

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Sacked Recruits Free To Join ISIS, Boko Haram - Ghana Armed Forces

The 501 army recruits who were dismissed by the Ghana Armed Forces in 2015 are free to decide wherever they want to go, but the military will not reinstate them, Public Affairs Director of the GAF, Lt Col Eric Aggrey-Quashie, has said.

In an interview with Adom FM, the convener of the dismissed recruits, Frank Antwi, indicated that the training they had before their dismissal from the military could be of use to any militant group and warned that some of the disappointed recruits would not hesitate to join the ranks of terrorist organisations such as ISIS and Boko Haram should the need arise.

He pleaded for the military command to reinstate them to prevent any such outcome which could be a potential security threat to the nation.

However, Lt Col Aggrey-Quashie, who spoke toclassfmonline.com on Wednesday October 12 said: “Everybody has the right to do what he wants with his life and, so, if this is what you want to use your life for, I will leave it to them and their families. If they think that is the best thing that their siblings or wards can undertake, then that is fine for them.”

“As for the Armed Forces, we do not have anything to do with them anymore because they did something that went against our regulations, for which reason their training was stopped. Once that is done, you cannot continue with us.”

For him, the military “is built on discipline” and so that discipline will have to be maintained at all times.

The recruits, who were undergoing training at the Army Recruits Training School at Shai Hills, were dismissed for misconduct last year.

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Ghana Must Deal With Economic Uncertainty - Yamson

Mr Ishmael Yamson, the Board Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank Ghana, says the banking environment is riskier today than it was some years back because of economic uncertainty and volatility.

The uncertainty, he said, is affecting the profitability of the banks.

Mr Yamson, who was speaking at the bank’s 120th anniversary public lecture held in Accra, said besides the uncertainty increasing competition in the banking industry and provision of financial services by technology companies also pose major risks to the industry.

The lecture, held on the theme: “120 years of Commercial Banking in Ghana: What next?” sought to share thoughts and perspectives on various programmes implemented to develop the nation’s financial sector and more significantly, the banking industry.

Being the oldest and first commercial bank in Ghana, and having served as the Central Bank until 1953, Standard Chartered Bank has been at the forefront of banking and economic evolution in Ghana, hence the decision for the forum to reflect on the moments.

He said increasing customer sophistication and demand for value added services had necessitated the need for the banks to respond adequately to the speed, capability and infrastructural capacity would allow.

“Customers no longer want a physical bank to transact business because they have limited time. How fast has the banks digitised and how fast have they used technology to bring back pleasurable experience? These will be the key success factors in the short to medium term.”

Mr Kweku Bedu Addo, Managing Director of Standard Chartered Bank Ghana, said the right policy frameworks that provide a level of certainty to investors would engender growth in the banking industry.

But for now, there appears to be some misalignment between policy intentions and the real sector outcomes and these needed to be addressed.

“In effect, there has been at least three periods of austere economic policies over the last four decades, which sometimes makes one asks the question: whether the institutional arrangements are robust enough to keep Ghana on a sustained path of growth, investment and reduced inequality,” Mr. Bedu-Addo said.

“For the respective sector value chains to be better organised to attract private investment, it requires critical and strategic planning, broad consultation with stakeholders and good execution to solve the problem.”

Dr Kwesi Botchwey, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, who was the keynote speaker, said the country had not learnt lessons from the austere economic environment some years back.

He said so many years after the country went through a programme with the IMF, we are back on the same path implementing same programmes to stabilise the economy through home-grown policies.

Source: GNA

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Ghana Election: Mahama confronted by mobs shouting ‘change’

President John Mahama’s tour of the Greater Accra region was yesterday met with an unusual response as some residents at Kokompe milled around his convoy, shouting the opposition NPP’s ‘change’ slogans.

A video circulating on social media captured a number of people chanting the NPP´s popular ‘change’ slogan.

The video shows an unfazed President Mahama still waving at the crowd from his vehicle’s sunroof

Similar scenes were recorded, apparently during a recent presidential tour of the Central Region.

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US election: Obama urges Republicans to shun Trump

US President Barack Obama has urged senior Republicans to formally withdraw their endorsement of Donald Trump as their presidential candidate.

At a rally in support of Democratic contender Hillary Clinton, Mr Obama said it didn't make sense to denounce Mr Trump's controversial remarks while still backing him for the White House.

Many top Republicans have distanced themselves from Mr Trump over a video in which he boasts of groping women.

Mr Trump accused them of disloyalty.

He was particularly scathing about House Speaker Paul Ryan whom he described as a "weak and ineffective" leader.

Addressing a campaign rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Tuesday evening, Mr Obama questioned how senior Republican politicians could still want Mr Trump to be president.

"The fact is that now you've got people saying: 'We strongly disagree, we really disapprove... but we're still endorsing him.' They still think he should be president, that doesn't make sense to me," he told the crowd.

Mr Obama said Mr Trump's crude comments about women would disqualify him from even working in a shop.

"Now you find a situation in which the guy says stuff that nobody would find tolerable if they were applying for a job at 7-Eleven," he said.

Mr Obama was interrupted several times by anti-Clinton campaigners but seemed unfazed, saying: "This is democracy at work. This is great,"

The hecklers were escorted from the venue by security officials.

In another development, Hillary Clinton's Campaign Chairman John Podesta has said that Russia was behind an apparent hacking of his emails and may have been colluding with the Trump campaign.

He said on Tuesday that the FBI was investigating the hacking of the emails that were published by WikiLeaks.

The 2005 video released on Friday revealed Mr Trump describing how he had sought to have sex with a married woman and making other sexually aggressive comments about women.

Nearly half of the 331 incumbent Republican senators, House members and governors have condemned the lewd remarks on the video and about 10% have called for Mr Trump to drop out of the race, according to Reuters news agency.

On Monday, Mr Ryan said he would not defend Mr Trump over the remarks.

He told fellow House Republicans he would instead focus on congressional elections to ensure Republicans could maintain legislative control.

Mr Trump fired back in a string of tweets, saying the "shackles" had been removed, allowing him to "fight for America the way I want to



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Court strikes out case on OAU VC’s appointment

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile Ife, Osun State Nigeria

The Federal High Court, sitting in Osogbo, on Monday, declined to grant the prayers of workers of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, in a case instituted against the institution’s Governing Council over the appointment of the acting Vice Chancellor for the university.

The court, presided over by Justice Babs Kuewumi said it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate in the matter.

It would be recalled that workers of the university under the support of Non-academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and ‎Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) were challenging alleged non-compliance with OAU Statute 6 in the method employed to select the VC.

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They also accused the immediate past Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor Bamitale Omole, whose tenure expired on June 24, 2016, of allegedly influencing the outcome of the screening exercise to select new VC.

The challenged screening had produced Professor Ayobami Salami as the VC of the OAU, but the development generated controversy, leading to protests from NASU and SSANU members against the emergence of Salami.

The workers in the suit instituted at the Federal High Court were seeking among other reliefs the dissolution of the institution Governing Council by the Federal Government.

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Academic technologists sue for peace in FUNNAB

The Front view of FUNNAB

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB), has  sued for peace in the university, over the lingering crisis between the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the authorities of the university.

The association, in a statement signed by its chairman and secretary, Comrades Joseph Olurinde and Alamu K.O respectively, said that the union had been playing a mediatory role since the crisis started.

Nigeria Tribune recalled the  university had been in the news over a petition written by some members of SSANU to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and some other government agencies against the vice-chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole and the pro-chancellor, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe.

The association said that it decided to break its silence over this matter ,in view of how its had been affecting the university system.

It said that the association would stand on the side of the truth as far as the petition is concerned, appealing to the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), to do a thorough job.

It said, “NAAT has decided to play a mediatory role towards ensuring peace and tranquillity in FUNNAB. ‎This we have been doing underground since the matter surfaced, but to our dismay, all the peace moves and appeal by the union hit the hard rock.

“Since the petition is already before EFCC, an organ of Government saddled with the responsibility of investigating and prosecuting financial crimes, NAAT is appealing with every member of the university community to let peace reign, while we await the outcome of the investigation by the EFCC.

‎”NAAT will like to plead with the university management not to allow this rift to degenerate to an extent where staff welfare would be compromised.”

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Libya Deports 9 Pregnant Women, 145 other Nigerians

One hundred and fifty four Nigerians have been deported from Libya over uncleared reasons.

Among the deportees who  arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) at around 4:00 p.m. on Monday, were nine pregnant women.

The deportees according to information gathered, voluntarily returned to the country on their own volition having failed to make their way to Europe.

The deportees arrived on board a Libyan Airline aircraft, an Airbus A330-200 with registration number 5A-LAT.

The statistical breakdown of deportees showed 96 females and 58 males. Among the 96 females were nine pregnant women, three minors and three others with serious medical issues.

Officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Police, Air Force Command and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) who facilitated their return to Nigeria were on hand to receive the deportees.

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